cGregor has altered his training for the rematch, acknowledging he wasnt p

Ankit Bawne has had an intriguing career. He made his first-class debut at 15, in 2007-08, and established himself as a regular in the Maharashtra side in three years. Since 2010-11, he has never averaged less than 45 in a Ranji Trophy season. Six days shy of turning 24, Bawne is already some sort of veteran: he has played 68 first-class matches and scored 4663 runs at an average of 52.98, including 15 hundreds. A List A average of 43.08 from 43 games suggests he is not a one-format player.Despite his numbers, Bawne has never been part of India A or IPL squads. He doesnt deny feeling disappointed but offers a practical alternative to sulking. There is just one goal - to play for India. Till that time, I have to keep fighting, he tells ESPNcricinfo at the end of Maharashtras Group B match against Assam in Chennai. I look at it positively because in cricket there is no point in being negative; you only get demotivated.Five years ago Bawne could have easily become demotivated after making headlines for the wrong reasons. He was removed from the India under-19 squad ahead of a quadrangular tournament in Visakhapatnam after the date of birth in his passport was found to not match the one in his birth certificate and the BCCIs records. As it didnt meet the cut-off date for the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, Bawne, who was originally named captain for the quadrangular tournament, was omitted. Unmukt Chand took over the captaincy and went on to win the World Cup, even as Bawne lamented that the agent who had arranged for his passport had mixed up the dates.Bawne does not think the episode hindered his future selections, but admits the controversy was a test of his mental toughness, especially with the odd taunt tossed at him on the field. You have to endure such stuff. In cricket, there are no easy days, he says. The support of my family, the team coach and Ajay [Shirke] sir, our president [of the Maharashtra Cricket Association], was crucial. But, you have to be tough and remain steadfast in your goals. The character I showed at that time has led to where I am now.The Under-19 was a shortcut for me to the national side, but the ultimate dream is to play for the senior team. I dont think [my performances are overshadowed by the controversy] because Ranji Trophy is not an under-19 tournament. The selectors have played enough cricket to know that Ranji Trophy performances count as far as selection for Test cricket is concerned. Many players obviously get a chance by virtue of the IPL, but I am not a part of the IPL, so Ranji Trophy is everything to me.Many quality players in domestic cricket have rued the chance for lesser talents to attract selectors attentions with a few good IPL performances. Bawne too says not playing in the IPL is a setback because of the recall value it brings.It is a little tough at the Ranji Trophy level compared to the IPL; this time there are no [league] matches being broadcast in contrast to the IPL where every match is shown live. Teen ghante ka match hota hai, 14 matches hote hai, do shot bhi koi achcha khela toh notice ho jaata hai (the game spans three hours and there are 14 matches. Even if someone plays two good shots, he gets noticed).Bawne, however, understands there are many routes to the Indian dressing room, and that batsmen better than him have taken the harder route and succeeded. He derives comfort from how long the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had to grind it out in domestic cricket before breaking into the national side. A chat with Virender Sehwag further strengthened his belief that the rigours of the Ranji Trophy would ultimately prove rewarding.Pujara and Rahane got their chances after scoring about 5000 runs in first-class cricket, Bawne says. When you play 60-70 first-class matches and then play Test cricket, you see how these players dominate in international cricket.During the last season, when we were playing against Haryana, I asked Virender Sehwag sir how I could make the step up to the next level. He told me I was playing well and I will get my chances. It wasnt like I would be completely ignored.Bawne knows he has to score at least 700-800 runs every season - his personal target hovers around the 1000-run mark - to be on the selectors radar. He is Maharashtras leading run-getter this season with 687 runs at an average of 57.25, but will not get any more opportunities to inch towards 1000 runs with his team failing to make the knockouts.The accomplishment of a maiden double-hundred, though, has given him plenty of satisfaction. His 258 came in the course of the second-highest partnership in first-class history in the company of captain Swapnil Gugale in Delhi.Whatever I have set out to achieve - to score big runs, to remain consistent and average around 50 - I have done that. I wanted to score a double-hundred this time, he says. I bat at No.5-6, so I mostly have to score runs with the bowlers for company. Luckily against Mumbai, since Kedar Jadhav was away for the New Zealand [ODI] series, I got to bat at No.4. It was a good wicket and there was a quality opposition in the form of Delhi, so I couldnt let go of that chance.Bawne also sees a role-model in Indias limited-overs captain MS Dhoni. In 2014-15, when Bawne hit a dead-end in his limited-overs batting, he decided to re-invent his game. Bawne says he picked up cues from watching Dhoni on TV and applied the knowledge during practice. The results were instant as Bawne scored two hundreds and an unbeaten 78 from four innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.I have been inspired by how he [Dhoni] makes runs in the one-dayers, especially with the lower order, and how he plays percentage cricket, he says. I didnt want to be a one-dimensional player and wanted to average around 45-50 in one-dayers. I was trying to clear the ropes, and focusing on my release shots as well.Closer home, Bawne has found inspiration in Jadhav, whose recent successes in international cricket, he feels, have provided him and his team-mates a template to follow.When six-seven players from Mumbai or Delhi used to make it to the Indian team, it became easier for the others to stay under the radar and keep performing, he says. I got to know what the path was after seven-eight years of hard-work. Had there been an India player in the side, you would have learnt it in two years.Now we know the path to succeed - Kedar has scored 1000 runs and progressed. When I talk to Kedar, he says its a big deal to have 5000-odd runs at my age and keeps telling me to stick it out.That would be good advice, especially with the chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad, taking notice of Bawnes performances. His records have been good, but this year he has been very consistent, Prasad tells ESPNcricinfo. My colleagues have watched him bat this season and I have seen him bat last year. He is a good player.Bawne feels he is currently in the best form of his life. This year I am feeling very comfortable, he says. I am not trying to take risks and I dont feel nervous at all.Jerseys Wholesale . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. 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Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons.LAS VEGAS -- After Jon Jones failed doping test threw UFC 200 into turmoil, Conor McGregor realized the UFC needed a last-minute opponent for light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.McGregor might be a featherweight fighting at welterweight these days, but his confidence knows no poundage.Im here, and Im in shape, McGregor said Thursday. All they have to do is ask.McGregors self-belief appears to be unruffled after his 15-fight winning streak ended with a stunning loss to Nate Diaz in March. The fighters traded their usual trash talk and posturing when they made their first joint appearance to promote their rematch at UFC 202 on Aug. 20 at Las Vegas new T-Mobile Arena.McGregor (19-3) only jokingly volunteered to fight at UFC 200, but made it clear hes serious about avenging his loss to Diaz (19-10) and reasserting his position atop the promotions hierarchy. McGregor even referred to the widespread rumors of the UFCs impending sale to an investment conglomerate by claiming he was the main reason behind it all.The reason theres a $4.2 billion price tag on this company is because of me, McGregor said. The Chinese estimate my net worth at $4.2 billion.Diaz beat McGregor by submission in the second round at UFC 196 in a short-notice welterweight bout, stalling the rapid rise of the UFCs loquacious Irish 145-pound champion.The rematch was initially slated to be the main event at UFC 200, but the promotion pulled the bout after McGregor balked at breaking his training camp in Iceland to travel for his promotional obligations. McGregor showed refreshing humility when asked about the missed opportunity to be the main event in the landmark show.What I would have done differently is communicated a little bit better, McGregor said. I felt I played it a little bit wrong, but I think they played it a bit wrong as well.ddddddddddddMcGregor has altered his training for the rematch, acknowledging he wasnt prepared for the bout against Diaz after lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos dropped out with an injury. McGregor even agreed to fight Diaz at the 170-pound welterweight limit, 25 pounds above his usual featherweight size and 15 pounds more than he would have weighed against Dos Anjos.This time, Im preparing for a tall, lanky, ugly Mexican southpaw, McGregor said of his Mexican-American opponent. Im going to go in and do what I always do: Im going to tee off on him.McGregor is sparring with middleweights in training camp, and he agreed to take the rematch at 170 pounds again, saying he couldnt ask for concessions if he truly wanted to avenge his first loss since November 2010.Diaz only chuckled, noting that he hadnt even been training when he accepted the first fight.Yeah, I should be better if I can prepare for a fight, Diaz said. I noticed some of the people (McGregor) is working with, and hes bringing top guys in. Thats what we should be doing.McGregors coach would like him to abandon the weight cuts necessary to get to 145 pounds, and McGregor acknowledges that he expects to fight Diaz for a third time after beating him next month. But McGregor also reaffirmed his plan to go back to featherweight in the future, sticking to his intention to dominate multiple weight classes.Just maybe not light heavyweight.I will beat Nate, get that win back, (then) dominate my division, McGregor said. And then well re-talk about a trilogy fight with Nate. ' ' '