Upon touching down in Sri Lanka, Australia had received quite the reception. There were no cultural dances, as anyone was aware. No fruit drinks at the airport, nor the privilege of being daubed in the glorious palm sweat of one of the nations politicians.The welcome, instead, was sweetened by news of the ever-growing delegation of injured Sri Lanka seamers. Dushmantha Chameera would not rush Australia with his pace. Dhammika Prasads eyebrows would not haunt their nightmares. Having been unavailable for so many recent Tests, Suranga Lakmal also gallantly re-twinged his dodgy hamstring, like a musician obliging a swaying crowd with his greatest hit. Not long after, Nuwan Pradeep felt the peer pressure and followed suit.On the spin front, Jeffrey Vandersay had also busted a finger, but more importantly, Sri Lankas greatest player grinned himself over to the opposite camp, and cocked that Aussie-bashed elbow in the direction of his own team. One thing, comfortingly, did stay the same. Six years after Test retirement, Muttiah Muralitharan was still finding ways to get himself blamed for the spin-friendly nature of a Sri Lankan pitch.In addition, for Australia, there was a welcome banquet at their High Commission, kind words from the opposition captain, and a self-insertion and capitulation from Sri Lanka to set the series off. Short of having groundstaff fan their fielders with banana fronds, Australia had had the best possible welcome on a foreign tour.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, arrived with tattered recent records, an under-pressure captain, and arguably a better attack in triage than the one they have been forced to field. An Aussie whitewash, went many predictions. Others looked into the crystal ball of the islands cricket and saw, oh dear, the West Indies.Where then, six days into the series, did Angelo Mathews find the gall to run at Nathan Lyon and club him into the distance, second ball? Who signed off on a run rate north of four in the first 45 overs today? Who suggested a No. 3 batsman be made of Kusal Perera - who is only a recently reintegrated agent of lower-order slash and burn?It seems to be a solitary Test win that has made the difference. One great Pallekele innings and some quality spin bowling that has been the shot in the arm that has set adrenaline surging again.And it is in Mathews day one doings that this restored confidence was most apparent. In Pallekele he had plodded morosely to 15 and 9. In Galle, he hit two reverse sweeps in his first 19 balls, and loped to 35 at a strike rate over 100. In England, only restaurants that are fronts for criminal operations would have been caught up in so many terrible reviews. But in Galle, he had his highest scorer overturn an lbw decision, and late in the day, declined to refer speculative shouts from his bowlers.We have always wanted to bat reasonably positively, but the problem we have faced is that we hadnt got off to good starts and that has led to a defensive mindset, coach Graham Ford said after stumps. But we always want to play positively. Angelo is capable of playing spin bowling well. He tries and score off them and disrupt them. When I first started with Sri Lanka that was the general approach followed by Mahela Jayawardene, and no surprise Angelo has continued that. At times in England, Mathews had captained with all the zest and creativity of a tube light, but suddenly in Galle, his bowling changes began to seem inspired. Offpsinner Dilruwan Perera had been the worst of the frontline spinners in the first Test, but Mathews had him bowl at a charging David Warner, and eventually, drew the left-handers outside edge. Lunging forward, low to his left, Mathews held a very tough chance himself.With so much inexperience in this squad, which features two Kusals, two Pereras, two Fernandos, a Silva and a de Silva, it was easy to think the selectors had been so short of options theyd been forced to thumb through the phone book picking out clumps of names. But contributions came from all over this XI, which suggests a little belief has built. The openers glove-punched their way to the crease and made the customary head-shaking retreat to the pavilion soon after, but in Kusal Mendis and Pereras 108-run recovery, there was evidence of both grit and ability. In Dhananjaya de Silvas breezy strokes from No. 7, there were healthy signs of another decent player emerging.Sri Lanka will know they have hardly made a dent in Australias batting yet, but with Lakshan Sandakan as yet unloosed on a devious surface, and a half-decent score accrued, they will begin day two with optimism. A series victory seems far off, but for now at least they have competed. At the beginning of this tour, it is more than they were expected to do.Michael Strahan Youth Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Mark Bavaro Giants Jersey . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. http://www.nygiantsfanaticshop.com/Black-Phil-McConkey-Giants-Jersey.html?cat=905 . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Darius Slayton Womens Jersey . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Michael Strahan Jersey . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation.Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim left open the possibility that the hire of ESPN executive, Orange alumnus and good friend John Wildhack as athletic director Wednesday could mean he coaches beyond his set retirement after the 2017-18 season.I dont know, said the Hall of Fame mens basketball coach, who took the Orange on a surprising run to the Final Four last April. Im not sure. For now, were comfortable moving forward as we are. Im looking forward to a great year. Im going to be here this year and next year so all the guys were recruiting were going to coach. The staff is going to be consistent. Thats where we are right now.Boeheim and the school announced on March 18, 2015, that he would coach three more seasons. The Orange self-imposed a postseason ban in 2015, and Boeheim had to serve a nine-game suspension this past season. The team was 4-5 during his absence under head coach designate Mike Hopkins.Boeheim returned and the Orange ultimately earned an NCAA tournament berth, finishing 9-9 in the ACC. Syracuse upset Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 and Virginia in the Elite Eight to get to the Final Four, where the Orange lost to North Carolina in the national semifinal in Houston.Boeheim said he found out about Wildhacks hire 10 minutes before it was announced Wednesday and that hes as surprised as everyone else.I think its the greatest thing for us, Boeheim said. He knows the business on all levels. Hes a Syracuse guy. I just think hes so qualified and managed so many people in sports. Its perfect. Sometimees you get a manager who hasnt been in sports and a sports guy who hasnt managed.dddddddddddd You get both things here. The Syracuse connection is an added benefit.Wildhack replaces Mark Coyle, who abruptly left Syracuse after less than a year on the job to be the athletic director at Minnesota.Im thrilled to have [Wildhack] back here, Boeheim said.Boeheim will finish out his term as an assistant coach on the USA mens national team next month at the Rio Olympics. He has been an assistant to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski for the past two Olympic gold-medal wins in Beijing and London.Boeheim has said repeatedly that he believes the Orange can have another solid year in 2016-17 and is noncommittal on his future. The 71-year old Boeheim has been the head coach at his alma mater since 1976.Well you never know what could happen, Boeheim said. Im just focused in on getting ready for this year and doing good things in offseason. Were still in hot pursuit of other guys help us. Were in good position for this year.Boeheim said Wildhack will stabilize the athletic department. He said its in as good a position as it has ever been, especially after both mens and womens basketball programs went to the Final Four. He also said Wildhack will help in getting the Carrier Dome renovated.Were in a great, great position right now, said Boeheim. The best position weve been in for a long time. ' ' '