his growth.There are so many things that a quarterback

The Barmy Army trumpeter played The Great Escape theme several times on Saturday.Maybe it was optimistic or maybe he was simply trying to be encouraging. But when one of the supporters sitting near him pointed out that the vast majority of those who tunnelled out of Stalag Luft III in 1944 (the escape upon which the film was based) were recaptured and murdered by the Nazis, it did little to dampen spirits.Thats because most people understand that The Great Escape - as a film, at least - isnt really about escaping. Or not entirely, anyway.Its about spirit. Its about a refusal to accept defeat. Even when it is seemingly inevitable.So maybe the theme was the perfect accompaniment to an absorbing days cricket when England gave their all and still finished facing almost certain defeat.There have been days - some of them really not so long ago - when an England side going into a day like this would have subsided with a whimper. Think of Sydney 2014 or Leeds 2009. Think of the 1990s. That band of spectators who watch every day - and no other country can replicate such travelling support - has had to put up with some dark days amid the good ones.Everything was against England here. They had conceded too large a first innings score and their top-order had failed to give them the start they required in reply. With the pitch deteriorating and several players struggling with injury or illness - Stuart Broad has a foot injury, Zafar Ansari vomited on the pitch on Friday and Jonny Bairstow rolled his ankle on his way to the crease on Saturday - they knew their chances of clawing their way back into the game were slim.But, to their immense credit, they did not buckle or bend. Instead, Ben Stokes and Bairstow stretched their overnight partnership beyond 100 and, in the process, provided a reminder of the technique and temperament England will need to demonstrate to prosper in these conditions.There were none of the indeterminate prods we saw the previous night from Alastair Cook or Ben Duckett. Instead, we saw both men use their crease and their feet. We saw them trust their defence but take the opportunity to attack. We saw them render a pitch that had appeared treacherous on the second evening look nothing more than tricky on the third morning.Stokes was especially impressive. His improvement against spin is so marked that he is suddenly looking the best player of slow bowling in the side. Such is his ability to come down the pitch or play back, that he confuses the bowler as to the length they should bowl and then punishes anything short or over-pitched.It is true that life seemed somewhat easier against the older ball. It is true that, just as it seemed the partnership was in danger of becoming dangerous, Bairstow was punished for playing across a straight one by a quick, full ball that may have reversed a little. And it is true that, without Chris Woakes, the tail - Adil Rashid apart - folded fast.But the stand between Stokes and Bairstow was just what England needed after a disappointing second day. It reminded them of the attitude, the fight and the technique they are going to have to show if they are going to get anything from this series. It reminded them how they should have played on the second day.That resilience was then replicated by the bowlers. Broad, despite limping heavily, produced an opening spell of 6-2-6-2 (he had figures of 4.1-4-0-2 at one stage) to put India under just a little bit of pressure, while James Anderson (who had figures of 6-1-5-1 at one stage) produced a peach of a ball to swing back through Cheteshwar Pujaras defensive prod to leave them 40 for 3.It would have been perfectly understandable - perhaps even sensible - for Broad to sit in the dressing room with his feet up. A scan taken on Friday night had shown a strained tendon and joint in his right foot and, whatever advice the medics gave, running in and bowling as fast as he could was surely not among it.But, perhaps reasoning that he is out of the third Test already, he gave this spell everything. And, just for a few minutes, he hinted that he could replicate the sort of drama that we have seen at The Oval (2009), Durham (2013) or Joburg (2016). The Barmy Armys songs increased in intensity (their song for him rhymes the words Stuart Broad with large pork sword) and, in between urging them between deliveries to sing louder, Broad hit the pitch hard enough to gain the seam movement that accounted for both the first two wickets. Anderson, meanwhile, touched 90mph and reiterated the same message: were not giving up; were not losing belief.Maybe, had it not been for Kohli, England might have been able to creep back into the game. Increasingly, though, he is emerging as the key difference between the sides. Just as he prevented a tricky situation in Rajkot from becoming a crisis, so he prevented a wobble becoming a collapse here. Even when the ball kept low, he seemed to find it with the centre of his bat. His half-century has effectively shut the door on England in this game.His declaration will probably come around or just after lunch on day four. The lead is already 298 and is already probably enough. England will try to slow Indias progress but it is inevitable they will then be left with a minimum of five sessions of batting before them. Its hard to see any result other than an India win. But cricket wouldnt be half the game it is of it was predictable and if England are doomed, nobody has told them yet.Whatever happens, Englands attitude can have significance beyond this game.It should prove to them that they can prosper in these conditions. It should prove to them that Ravi Ashwin, for all his skill and control, can be combatted and that there is no place in this England dressing room for defeatism or excuses. Previous England teams (and not just England teams) may have bemoaned the conditions, the food, the climate and the loss of an important toss. This one will learn to deal with challenges or make way for players who will. This one, despite its flaws, has much to admire about it.Will there be a great escape? Probably not. But if we witness more spirit of the Great Escape this England team will receive no complaints from those watching. NMD Racer Australia . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. NMD Clearance Sale . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. http://www.nmdaustraliasale.com/ . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Wholesale NMD R1 . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. NMD R1 Mens Sale . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. ASHBURN, Va. -- Running off the field after throwing for 375 yards and three touchdowns in the Washington Redskins victory over the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Kirk Cousins stopped and yelled right into the ear of general manager Scot McCloughan.How you like me now? Cousins said, rubbing McCloughans head. How you like me now?Its a loaded question.In leading the Redskins to six games in eight games, Cousins has 2,398 yards and 16 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He has 3,091 yards this season while playing on the franchise tag and wants a lucrative, long-term contract whether its from the Redskins or someone else.Hes made progression in every area of his game, and hes continuing to do so, coach Jay Gruden said ahead of the Redskins Thanksgiving Game against the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys. You can see it. Its `Eye in the sky dont lie, so to speak. ... The more comfortable he gets, and the people around him, and the system, the better hes going to be.We like where he is, we like where hes going, (and) hes going to continue to work, which is also why we like him.How much do the Redskins like him is the question. After not being able to negotiate a long-term deal, theyre paying him $19.95 million this season, and a second consecutive year on the franchise tag would cost $23.94 million.Thats in the range of what Baltimores Joe Flacco, Arizonas Carson Palmer and Atlantas Matt Ryan will cost against the salary cap in 2017, and Cousins doesnt yet have the resume of those established starters. Cousins is getting there, and he knows each game is a test.Im just always trying to prove myself and Im always being evaluated, Cousins said after outdueling Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Ill always be trying to prove myself as long as Im playing this game.Cousins downplayed the grander meaning of asking his GM, How you like me now? But the 28-year-old has a history of being fired up in big moments, like when he screamed, You like that? after leading a comeback from down 24 against Tampa Bay last season.When Cousins gets asked about his contract situation, he calmly recalls a football lifetime of dealing with uncertainty.In high school, I played my senior year with no scholarship offers and had to prove myself to earn a scholarship, Cousins said Tuesday.dddddddddddd I went to Michigan State and played my senior year not knowing what was going to happen with the NFL. It wasnt like I was projected to be a high pick and had to prove myself there. I came here as a backup on a rookie contract as a fourth-round pick, didnt know what was going to happen, had to play that contract out and just prove myself. Here we are again.Cousins waited patiently to earn the Redskins starting job when he was drafted the same year as Robert Griffin III, but now isnt the time for patience. Urgency has suited Cousins well, and he has helped Washington rebound from an 0-2 start to get to 6-3-1 going into the showdown with Dallas.Along the way, Cousins has gotten better at extending plays, making better decisions with the ball and connecting on deep throws. He has a 104.9 QB rating in the past eight games and earning praise from Gruden for his growth.There are so many things that a quarterback has to do pre-snap that hes handling much better than he did when I first got here, Gruden said. Then his confidence to throw the ball and distribute the ball to the right people and not forcing the issue. His interceptions have gone down tremendously. Hes protecting the football in the pocket. Theres so many things that hes doing better that you just cant point to one.Cousins acknowledges that even though hell be 29 by the time next season starts hes still learning. But his veteran teammates see plenty of evidence that Cousins can be a franchise quarterback.Kirk, hes a winner, hes a leader, hes everything you want in a quarterback, said tight end Vernon Davis, who played last season with Peyton Manning. Each and every week hes getting better and better.Game notes Gruden said long snapper Nick Sundberg didnt participate in a walkthrough Tuesday. Sundberg missed the Packers game with a back injury and was replaced by Rick Lovato. ... WR DeSean Jackson (shoulder), LT Ty Nsekhe (ankle), DE Chris Baker (hamstring) and LB Preston Smith (back) were limited Tuesday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '