Adil Rashid has defended his request to be omitted from Yorkshires final County Championship match of the season, against Middlesex at Lords starting tomorrow, citing a family illness as the reason for his absence.Rashid, whose busy year has included stints with Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash and a leading role in Englands World T20 campaign in India, asked to be excused from Yorkshires potential County Championship decider because he needed to rest ahead of Englands tour of Bangladesh, which gets underway at the end of the month.Yorkshire go into the final round needing victory against the current leaders, Middlesex, to have any chance of securing their third title in a row, and they will have to do so without the services of either Rashid or Jonny Bairstow, who was controversially refused permission by the ECB to take part in the contest.Jason Gillespie, preparing for his final match as Yorkshire coach, told ESPNcricinfo: Im obviously frustrated about Rash and I said to him I hope he doesnt regret the decision he has made. But I fully respect his decision. He has played a lot of cricket and he feels he needs a rest.However, in a pointed tweet, Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale, who has been known to let his emotions show in the past, posted: Yes, he wants to rest. Thats his decision. Ill take 11 lads on the field who will give everything to win.While the club itself stopped short of criticising their player, who has claimed 32 wickets at 33.84 and 393 runs at 28.07 in ten Championship appearances this season, Yorkshires supporters have not been so kind, and in a statement posted on his Twitter account on Monday, Rashid insisted his decision had been influenced by a family member, believed to be his grandmother, being admitted to hospital.Unfortunately I have not travelled down with the Yorkshire lads this week as one of my closest family members has been very ill and was recently admitted to hospital, read the statement. I didnt feel that I am in a strong enough mental frame of mind to be at my best, although I did make myself available if I was required to play [if] I felt I could be letting the lads down. But coupled with my personal reasons I have also had a heavy period of cricket recently for Yorkshire and England which has been both physically and mentally draining and it is very unfortunate timing.Family comes first for me and I will be away on England duty this winter with a busy playing schedule. I have been in touch with the Yorkshire players and coaches and I will be wishing the lads all the best this game and I am desperately hoping we can lift the trophy for a 3rd year in a row. Nike Vapormax Plus Levne . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Vapormax Sleva . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. http://www.vapormaxlevne.cz/vapormax-plus-boty/vapormax-plus-bile-sleva.html . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Nike Vapormax Cz . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Vapormax Boty Cz . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. BOSTON -- Craig Kimbrel was supposed to spend Monday soaking in the All-Star festivities in San Diego.Instead, the Boston Red Sox closer will be in a hospital.Kimbrel will undergo surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear in his left knee and is expected to miss three to six weeks, the Red Sox announced Saturday. In his absence, Koji Uehara will be the Soxs primary closer, manager John Farrell said, with newly acquired reliever Brad Ziegler getting save opportunities when the 41-year-old Uehara is unavailable.Its the first time Ive been on the DL in my career, so its obviously frustrating, said Kimbrel, who has a 3.55 ERA and 17 saves in 34 appearances. Im kind of glad its nothing too serious. Its something that I feel like we can go in, get it scoped out, get it cleaned out.Theyre saying three to six weeks. Lets hope its more on the three-week side, if not a little faster than that.Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez was chosen Saturday to replace Kimbrel, a five-time All-Star selection, on the American League All-Star roster.Regardless, it was convenient the Red Sox were already looking for another late-inning reliever before Kimbrel got injured. Early Saturday morning, they acquired Ziegler from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a pair of Single-A players. The timing of the trade was coincidental, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, who said he had been talking to Arizona general manager Dave Stewart for several weeks.Ziegler, a 36-year-old right-hander with a submarine delivery, has a 2.82 ERA and 18 saves in 36 appearances for the Diamondbacks. Once Kimbrel is healthy, Ziegler figures to take over the tough-on-righties setup role vacated when Carson Smith was lost to Tommy John elbow surgery in May.I think I made a comment to our own people that itd be nice to get this done today because, with the Kimbrel situation, the timing would work out. But it really was just a coincidence -- a good coincidence to get him and bring him in here at this time, Dombrowski said.Zieglers an established big-league pitcher at the back end of the pen. Hes a different-look guy for us. Hes a guy that doesnt throw hard but is a ground-ball machine.Kimbrel said he took a step to ffield a ground ball in the outfield during batting practice Friday and heard a pop in his knee.dddddddddddd. He went for an MRI exam that revealed the torn cartilage.Initially, the Red Sox medical staff held out hope that Kimbrel might be able to avoid surgery. Moreover, Kimbrel suggested he would be able to pitch through the pain.It was apparent to me in talking to Craig after [Friday nights] game and getting the medical information, this is not something you want to take a chance on, Dombrowski said. You dont want Craig Kimbrel to go out there and alter his delivery and be in a position where he hurts his knee more but also hurt his arm.Said Kimbrel: I felt like I could go out there and pitch and kind of go through the pain. What it is, its something that I wouldnt say is structural. Looking where we are in the season and what could come of it going out there and trying to pitch through it, it might change my mechanics or put more stress on my arm. Were just looking to take the safe route on this.Kimbrel is the second Red Sox pitcher this season to get injury while retrieving a ball in batting practice, a routine that he and many other pitchers use as a cardiovascular exercise. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez also injured his knee during a spring-training incident.Farrell said the team doesnt have any plans to alter their pitchers pregame routines,This is an anomaly, Farrell said. This is what our players go through normally, day-in, day-out, traditionally in the game. We cant put guys in bubbles. You get a little bit of a change in direction, and this is what happens. Unfortunately, in Craigs case were going to miss him for a little bit.Ziegler is scheduled to arrive at Fenway Park midway through Saturdays game and wont be activated until Sunday. Until then, right-hander Noe Ramirez was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Kimbrels spot on the roster.The Red Sox also activated newly acquired utility man Michael Martinez and optioned rookie infielder Marco Hernandez to Triple-A. Martinez was obtained Friday from the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations. ' ' '