couldnt get any pressure on him when they needed a stop on

In the fall of 1999, Pakistan went to Australia with what they believed was the most talented squad they had ever had. They were barely six months removed from having lost a World Cup they thought was their own, and the series was thus presented as a time for revenge. The Test team had been plagued by inconsistency over the previous five years, but they could always put that down to infighting and to being led by sub-par captains. Under Wasim Akram, by contrast, Pakistans record was exemplary. Since losing in Australia four years earlier, he had taken charge of five Test series - winning four and drawing one. Even the lone drawn series, away to India in 1999, could be classified as a success, with the third Test of that tour being a victory on course to winning the Asian Test championship. The confidence they had going to Australia wasnt misplaced.A decade earlier Pakistans greatest Test team had gone to Australia having not lost a single one of their previous ten Test series - including two against the uber dominant West Indies. They returned with a one-nil loss. Surely this time it would be different?It was. But not the way they imagined it would be. Pakistan lost nine of their first ten matches on the 1999-2000 tour. That streak, which included all three Tests, began with their inability to play a 50-year old Dennis Lillee and ended with them being blown away by Australias second-tier attack. For the first time in over a decade Pakistan realised that even their best might not be good enough against the best.That has been the story of Pakistans tours to Australia. They have only ever won four Tests there - the last two in dead rubbers. The last time they won a live Test in Australia, the top three music acts on the Billboard charts were Gloria Gaynor, the Bee Gees and Rod Stewart, and Margaret Thatcher was still the leader of the opposition in England. No team has held sway over Pakistan quite like Australia has done.For a country and a fraternity that prides itself on being different and innovative, Australia presents the biggest challenge. Pakistan, after all, is the place where, despite having taken nearly 500 international wickets, Saqlain Mushtaq is still defined as the inventor of the doosra: innovation trumps achievement. And yet, however different they might present themselves as, there is an ideal they wish to emulate. Think of everything that former Pakistan cricketers, pundits and the majority of fans consider to be components of the essential character of Pakistani cricket. Words like mercurial or unpredictable do not feature; those are used by foreigners when referring to Pakistan. When Pakistanis project their best selves it is by describing the team in vaguely masculine terms. The belief in sheer pace, in the importance of legspin; the unhealthy obsession with aggression; the belief that all that matters is confidence; the sense that every inkblot in a Rorschach test is bound to be a moustache - these are borrowed from Australia. The reverence for these qualities has only increased since that fateful winter over the turn of the century. Quite simply, Pakistanis want their team to be Australia, or rather to approximate to their own interpretation of Australianism.Pakistan have attempted to learn from Australia too. Pakistans solutions after that tour of Australia in 1999-2000 were predictable - they set up a national cricket academy. Tauqir Zia sent Colonel Shujauddin to Australia to compile a report on how Australia became what they were at the time, and his solution was that academy. Every time a former player decries the state of domestic cricket, the solution he offers involves following the Australian model - fewer teams, more club cricket, and varied pitches. Never mind that England and India have done pretty well with big first-class systems, nor that the population or sports culture of Pakistan is a complete inversion of Australias; the solution is always to follow Australia.It makes sense too. Every desi kid has that one relative or family friend - the phupho ki beti (aunts daughter), if you will - who is presented as the model of what they should aim for. Considering its a desi family, the taunts and lectures mostly have to do with academics. The phupho ki beti is presented as the contrast to you - if only you studied as much as her, if only you were as obedient and courteous as her, if only you were her. Pakistan cricket is that rebellious kid who wants to create his own world. Australia is the phupho ki beti who will always hover over him like the sword of Damocles.And thats why Pakistans upcoming tour of Australia is so fascinating. Australia, at least until one Test match ago, found themselves in an identity crisis, where they began to question their beliefs. For once, even they wondered aloud. Meanwhile Pakistan were - at least until three Tests ago - the most successful team the nation has had in over two decades, despite all the problems theyve had to face, and they became that team by rejecting the pursuit of Australianism.Thus, this series becomes a fight for the soul of cricket - if Australia prevail, as they always do, the doubts of November will give way to a return to la-la land, where everything is rosy and the world doesnt change. But if the unthinkable happens, well, we might have to question everything weve ever been told. The most likely outcome, though, is that neither of those things will happen - something far worse, something we cant even imagine right now is going to take place. After all, its 2016. Marvin Bagley III Kings Jersey . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Dewayne Dedmon Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Deaaron-Fox-City-Edition-Jersey/ .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. 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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If the Green Bay Packers need a last-minute defensive stop Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews will be on the field to try to come up with it.Matthews, who was inactive in Week 8 because of a recurring hamstring injury, could only watch Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan throw the game-winning touchdown pass with 31 seconds to play.This week will be different.Ill be out there, Matthews said Thursday after he practiced on a limited basis.Its at least one bit of good news for the Packers beat-up defense, which has all kinds of injury issues at cornerback. Sam Shields (injured reserve) and Damarious Randall (groin surgery) wont play. Demetri Goodson is in the concussion protocol, and Quinten Rollins (groin) is trying to come back after missing the previous three games.I feel good, Matthews said. Obviously in a better spot than where I was last week. Obviously disappointed when you cant go out there. I think we didnt want a setback moving forward. It might have been pushing it a little bit. Obviously feel much better this week, able to get more team reps, and feel good about what wevee done thus far in the week.dddddddddddd So, all indications are pointing to me being out there on Sunday. So thats that.The Packers sacked Ryan only twice last week and couldnt get any pressure on him when they needed a stop on the final drive.Its good to have Clay working back in the right direction, Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. Its nice to have him back out on the field doing some work. As soon as Clays healthy and ready to go, obviously well be able to use him.Matthews has three sacks in five games this season; he also missed the Week 3 game against the?Detroit Lions?because of the same hamstring injury. After the Week 4 bye, Matthews played in three straight games but dropped out late in the Oct. 20 Thursday night game against the?Chicago Bears.I think three games in 11 days is probably difficult when youre coming off an injury, so I think thats ultimately the setback, Matthews said. Were trying to be smart, especially, really without any breaks moving forward for the next umpteen weeks. ' ' '