e we get.Whether he is selected or not, two things are for certain: Batty will remain fiercely his own man and, secondly, he firmly believes age is just a number, and is unfazed by playing with Haseeb Hameed | Forum

England coach Wayne Bennett has pledged Brisbane Broncos backing for the 2017 World Club Series. Wesley Johnson Jersey .Plans for the annual clash between the leading clubs from Super League and the NRL were thrown into disarray earlier this week when Melbourne Storm officially withdrew.They were promptly followed by a host of other Australian outfits, who claimed it interfered with their preparations for the new domestic season.Wigan and Cronulla, the two 2016 Grand Final winners, will meet in the traditional World Club Challenge at the DW Stadium on the weekend of Feb. 16-17.However, uncertainty surrounds the other two scheduled ties in the recently-expanded World Club Series following the snub from beaten NRL Grand Finalists Melbourne, who were due to play Super League runners-up Warrington.Brisbane had offered to host Wigan if they had lost the Super League Grand Final and Bennett, a long-time advocate of the international game, says he has already been in touch with Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood to reassure him of his clubs commitment to the series.We would be keen to travel, Bennett said in his first interview to English journalists since his appointment in February. I spoke to Nigel on Monday night and told him that the whole concept has got the clubs backing.We love coming over, weve enjoyed it in the last couple of years as a club and were also trying to host one here in the pre-season. But if that doesnt come to fruition and theres a vacancy to come over to England we will certainly go.The other clubs have all got their reasons Im sure, but we dont find it interferes with our season really. Weve played in a Grand Final, gone over for the World Club Series and started the following year well, so I cant find a fault with it. Personally Id be extremely disappointed if we shared the same view.Meanwhile, Bennett said he would have had no qualms about picking Australia-born players in his 24-man squad for the Four Nations Series, even though he opted not to in the end.Twins Brett and Josh Morris, who have both represented the Kangaroos, and Newcastle Knights scrum-half Trent Hodkinson were among a raft of players linked with a switch of allegiance.I was considering any player that was eligible for England, whether they were Australia-born, Australia-based or simply English, Bennett said. It didnt faze me in any way.The speculation got out of control though. It was purely media-driven in this country, I dont know what it was like in England.At the time I said nothing about it but Ill pick the best 24 players to play for England in my opinion. If theyre Australia-based, I would have stood by that. Landry Shamet Clippers Jersey . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Custom Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/ . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. England knew what they were getting when they plumped for Gareth Batty for the tour of Bangladesh and, latterly, India. They got themselves a straight-talking, wise old hand, and a natural leader of their callow spin attack. Moeen Ali has played much more, and Adil Rashid has played much more recently, but neither has Battys presence or streetsmarts.That Englands spin cupboard is bare is beyond doubt. As Paul Farbrace said before flying home after the ODI series: We are still improving there. We all know there is not massive depth - to be honest there seven or eight guys in the frame in England and five of them are on this trip. The others are Liam Dawson, who did not play in the ODIs, Zafar Ansari, a member of the Test squad, as well as Jack Leach and Ollie Rayner, who came closest to making the squad. The riches are hardly embarrassing.Even if he does not pull up trees, Batty was a shrewd pick, for he works with Ansari at Surrey and used to play for Worcestershire with Moeen, who said this week: I know him well. I learned quite a bit from him - hes a very good spinner.There is no spin-bowling coach on tour, until Saqlain Mushtaq joins up with the squad in India, so Battys experience - his first tour with England was to Bangladesh, 13 years ago - will be vital. His constant chatter with Rashid about how to go about their business was a noticeable aspect of Englands first full training session, which happened in lieu of a washed-out practice match. They will play a 45-over game against a BCB XI on Saturday, then a two-day game on Sunday and Monday.It is likely that Batty will join Moeen and Rashid in the XI for Thursdays first Test in Chittagong, where it is expected to turn. England may revert to two spinners for Dhaka, but the side is far from decided, with places up for grabs opening, in the middle order and among the bowlers. All of the 16 players on tour - three of whom are uncapped - could play. Batty is approaching the task at hand with characteristic relish.Its a positive [that spin plays a big role here], he said. In England its more seam-orientated, so its actually really nice that spin could play a part. We wont know until we see the surfaces, but its a challenge and a real good thing for spinners to be able to ssay hang on a minute, we can help to win games of cricket for England. JaMychal Green Clippers Jersey. After a difficult end to the domestic season, Rashid is enjoying a very fine tour, having taken 10 wickets in the ODIs, which equals the most by a spinner in a three-match series ever, while also going at five runs an over. Rashid, like many of the squad, has a spring in his step and Batty believes the success of the ODI side can rub off on the Test squad. Winnings a habit, its a culture, he said spikily.England have played 142 Tests since Batty last made an appearance, against Bangladesh at Chester-le-Street in 2005, before Kevin Pietersen even debuted. Since, England have gone through 10 frontline spinners before plumping for Batty again, and while he did not expect his recall, he is relishing it, and believes he is a better bowler now than he was 11 years ago.This is brilliant to be a part of, he said. Theres a wonderful vibe about the place, I noticed that from stepping on the plane with a few of the Test boys, theres a great camaraderie around the group. Its a great privilege to be involved with England, and hopefully I can add to that and do my bit.The proof will be in the pudding, if Im fortunate enough to get a go, but on a daily basis for the last few years I have known what I have to do and gone about my business as I would require - I feel a better bowler, yeah.Does Batty have nothing to lose? A little bit. Its a nice opportunity when youre nearing the end of your career to be able to say Ive managed to progress and will hopefully keep progressing throughout my career. We will see where we get.Whether he is selected or not, two things are for certain: Batty will remain fiercely his own man and, secondly, he firmly believes age is just a number, and is unfazed by playing with Haseeb Hameed who, at 20 years his junior, is less than half his age.Thats the norm! he said. There are a few boys at Surrey who are even younger than that. Id like to think everybody takes the age out of it. They see the wrinkles in the morning and think hes an old sod, but for the rest of the time hopefully Im just one of the boys. ' ' '