your job every day. Thats the important thing a | Forum

The ability to adapt quickly to unfamiliar conditions was crucial to New Zealands victory in the first Test over Zimbabwe, according to coach Mike Hesson. Jason Jennings Jersey . He praised Neil Wagner and BJ Watling for assessing the Bulawayo surface, which did not offer much pace or bounce but grew abrasive as the game went on, and working out how to succeed on it.Wagners career-best 6 for 41 was headlined by his short-ball barrage, an unusual sight at Queens, where most seamers stick to simple plans and wait for a mistake. But Wagner bent his back and attacked Zimbabwes line-up in the first innings and the early parts of the second, before adjusting his strategy and searching for reverse-swing as the ball aged.Although his second-innings returns were a third of his first innings, it showed his dual use as a wicket-taker, with both new and old ball, something that has come with being more certain of his game.When he came up three or four years ago he was excited and keen to make an impression. He probably didnt stick to his gameplan for too long but hes a lot more experienced now and hes certainly got the confidence of the captain, Hesson said. Hes able to change his game, as we saw. He can swing the new ball if hes given it. He can certainly reverse the old one and we know he can bowl bumpers. Especially on unresponsive surfaces, hes a good bowler.Equally good but less celebrated was Watling, whose century did not get the same attention as Tom Lathams or Ross Taylors, perhaps because it came after theirs. Watlings was the fastest of the three hundreds and ensured the game did not drift at a time when Zimbabwes wearing bowlers were focused on containing. Watling tired them out even more, pierced the gaps and rotated strike with intent.He is incredibly perceptive. He is one of the few players that can adapt technique mid-game, Hesson said. He makes subtle changes to his grip. He is a very talented and very hard-working cricketer.Some conversations around the match spoke of Watling being the best wicket-keeper batsman in Test cricket at the moment, a label Hesson would not mind endorsing. His keeping in very tough conditions, in the subcontinent, in England, has been exceptional for us. He often bats with the tail and he has an ability to eke out as many runs as possible. Were not going to trade him for anyone, Hesson said.Overall, Hesson assessed New Zealands performance as very thorough, with both batsmen and bowlers executing the patience plan as intended. We talked about playing the long game. We did that. We also showed how important the new ball was. We can be a little bit impatient with the ball at times but I am clutching to find some work-ons. Before hand, we said 20 wickets would be tough to take so were pleased that we did it.New Zealand will have Monday off before spending a night at Heath Streaks farm outside Bulawayo and will then return to training on Thursday in preparation for the second Test which starts on Saturday. Doubtless, they will be eyeing a clean sweep in Zimbabwe before moving on to South Africa, where they will face a tougher challenge in their bid to keep climbing the rankings.These two series are a chance for us as a group to gain some of the ground that we lost a few months ago against Australia, Hesson said. We had gone eight series without a loss before we faced them at home and away. Before that, we had gained a lot of ground and then we lost some. Chi Chi Gonzalez 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. DJ LeMahieu Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. https:///...-jersey-rockies.html . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Ryan Fitzpatrick has had a rough few months, and thats probably an understatement.Sure, the quarterback got a big payday after a long contract stalemate when he received a one-year, $12 million deal to re-sign with the New York Jets on the eve of training camp in July.Things have gone mostly downhill since, though. Fitz Magic has fizzled.Small talk has replaced playoff talk these days, including pleasantries about how his sprained left knee is coming along.Im good, thank you, Fitzpatrick said Wednesday. I think with my injury, time is going to continue to heal it and make it feel better. I thought we had a good day of work today, just in terms of getting out there and guys putting the work in. I think our plan so far, is a really good one. I feel good about this week.Fitzpatrick, who turned 34 on Thanksgiving, is getting the start against Indianapolis on Monday night with coach Todd Bowles still focused on trying to win games with his 3-8 squad rather than peek at the future.Many fans and media think its time to turn to Bryce Petty, who filled in for Fitzpatrick against Los Angeles on Nov. 13 and didnt exactly light things up in a 9-6 loss. The seasons over, the detractors say, so why not just throw Petty in there for the final stretch?Bowles said Monday that there will be time for that, without revealing what his game plan is. Well, it could be as early as next week at San Francisco, which means Fitzpatrick could be benched for a second time this season -- and then be a free agent looking for a job in the offseason.Until then, though, Fitzpatrick is focused on building off a solid performance against New England last Sunday in a 22-17 loss. Fitzpatrick went 22 of 32 for 269 yards and two touchdowns, one to Brandon Marshall and the other to Quincy Enunwa, with an offense only slightly resembling the one that set the franchise mark with 5,896 yards last season.I think we did some good things through the air, Fitzpatrick said. Theres some stuff that maybe we missed and we didnt get to, but a lot of that comes down to me putting it in a position to have those guys make plays. The touchdown to Quincy, (he) just went up there and made a play. The touchdown to Brandon was just one on one, Im bigger than you, make a play. Just giving those guys opportunities and giving them throws that they can go up and do that, but they seem to come in bunches.Once you get one or two of those and the confidence gets going, thosee seem to come in bunches, so hopefully that will continue. Cheap Rockies Jerseys. Fitzpatrick has failed to live up to the lofty expectations that came after he put up a franchise-record 31 touchdown passes and got the Jets within a win of the playoffs. His three fourth-quarter interceptions in the season finale at Buffalo ended that pursuit.He came back with some unfinished business and his return was celebrated by teammates and a large portion of the fan base. He helped beat the Bills in Week 2 of this season, and was the AFC offensive player of the week. The Jets were 1-1 at that point, and things were looking up.The next week, Fitzpatrick was intercepted six times at Kansas City.He never really shook off that performance, was benched five games later, but returned when Geno Smith was lost for the season with a knee injury. Two weeks later, Fitzpatrick sprained his knee and sat while Petty got his chance -- but Bowles went back to Fitzpatrick last Sunday and announced Monday that the veteran would get another chance this weekend .Many members of the same fan base that cheered his re-signing have turned on Fitzpatrick, as well as on other veterans such as Darrelle Revis and Muhammad Wilkerson, who have become the disappointing faces of another lost season.Fitzpatrick insists the Jets remain confident, no matter what anyone is saying outside the facility.Its a day-to-day thing, he said. I thought today we had a really good practice, just in terms of flying around. Especially after a tough loss, you kind of never know how its going to be. But I think we put that behind us and just trying to fly around, and work hard, and thats what we did today. So hopefully we keep that up throughout the week.The feeling inside the locker room has been a common theme this season, especially as the losses have piled up. The Jets have had to fight frustration -- and the growing sentiment by outsiders that theres nothing left to play for this year.Its kind of been a broken record the last few weeks, but being professionals, Fitzpatrick said. Coming in and doing your job every day. Thats the important thing and especially for some of the older guys that have been through stuff like this. Just setting a good example and showing the young guys the way.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '