will send them top of the rankings, at l

Australias cricketers have got plenty on their plates already, after slumping to an innings defeat in the second Test against South Africa in Hobart - which condemned them to only their fifth home series loss since 1988. But, as is the way in the inexorable cycle of the oldest rivalry in the game, attention is already beginning to drift 12 months into the future - to November 2017, when England travel once again to defend the Ashes Down Under.Forewarned is forearmed where long-range Ashes projections are concerned. After all, it was at roughly this stage of the cycle four years ago that Australias juggernaut last began to slide off the road. Another home series loss to South Africa was followed, in the spring, by their calamitous 4-0 whitewash in India, and there were few signs of a revival when Michael Clarkes men were muscled out of the big moments of the 2013 series in England.But then, back on home soil and reeking of vengeance, Australia seized a violent 5-0 whitewash, with the twin forces of nature, Mitchell Johnson and David Warner, storming to the fore. It just goes to show, a year is a long time in cricket, particularly if - as the former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, has implored - his fellow countrymen use their current problems as a cue to get their act together before it is too late.Id like to think theyve got one eye on the Ashes already, in what is going to be a very tough series, says Ponting, who will be commentating on the series for BT Sport next year. If you look at Englands team and Australias team right now, youd probably say that Englands team is more settled - Kevin Pietersen was calling for nine changes after the Perth Test - but itll be interesting to see who starts favourites when the Ashes come around.Michael Vaughan, Pontings opposing captain in the 2005 Ashes, has been sitting alongside him in the BT Sport studios watching Australias fortunes over the past few weeks - including their capitulation from a dominant position at Perth, and their collapse to 85 all out in the first innings at Hobart - and he is unequivocal in his current assessment of the two teams merits.My scouting report is that England have got nothing to fear, Vaughan says. But with Australia you know that, 12 months down the line, they cant be any worse than this. I look at their batting line-up and it hasnt improved at all since 2015. As soon as the ball moves laterally, theyve got hard hands technically. One or two are strong but the rest are very vulnerable, but in 12 months time, Im sure theyll be much better.Whether Australias projected improvement can atone for their current weaknesses, only time will tell. But both former captains are in agreement that Australias chopping and changing must stop if they are to give their players a chance of being ready for the most scrutinised contest in the Test calendar.The number of players that Australia have churned through in recent times is startling - 23 in the 16 Tests since Steven Smith inherited the captaincy from Michael Clarke. That may be some way short of Englands dark days in the 1989 and 1993 Ashes when they ploughed through 29 and 24 players respectively, but it is distinctly un-Australian in approach nonetheless. By way of contrast, Ponting and his precedessor, Steve Waugh, used just 58 players between them in a combined total of 134 matches in charge.Weve had such a bad run with injuries, Ponting says in mitigation. I know that sounds like a bit of an excuse, but weve lost [Peter] Siddle, [James] Pattinson, [Pat] Cummins, [Nathan] Coulter Nile … even Shaun Marsh broke a finger last week. A lot of the changes have been forced, but then there was the situation in Sri Lanka, where [Usman] Khawaja and [Joe] Burns were dropped after two Tests, then picked again straightaway. It seems they are forever trying to find a better formula.Defeat in next weeks third Test at Adelaide would be Australias sixth in a row - theyve only twice lost that many on the bounce since the start of the 20th Century - and while their current form brings with it some inevitable pressure on Smiths captaincy, Ponting doesnt seriously believe there are any other candidates to lead Australia into next winters Ashes. Its the identity of the team-mates that is the biggest single issue.I dont think the wolves are circling, Ponting says. Up until the start of the Sri Lanka series, hed won seven out of 11 Tests and not lost a game. Theres no doubt in my mind that Steve Smith is the right man for the job.But they are throwing things around to find the right combination from series to series. If we take a view for the Ashes, and prioritise that, then lets start picking guys that we think, with 12 months cricket under their belt, might be ready for that series. It might mean a little bit of pain along the way, but they are getting that at the moment anyway.The bigger captaincy question mark, in fact, hovers over the more settled of the two Ashes teams. While Alastair Cook would surely love to exact revenge for Englands humiliation in the 2013-14 campaign, he hinted recently that the time might be nigh for him to take a step back into the ranks.With a draining tour of India currently underway, followed by a natural seven-month break from Test cricket as England switch to one-day cricket ahead of the Champions Trophy in June, it is not out of the question that Cooks heir apparent, Joe Root, could be at the helm for South Africas tour of England in July. Alastair has had this question thrown at him for the last seven series, says Vaughan. Two years ago [after losing to Sri Lanka in 2014], I thought he was gone, but he keeps springing up. But I do think hes the type of character who could fit back into the team. Ive played with many captains who couldnt cope with having someone else direct them. I cant think of a better person to be that father figure in the corner, standing at first slip, giving the new captain plenty of advice.And if there is any doubt about Cooks hunger to carry on in the role, then Ponting believes that the handover should come sooner rather than later.The longer that Joe Root, if he is to be the captain, can have leading into the next Ashes series would be absolutely beneficial, he says. For all the obvious reasons, everything that comes around in an Ashes series - whether its the pressure on the players or in the media - everything is magnified ten times on every other Test series. You dont want to have someone going into an Ashes series who isnt ready for everything that comes with it.We all look forward to that time when you dont have that extra responsibility, Ponting adds. The thing with the captaincy is, it does really wear you down because you almost have to find a way to reinvent yourself as a leader every series. England have maintained a solid group for a long time, so your messaging to those players - finding a way to make it new and fresh and different - gets harder and harder by the series, and therefore by the year. That might be the stage that he is at.That apparent desire for a quieter life does not, however, mean that Cook is remotely close to calling time on a remarkable career in which he has played in 133 consecutive Tests since 2006, and last week scored his 30th Test century to go past the tally of the great Sir Donald Bradman.Hes remarkable, says Vaughan. When you look at what hes gone through, for three-quarters of Alastairs career, batting has been very difficult. Hes had to scrap for every one of his 10,000 runs, and there have been periods of play when hes looked like hes batting with a toothpick, but hes eked every ounce of runs out of his ability.Hes not just great but hes so strong mentally. Hes worked out the opposition and kept to a simple method, and the three or four shots he does have, he sticks to them. He never goes out of his bubble. He has his sheep on the [family] farm that chill him out and get him out of the pressure zone, and he goes back and bats every other week. Its a remarkable story.A return to the ranks ahead of a return to the scene of his most prolific series - the 2010-11 Ashes, in which he made 766 runs to set up a historic 3-1 victory - could be, in Vaughans opinion, the start of a prolific final chapter to a record-breaking career, and the chance to pass his experience onto his opening partner, Haseeb Hameed, a player who looked, in making 82 on debut in Rajkot last week, accomplished beyond his 19 years.He came into the side with no game for three weeks, but it just proves the mental side is key, says Vaughan. Hes got a mechanism in his mind that makes him a good player. Hes 19, hes going to make mistakes, but hes obsessed with the game and hell learn quickly. He looks controlled against the seamers, very controlled against spin, and he has that cheeky chappy character. Hell be just fine.They had to go with a kid, says Vaughan, after nine inconclusive attempts to find a long-term successor to Cooks former opening partner, Andrew Strauss. All our great players start as kids. Gower, Cook, Botham, Anderson, Broad, Flintoff … Compton was 19. If you want to be a great player you start young, because you dont have time to become a great player if you start at 24-25.And if Cook has three years left, if he can have three years opening with Haseeb Hameed for 30-40 Tests before retiring, Haseeb can take over Alastairs mantle. It will give Alastair a spring in his step to know he is guiding a young lad through the ranks.All things being equal, Hameed and Cook will have had 12 Tests in harness by the time the 2017-18 Ashes gets get underway, and by then, the strength of Australias challenge should be far more apparent. In particular, nobody foresaw quite how savage their pace attack would turn out to be on Englands last visit in 2013-14, and though the gaps in their ranks have been telling against South Africa, Ponting is adamant that a potent line-up is not so far away.Australia have two very good up-and-coming fast bowlers in [Josh] Hazlewood and [Mitchell] Starc, and hopefully by then theyll have Pattinson and Cummins back and fit. When you start talking about those four guys, suddenly the Australia attack looks pretty formidable.England have been a bit like Australia in recent months, he adds. Theyve had some serious batting collapses when the ball has moved or turned. And thats what makes the next Ashes so intriguing. Who is going to handle the conditions better, who will bowl the best?The one thing about Englands guys is theyve been there and done it before. [Stuart] Broad and [Jimmy] Anderson continue to get the job done more often than not. But youd like to think that the Australian players will have a better handle on the conditions than the English. BT Sport is your new home for Australias home international matches and Big Bash League, including the 2017-18 Ashes series. For more info please visit sport.bt.com/cricket DeSean Jackson Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Ron Jaworski Eagles Jersey . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. http://www.theeaglesshoponline.com/Youth-Seth-Joyner-Eagles-Jersey/ . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. Seth Joyner Youth Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Reggie White Womens Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Match factsAugust 11-15, 2016 Start time 11am (1000 GMT)Big PictureLess than four weeks have passed since Pakistan wrapped up a rousing victory at Lords in the first Test, capped by a military-inspired set of press-ups in front of the pavilion, but they return to London with very little of that inspirational vim remaining. Trips to Manchester and Birmingham have resulted in two strength-sapping defeats and it is now England who are flexing their muscles ahead of the Oval encounter.From entering the series ranked fourth in the world, and thanks to Australias unexpected capitulation in Sri Lanka, England can suddenly see a shortcut to No. 1. That would require victory in the final Test and a 3-1 series scoreline (as well as West Indies to hold off India in one of their two remaining matches) but they are moving in the right direction regardless. In contrast to their tightly drilled ascent to No. 1 five years ago, England seem a little surprised to have found themselves wandering around the summit so soon - and Alastair Cook is sticking to his line that they have plenty to learn, whatever the rankings say.An improvement on their record in the final Test of a series is clearly the next matter to address. A draw at The Oval will be enough to give England all nine series trophies but a win would underline the sense of progress rather more emphatically. In recent times, England have finished off Test tours with defeats in Centurion, Sharjah and Barbados, while last summer they were beaten at The Oval and Headingley. Such flakiness is unbecoming of a side with aspirations to be the best in the world.Another reason to guard against complacency is Pakistans good record at The Oval. Putting aside the memory of their forfeiture in 2006 (a game in which they were well placed), Pakistan have secured several memorable wins in south London, including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis reverse-swinging their way through England in 1992 and victory on their most recent visit, six years ago. By contrast, since England clinched the 2009 Ashes on this ground, they have only beaten India (in 2011 and 2014), while suffering three defeats and a draw.Pakistan will always have Lords and this tour will be remembered for Misbah-ul-Haqs hundred, the heroics of Yasir Shah and the return of Mohammad Amir. But they have a chance to leave with even better memories if they can pull it all together again back in the capital - not to mention an outside shot of reaching No. 1 themselves with a drawn series. The drill sergeants of Abbottabad, just like everyone else, will be watching keenly.Form guideEngland: WWLDW (last five completed matches, most recent first)? Pakistan: LLWWWIn the spotlight Having struggled against Pakistans left-armers, Alex Hales finally produced a substantial contribution with the bat in the second innings at Edgbaston, putting on a vital century stand to help erase Englands deficit. However, he is still waiting for the defining, three-figure innings that will secure his tenure as Test opener for the near future. The final Test of the English summer is often the occasion for auditions but Hales - who has put faith in his technique - is hoping to shut the door on prospective top-order newcomers.As the tour has gone on, confidence in Pakistans batting has steadily eroded. The fortunes of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have been divergent but they have common cause to try and finish the seriies with heads and bats held high.dddddddddddd Misbah has coped admirably with the conditions on his first Test experience of England but another defeat would doubtless trigger talk about his age and the captaincy; Younis, though four years younger, is also unlikely to be back again and, 15 years after his first tour here, is in need of an innings to stave of similar talk of retirement.Team news Alastair Cook said England were hoping to play the same team, which would mean Adil Rashid and Jake Ball missing out again. James Vince has recovered from a finger injury sustained attempting to take a catch at Edgbaston but wont field in the slips.England (possible) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 James Vince, 5 Gary Ballance, 6 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Steven Finn, 11 James AndersonMickey Arthur hinted at various options for Pakistans selection, with the need for a fifth bowler even more pressing in the second of back-to-back Tests. If Iftikhar Ahmed - who bowls offspin and decently, according to Arthur - wins a Test debut, he would likely come into the side at Mohammad Hafeezs expense but bat in the middle order, with Azhar Ali asked to open. A rare four-Test series has increased the workload on Pakistans pace bowlers and there may also be changes to the attack.Pakistan (possible) 1 Mohammad Hafeez/Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 Sami Aslam, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Yasir Shah, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Sohail Khan, 11 Rahat Ali/Wahab RiazPitch and conditions As before the Ashes Test at The Oval last year, a distinctly green-tinged pitch was on show (although that didnt stop Australia from racking up 481 in an innings win) and Cook suggested it would be suited to pace bowling, with some turn later on. In Surreys last Championship match here, in June, spinners Zafar Ansari and Gareth Batty took 12 wickets between them. The forecast is for a warm finish to the week, which could facilitate the surface breaking up.Stats and triviaA 3-1 series win for England will send them top of the rankings, at least until the completion of Indias tour of the West IndiesAside from forfeiting the 2006 Test at The Oval, Pakistan have not lost at the ground since 1967Chris Woakes needs one more wicket to break James Andersons record of 23 for an England bowler in a Test series against PakistanJoe Root is 60 runs short of 4000 in Tests; if he gets there in his next innings, he will go level with Kevin Pietersen as 14th fastest overallQuotes It would be a great achievement. Weve just got to focus on playing good cricket, weve been consistent the last two games, up against it at times but played some consistent cricket - can we have that same hunger and determination in this game? If we can do that, weve got a good chance of winning.Alastair Cook on Englands quest for all nine series trophiesIn the third Test match, I believe it was some of our mistakes that let England come back into that game. After doing so much well, we were really in the game until the fourth day - even on the last day, until lunch, it was looking like a draw. So the team can do it but we need to combine those performances.Misbah-ul-Haq wants his players to focus on finishing the series well ' ' '