Dein erstes Forum » ton.The Texas offense gives any starter room for err

Graeme Cremer does not tend to attract much attention, but there is a story about Zimbabwes captain that provides some insight into his character.He had been rested for a warm-up match against West Indies in Sharjah in March ahead of the World T20 but after Neville Madziva injured a finger while fielding, Cremer had no problem stepping in. He took a good catch on the boundary and then insisted on batting when Zimbabwe collapsed. Thats Graeme - always wanting to improve his game, Kenyon Ziehl, who was there as Zimbabwes selection convenor, said.Cremer took on a short ball from Dwayne Bravo and fractured his left forearm. The X-rays showed numerous splinters, but he wanted to put the arm in a cast and get on the plane to India for the World T20, Ziehl said. He was even willing to sign an indemnity form. In the end we had to make a call based on his health, because the medical advice was that one of the shards of bone could have got into his nervous system or his blood stream.Such determination has not been been evident in Zimbabwes cricket of late. As a team they often deserve sympathy for the conditions they are expected to operate in, but at the same time there is also the feeling that they are all too happy to fall back on those excuses - at least in their own minds - when things invariably get tough in the middle.Since taking over as captain in June, Cremer has shown - through actions rather than words - that he is not one to utilise the get-out clause. As a result he has often been the difference between heavy defeat and abject humiliation.Cremer began his first Test as captain - against New Zealand in July - having not played the format in over three years. He could have easily hidden himself but he bowled 53 out of 166.5 overs and contributed 33 runs as well, occupying the crease for three hours and helping Sean Williams drag Zimbabwe up from 17 for 4 in the second innings.In Harare against Sri Lanka, Cremer had bowled 42 overs, most of them during the toughest phases of the innings, for four hard-earned wickets. Then, when Zimbabwe were 139 for 6, trailing by 398 runs with only four wickets in hand, Cremer responded with an innings few thought possible of a batsman averaging 10.75 in Test cricket.It began innocently enough, with him holding an end up as Peter Moor counterattacked, hitting two clean sixes down the ground. I think we bat quite well together because he plays some big shots and keeps the scoreboard ticking, and I know that I can block out a maiden if I need to and just get off strike, Cremer said.The irony is that while he saves Zimbabwe from humiliation, Cremer often leaves the batsmen that preceded him red in the face. Theres nothing flash about a player who often batted last in his school teams - he has an elegant forward push that brought seven of his 10 fours through cover, but otherwise he remains compact, picks up the length well and, crucially, doesnt do anything stupid. By the evening, Moor had fallen for 79 but Cremer was still there, pinching singles with the tail to get a maiden Test century, before celebrating in a manner that suggested he was also pinching himself. Its very special - I hadnt got fifty before in Test cricket and I dont even have a five-for yet, he said. When I got to 75, I started thinking, Theres a chance here. Then I thought I might run out of partners. It was an awesome feeling to get that one run to get to a hundred.Cremers influence appears to be rubbing off on some of the newer members of his side, notably Moor and seamer Donald Tiripano. Moors attitude has been evident since the ODI series against India in June. When a journalist commiserated with him over a marginal lbw decision, he brushed the comment off and instead took responsibility for his actions. I should have hit it, he said.That no-excuses approach has been drilled into Zimbabwe since Heath Streak, who also scored his Test century as a No. 8 and captain, was appointed as head coach.We spoke about that as soon as Streaky came in, said Cremer. We can carry on whining about things that happen to us and we just keep going backwards, or we try and turn it around and be a lot more positive as a unit, and show what we can do out there. Whatever happens then is out of our control. Theres a good positive attitude in the changing room and its good to see for a change.The Zimbabwe side that Streak was a part of was widely respected not because they won very match, but for an attitude that helped them punch above their weight. When Hamilton Masakadza was axed as captain earlier this year, with Zimbabwe at a particularly low ebb, one wondered what kind of leader might serve them best, especially given few available options. By embodying the sort of grit that has so often been lacking, Cremer has answered the question in his own quiet style - and notched an unlikely Test hundred while he was at it. Fake Kd Shoes . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Kyrie Irving Shoes Wholesale . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/cheap-max-1-shoes.html .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Cheap Lebrons From China . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Wholesale Nike Shoes Clearance . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. SEATTLE -- At about 10:15 p.m. Pacific time Tuesday, the retractable roof at Safeco Field made its methodical closure while the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers played the eighth inning of another high-scoring baseball game.It seemed like the only way to contain the Rangers unlimited offense.Texas and its loaded lineup will try to provide some more fireworks against the Mariners on Wednesday night, when struggling Seattle rookie Ariel Miranda (2-1, 5.76 ERA) takes the mound to face the Rangers A.J. Griffin (7-3, 4.41 ERA).Texas (83-56) has scored six or more runs in eight consecutive games and is averaging 7.5 runs per game over its past 13 games.Their offense is obviously really good; its rolling right now, Seattle manager Scott Servais said after Texas pounded out 15 hits and hit two home runs to beat the Mariners 10-7 on Tuesday night. Were having trouble slowing it down.The Mariners (70-68) arent alone in that respect. Texas already had a pretty good offense before adding Lucroy and Carlos Beltran in deadline deals, and now the Rangers are nothing short of loaded.Its a pretty special batting order, Lucroy said after hitting his ninth home run in 28 games as a Ranger on Tuesday night. Any guy in the lineup can hurt you.The Rangers, who have some question marks in their pitching rotation, have largely ridden their bats to a huge lead in the American League West. Tuesdays win kept Texas 8 1/2 games ahead of second-place Houston, and the Rangers magic number sits at 16.Griffin has won two conssecutive starts heading into his scheduled outing Wednesday night in Seattle.dddddddddddd He threw six shutout innings against Cleveland on Aug. 27, then Griffin had a shakier start the last time out, walking three while allowing two home runs over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-6 win over Houston.The Texas offense gives any starter room for error, and the Rangers should feel good about their chances against Seattle starter Miranda on Wednesday. Although Texas has yet to face the rookie left-hander, the 27-year-old Miranda has struggled in recent outings as he tries to prove himself as a long-term option in the Mariners rotation.Hes one of many Seattle starters who are in a funk heading down the stretch. Veterans Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma are losing some of their command, while youngsters James Paxton and Taijuan Walker have been unable to sustain any kind of consistency.Walker, who is scheduled to start Thursdays series finale, has been particularly bad as of late. He only got two outs in his last start, so it wouldnt be a big surprised to the Texas offense continue to rip through its final two games in Seattle.Texas has virtually wrapped up the division but is still trying to hold off Cleveland and whatever team wins the AL East for homefield advantage. The Rangers currently have the best record in the American League heading into Wednesday nights game in Seattle. ' ' '