racing the clock as they seek to prove their fitness for Saturdays season decider against Western Bulldogs.The injured trio were a

At a time when Australias batsmen are mired in a damaging pattern of failures, Joe Burns has returned to the Test fold with confidence derived from breaking out of his own.Until the first round of this seasons Sheffield Shield, Burns had an almost comically poor record in matches involving a pink ball. The inaugural day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval offered up scores of 14 and 11. That followed a similarly underwhelming run in floodlit Shield matches, despite Burns making extra efforts to learn - he did his own extra training against a pink ball away from the Australian side.After two poor Test matches in Sri Lanka against the spinning red ball, Burns was cast out of the national side. But, when his stocks seemed lowest, Burns was able to find a way against the pink ball. His well-struck hundred for Queensland at the Gabba against New South Wales, against an attack featuring Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood no less, means Burns will bring a much more positive vibe to Hobart than he might otherwise have.I guess it was a nice experience to make runs against the pink ball, in particular because theres a [day-night] Test match in Brisbane, Burns said. Obviously, thats a long way down the track from here, but I think as players, the more you play against the pink ball and the more confident you get against it as a batter, you certainly do feel more comfortable going into each pink-ball game.With the pink ball, the games played a little bit differently to the red ball, so just those experiences as a batter - where you can look to make your runs, where youve got to be a bit more cautions and the way the game ebbs and flows. In Brisbane anyway, its certainly a lot different from red to pink ball.The duel with the Blues was willing and vocal, placing Burns in a decent frame of mind to face South Africa at Bellerive Oval from Saturday as the replacement opener for Shaun Marsh. There was a bit of banter there, which is fantastic. You want to see guys playing the same way for their stats as you do for your country, he said. And I guess thats a strength of the Shield competition, so it was a very enjoyable challenge.When those boys are up and firing, it certainly spurs you on to bigger heights, and it was very satisfying to make some runs in that game. One of the things that you look back on and feel confident in, and know that youre hitting the ball really well against good opposition, and then, hopefully, carry that into a Test match against South Africa. But in saying that, its a new set of bowlers, new conditions, and you still have to prepare as best you can for this Test match.Burns said he learned a lot from the experience of losing his place in Sri Lanka, a perspective that will also be relevant entering a team that has just lost the first Test of a home summer for the first time in 28 years. Sri Lanka was my first Test loss and first series loss, so it was a tough tour, Burns said. It was tough because I wasnt making runs personally as well. But I guess thats part of the challenge of cricket, part of the challenge of playing for Australia.You always want to be making runs. You always want to be winning cricket games for your country, so you do everything you can to turn it around and try and get back to winning those matches. I think the experience within the group, weve had a lot of a success as a team and as individuals that theres no doubt we can turn it around.We just have to prepare well, go out and take up the challenge in that second Test match. Weve got no doubt we can certainly turn it around. Obviously, a lot of hard work will go into it, but, certainly, very confident going into the rest of the series. Bo Jackson Womens Jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Isaiah Johnson Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. http://www.footballraidersmall.com/Youth-Otis-Sistrunk-Elite-Jersey/ . 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Aliir Aliir shapes as Sydneys hard-luck story this week, with teammates saying the injured key defender deserves to play the AFL grand final.Aliir (knee), co-captain Jarrad McVeigh (calf) and young gun Callum Mills (hamstring) are all racing the clock as they seek to prove their fitness for Saturdays season decider against Western Bulldogs.The injured trio were among a handful of sore Swans to sit out Mondays hit-out at the SCG.Sydneys main session for the week is on Wednesday and if Aliir is unable to move well then he almost certainly wont be risked.McVeigh and Mills trained on Sunday and are very much in the mix for recalls.Aliir, who strained the medial ligament in his right knee in the Swans preliminary final win over Geelong, is considered less likely to play at the MCG.It could potentially mean Ted Richards, who announced in August this season would be his last and hasnt played at AFL level since round 17 , is granted a farewell match alongside brother Xavier.Its a scenario that wouldnt sit comfortably with many Swans, not even Teds brother Xavier.If that happens thats great for Ted but I would feel very sorry for Aliir because he 100 per cent deserves it, Xavier Richards told AAP.Ted Richards was chaired off the field after training on Monday but warned on Twitter not to read too much into it, saying a few teammates were going for the record for most chairing someone off.Swans coach John Longmire suggested the club would have a better idea of Aliir, McVeigh and Mills chances after Wednesdays session.We certainly expect Callum to do a fair bit, Aliir probably to do a little bit less, Longmire said.Jarrrad were just waiting to see.ddddddddddddHell certainly do a bit but just how much were not quite sure yet.Veteran Heath Grundy backed Aliir to make a remarkable recovery and face the Bulldogs.I cant see why not, Grundy said of Aliir, who made his debut in round six and has played 13 games this year.Hes pretty switched on and hes really matured in the last 12 months. Hes got a lot more confident, hes fitter and stronger .. and playing some solid AFL footy.Longmire suggested it would be a combined call on all three, with the clubs coaches and medical staff to sit down with each player on Thursday.McVeigh, who has featured in 286 games for the Swans, wont be empowered to make his own decision.But Longmire added the 31-year-old would know his body a lot better than Mills and Aliir.Jarrad is an experienced player and understands what he can and cant play with, but we all make the call together, Longmire said.We sit down and work out what hes able to do and how comfortable he feels and make the decision together.We made the decision last week not to push Jarrad and Im pretty confident it was the right call.Selecting a grand-final side will always throw up some of the toughest conundrums of any coaching career.Longmire knows it well, having ruled out a heartbroken and hamstrung Ben McGlynn in 2012.Meanwhile, the 2012 premiership coach was full of praise for the Bulldogs epic win over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.Their pressure around the ball is as good as Ive seen, Longmire said. 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