Captains callnoun a decision made by a political or business leader without consultation with colleagues.The Macquarie Dictionarys reigning Word of the Year - captains call - was inspired by former prime minister Tony Abbott, who was famous for them. Perhaps the most notorious example was his decision to reinstate Australian knighthoods and make Prince Philip one of the first recipients. In cricket, as in politics, the leader holds significant sway, though a true captains call - a decision without consultation - is only really possible on the field.Still, Nic Maddinsons selection as Australias new Test No. 6 last month felt like crickets off-field equivalent of a captains call. Steven Smith is not on the selection panel and can therefore not choose his team without consultation, but he can advise the selectors of his preferences. In the lead-up to this Test, Smith admitted that he had done so ahead of Adelaide, and spoke in favour of Maddinson for his ability to take the game away from the opposition.As Smith walked off the Gabba on Friday with 130 runs in his pocket and Australias total on 4 for 323, he crossed paths with Maddinson, who was walking out to replace him. At Adelaide Oval, against South Africa, Maddinson had come to the crease under lights at what was widely regarded to be a difficult time to bat. He was bowled for a 12-ball duck by Kagiso Rabada. At the Gabba, he began his innings mid-afternoon, with a big score on the board: a fine time to take the game away from Pakistan.Instead, it looked like the weight of the world was on Maddinsons shoulders. He felt bat on his first two deliveries, defending Wahab Riaz. He prodded tentatively to the next delivery, his first against legspinner Yasir Shah. Azhar Ali dropped one of the easier chances possible for a fielder under the helmet at short leg. Maddinson may have wondered if this was his lucky day.When he got off the mark off his fifth ball, turned behind square leg for a single off Yasir, Maddinsons partner Peter Handscomb gave him a smile. It was as if Handscomb was saying itll get easier from here. Like Maddinson, Handscomb had debuted in Adelaide, but his initiation was more memorable: 54 in the first innings and one run - the winning run - in the second. What Maddinson wouldnt have given to strike that single himself in Adelaide, to ease his nerves.But Maddinson didnt get a second innings in Adelaide, and had to wait for a new series and new opposition to bat for a second time in Test cricket. When it came, he made just a single run before flashing tensely outside off and missing, and then edging behind off Wahab. Maddinson walked off looking sheepish, knowing that his chances could be running out. Hoping that here, unlike in Adelaide, he would bat in the second innings. If Maddinson has looked nervous as a Test batsman, Handscomb has appeared nerveless. There may be anxiety among those who feel that his deep stance makes him vulnerable every ball, but Handscomb never seems fazed. He waits for the ball and dabs it away, his cuts sometimes later than the thylacine. Handscomb knows his game and what works, and has transferred that seamlessly to Test cricket.Against Yasir, Handscombs footwork was exemplary: sometimes forward, sometimes back, and enough of both to cast doubt in the bowlers mind. Particularly impressive was the way he danced down the pitch to Yasir and lifted him perfectly over long-on for a risk-free six. This occurred only eight minutes before tea, but there was no thought from Handscomb of playing for the break. It also took him to 97, and there was no sign of the nervous nineties. He raced through the nineties in seven deliveries, his maiden Test century arriving with a drive through cover-point for four off Mohammad Amir.Handscombs temperament seems a natural fit for Test cricket, and he is not overawed by the occasion. His piling up of 215 in a Sheffield Shield round full of Test auditions, while other contenders around the country failed, showed he can handle pressure.Australias selectors could hardly be happier with Handscomb, whose footwork marks him out as a key batsman for Australias upcoming Test tour of India. Maddinson will be doing well to make that tour, for the expected return of Shaun Marsh from injury will likely force a batsman out of the top six - perhaps as soon as the Boxing Day Test. Maddinson may get another innings in Brisbane but given Pakistans collapse late on day two, there is every chance he wont.Australias new opener, Matt Renshaw, has been a success. Their new No.5, Handscomb, has been an even greater triumph. 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Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Cheapest Soccer Jerseys Ireland . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Back in January, Alex Gordon signed a four-year, $72 million contract to remain with the Kansas City Royals.The Royals, who entertain the Chicago White Sox in a series finale Thursday, are certainly not getting their moneys worth this season from the four-time left field Gold Glover winner and three-time All-Star.Gordon, 32, is hitting .203 with eight home runs and 18 RBI in 82 games, having struck out 95 times in 281 at-bats. His double Wednesday was his second extra-base hit in 16 games.You know guys have good years and you know guys have bad years, Royals manager Ned Yost said. In my mind, Alex is going to have a really, really good year next year. We know what type of player he is. We know what type of work ethic he has. He never quits. Hes continuing to work.Hes continuing to stay strong in his conditioning routine and his work ethic. Its just one of those years where its been a struggle for him.Yost said he is unable to detect in Gordons demeanor what kind of season the outfielder is having.Hes hard to read, Yost said. Hes just very businesslike in everything that he does. And you cant tell if hes gone 10-for-10 or 0-for-20.Gordon missed more than a month with a fractured right wrist after a May 22 collision with third baseman Mike Moustakas, who sustained a season-ending knee injury on the play.Is the injury play contributing to Gordons poor offensive year?He was having a down year before he got hurt, Yost said. Its just one of those crazy weird years for him.Gordon at least pulled his batting average back over .200 on Wednesday when he went 2-for-5 in the Royals 3-2, 14-inning win over Chicago.The White Sox have alternated losses with wins throughout the past seven games. They began the season 23-10, a run that third baseman Todd Frazier said the club could duplicate.We still have an opportunity to be in it, Frazier said regarding a poostseason berth.dddddddddddd I know nobodys giving up right now. We go in there and do that 23-10 stretch, well have a bigger opportunity, starting now. I think we have a big run in us. I still believe that a lot. I still believe that we do. Just got to keep fighting and find ways to win games.White Sox manager Robin Ventura keeps his view more focused on game-to-game issues than Fraziers extended-run picture.I keep it small, Ventura said. They can look as big as they want. But, for us, we look at how were getting through this series, how youre matching up with those guys. Injuries take on a certain part of it, but we have some guys that are untested with some of it, so you dont really know what youre going to get.I like where his heads at, the way theyre thinking. Again, were going to match up with who weve got and go get em, but I like the fact that we have that feeling, that he does.The White Sox will start right-hander Miguel Gonzalez in the series finale. Gonzalez is 2-6 with a 4.09 ERA in 18 games, 17 of them starts. He is coming off a loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, when he allowed four runs, three earned, on 10 hits over six innings.Gonzalez is 0-2 with a 3.65 ERA in two starts against the Royals this season. Jarrod Dyson is 8-for-10 off Gonzalez, while Gordon is 1-for-10 against him.The Royals will counter with left-hander Danny Duffy, who is 8-1 with a 2.97 ERA. 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