as the only starting outfielder in the lineup.The Cubs will also use

Is momentum in cricket real?Captains talk about it in earnest. Commentators go one step further, looking for the actual tipping point. It becomes part of the answer to why a player is in form and can even lay out why he isnt. It impacts a sides performance no matter the format. It even supersedes arguments such as conditions being different or that not all people tend to be affected by something in the same way.Clearly, physics was never big enough to hold momentum all to itself and having transcended into the sporting arena, it has become a buzzword that nobody can escape.In Rajkot, Virat Kohli said momentum sort of defines if you have an advantage of a disadvantage as a team. By that logic, can England consider themselves as being on top going into the Visakhapatnam Test? They made more runs in Rajkot. They took more wickets. They even took the awards. Assuming momentum is as powerful as everyone says, perhaps.Only, before the series began, India had crushed New Zealand, a team that seemed well-equipped to handle spin-friendly conditions. They hadnt lost a Test in over a year and the last time they did so at home was in 2012. If momentum was such an irresistible force, Kohli and his men shouldnt have been given the scare they were. Besides, theyve insisted it wasnt a scare. That tense situations like being six down with 10 overs left on a fifth-day pitch are a learning experience. You can imagine how desperately disappointed they must have been as kids when school was out.Momentum seems to have a tendency to vary with points of view as well. Alastair Cook is buoyed by the strength of Englands performance in the opening Test of one of the toughest series of his career. Kohli believes he will get a track that is conducive to Indias strengths so he is barely bothered about the events in Rajkot. Ask them who has the momentum, both men, would likely say they do. Makes sense. Not.Look at the things that have changed. India have brought back their first-choice opener. KL Rahul comes into the second Test on the back of a first-class century which not only points to his form but importantly establishes that he has recovered well from a hamstring injury. On the other hand, England are worried over the availability of Chris Woakes, who has been among their best performing players since the start of their home summer.Then there is the surface, which may start out better than hoped but would certainly deteriorate a lot quicker than the one at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Ground. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have exploited such conditions in the past. All they need is one to spin big. That combined with their ability to undercut the ball and make a few go straight has led many a batsmen to confusion. It is not an easily replicable skill. A spinner hoping for as little deviation as possible has to avoid the seam hitting the deck. Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Zafar Ansari may have made a fine start to the series, but can they match the Indians tricks? None of them is experienced enough in this format to carry a bowling attack.Finally, the batting. It is never black and white in touch conditions, which arguably, neither of these sides has had to deal with so far. Visakhapatnam - from day three onwards - appears set to remedy that. So defensive techniques need to be tight. Partnerships become crucial for any time a new batsman comes in, the likelihood of him getting out quickly may as well be a blaring red light on top of his head.Even if someone is in form, he has to be mindful of the ways in which the bowler is targeting him. Just because he made a hundred in the last innings doesnt give him the right to pass go and collect 200 the next time. Monopoly rules sadly dont apply in cricket.All these factors - the pitch, each teams plans, each individuals plans, the outcome of the toss - dispute the impact momentum can have across matches. Within a match then. Does one team pulling ahead immediately set them up in a match? Four years ago, in Ahmedabad, Cook made a resoundingly defiant 176 while following-on which forced the Indian bowlers to tire themselves out and may even have had a bearing on their potency in the next Test in Mumbai.Hard work, skill, and just that little bit of chance, make up a cricket match. Momentum - whatever it is - is a far weaker influence.China Jerseys Stitched . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Cheap Jerseys From China . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. China Jerseys Wholesale . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. China Jerseys Cheap . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference.PITTSBURGH -- It was not quite a year ago that the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates met in the National League wild card game. Much has changed since then.Javier Baez hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs while major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks pitched six scoreless innings as the Cubs won their 100th game of the season, routing the Pirates 12-2 on Monday night.The Cubs improved to 13-3 against the Pirates this season.This year is what it is, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. Theyve played extremely well against us. Theyve pitched extremely well against us. Theyve got a good team. Theres a lot of reasons why theyve won 100 games.Baez helped the NL Central-champion Cubs reach triple digits in victories for the first time since 1935. He hit his second career grand slam in the fourth inning to extend Chicagos lead to 5-0 and his two-run single capped a six-run sixth that made it 11-0.Hendricks (16-8) dropped his ERA to 1.99 by scattering seven hits, striking out five and walking none. He has not allowed more than three runs in 22 consecutive starts.Kris Bryant hit a two-run home run, his 39th, in the sixth to draw within one of NL leader Nolan Arenado of Colorado. It was also his 100th RBI.The hundred is very significant, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. It might not mean anything, but Ive been on teams that have lost 100 games, so its kind of nice to be on the other end of the stick.What it means is that weve played consistently all year. It means we come to play every day.The Pirates saw their hopes of a fourth consecutive postseason appearance dim even further with their third straight loss. They fell five games out of the second NL wild card with just six games to play.Rookie Chad Kuhl (5-4) was rocked for five runs and eight hits in three-plus innings as his string of nine consecutive starts of giving up three runs or less ended.I thought I threw the ball pretty well until the fourth inning and then they started working some deep counts and things got away from me, Kuhl said.Matt Jooyce and pinch-hitter David Freese hit back-to-back home runs off Pedro Strop in the eighth inning to account for the Pirates scoring.dddddddddddd Andrew McCutchen extended his hitting streak to 14 games.THE MADDON SHUFFLEMaddon is trying to strike a balance between giving his regulars rest and keeping them sharp for the postseason now that his team has clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.Maddon played what he called his varsity infield with the groundball-inducing Hendricks starting -- 1B Anthony Rizzo, 2B Baez, 3B Bryant and SS Addison Russell. Meanwhile, RF Jason Heyward was the only starting outfielder in the lineup.The Cubs will also use all relievers Thursday night in the series finale with rookie RHP Rob Zastryzny starting in place of LHP Mike Montgomery.FUTURE MOVEThe Pirates acquired INF Chris Bostick from Washington in a trade for minor league C Taylor Gushue and cash considerations. Bostick was added to the 40-man roster but will not report to the major league club.2B Josh Harrison was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to clear a roster spot for Bostick, who finished the season at Triple-A Syracuse and has yet to play in the major leagues.REMEMBERING ARNIEA moment of silence was held for golfing legend Arnie Palmer, a native of Latrobe, Pa., and frequent visitor to PNC Park. Hurdle said a signed cap by Palmer from Latrobe Country Club is among his most-prized possessions.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RF Gregory Polanco (facial contusion) missed his third straight game. . LF Starling Marte (back) was not in the lineup for the 19th time in 20 games.UP NEXTCubs: RHP John Lackey (10-8, 3.39 ERA) will start Tuesday night. He is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA in four starts since missing three weeks because of a strained shoulder.Pirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (3-6, 4.85) hasnt made it past the fifth inning in his four September starts, going 0-2 with a 9.18 ERA. ' ' '