Boxengasse » be in Bourassa all summer, and you can already get

Australias cricketers should be prepared to say goodbye to the Gabba as their traditional starting point to summer outside of Ashes series - if the words of the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland are anything to go by.While admitting the team sees the Gabba as a real stronghold, Sutherland has hinted strongly that the search for a more commercially successful Brisbane Test is likely to lead to this years mid-December time slot being persisted with, more than likely in the day/night configuration to be tried against Pakistan this week. Such a decision would mean the loss of a major competitive advantage for the hosts.In unveiling the schedule for next summers Ashes, CA have outlined how that now seems to be the only Test series in which the national teams preparation is to be kept as ideal as possible, with as many as four Sheffield Shield matches scheduled before the first match at the Gabba. Other summers against less marketable opponents will likely throw up similar issues to those seen this season - at least until proposed league structures for international cricket are approved at ICC level and take effect some time after 2019. Well definitely keep our options open there. Every summers different. I know there are aspects of the 2018-19 summer that are very different to others, thats just the nature of international cricket, Sutherland said when asked about keeping the Gabba Test in mid-December. Its certainly a possibility we play the Brisbane Test match at a different time in the season.I want to make that very clear. It was absolutely calculated for us to play the Test match here at this time. We wanted to ensure we gave ourselves the best opportunity to understand the Brisbane market and how we can increase attendances here. Theres a lot of promotion around it, weve got fantastic partners in the Queensland government and Brisbane city council, lets see how this week pans out.Were on target to have the highest attendance ever for a non-Ashes Test match at the Gabba this week. Were looking at around 80,000 and were very hopeful were on track for that.Success in home Ashes series is seen as the most pivotal team performance metric for the entirety of CA, especially after the disastrous 2010-11 summer placed considerable heat upon Sutherland and the governing bodys board directors, resulting in the Argus review. To that end, Australias players can expect a similar lead-in to the 2013-14 season, albeit with the distraction of an ODI series in India beforehand. That result eased a level of pressure on the top end of CA that has not been matched by this summers home series loss to South Africa.Were really comfortable with the traditional order, and lets be honest, this venue is a real stronghold for the Australian team, they love playing here, Sutherland said. This is the same order as the 13-14 Ashes summer, which was very successful for the team and in terms of spectator attendance and public interests.Weve really wanted to not change anything in that regard, and well have a similar lead-in to the 13-14 summer with something like three or four Shield matches leading into the first Test, which were able to do when the Ashes series starts in late November.The preparation leading into a series of Test cricket will depend from year to year, its actually quite difficult when you start a Test series in early November because usually the Australian team will be touring somewhere. But we need to work around that to get the best possible preparation in the circumstances, and for an Ashes series its clear with a Test series starting in late November that well be able to get three matches in before the series starts.Casting his eye over the MOU discussions currently going on between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association, Sutherland said that he was not worried by the prospect of industrial action from the players. No, Im not concerned, he said. These sorts of negotiations come around every four years or whatever the cycle is and theyre things that need to be worked through behind closed doors in an appropriate fashion.I dont think its our role to be giving a ball-by-ball commentary on it. We will, with the ACA, work through it and work with the ACA and our players to ensure the game of cricket is stronger and better for whatever the new agreement might be.There is a lot to talk about and there are some very important issues and in some ways those issues are complex. Every time an agreement like this comes along it is an opportunity to put together a better agreement for all parties and I know thats what were interested in and I know thats what the ACA is interested in.Late on Tuesday the ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson spoke about the past two days of negotiations, indicating there is a long way to go.Today we were able to clarify that the ACA and CA have a lot of detail to work through with differences in a number of areas, he said. With the position that CA have taken in responding to our submission, we will now re-engage with the players and the ACA Executive to gain their feedback on CAs response.The players are emphatic that they are partners in the game and will continue to push for one agreement for all cricketers, men and women, national and state. Tarik Cohen Bears Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Khalil Mack Bears Jersey . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. http://www.bearsfootballpro.com/Authentic_Dick-Butkus_Bears_Jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Walter Payton Womens Jersey .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Riley Ridley Youth Jersey . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1.MONTREAL -- He was an NHL pugilist. He became an animal-rights-defending vegan environmentalist. Now, in the latest twist in his improbable career path, Georges Laraque is a politician. The former NHL tough guy confirmed Tuesday that he will vie for a seat soon in the House of Commons. He announced his plans to campaign for a Montreal seat in a byelection. At a news conference with Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in Montreal, he said he will begin campaigning immediately for the eventual byelection in Bourassa riding. That Montreal riding faces a byelection at some point over the coming months because its longtime MP, Liberal Denis Coderre, is leaving to run for mayor. "While we do not know the election date yet, I want to start campaigning now," Laraque said in a statement. "We have a lot of work ahead of us and I want to take advantage of the summer to meet you and listen to your concerns. Ill be in Bourassa all summer, and you can already get in touch with me now." A former Edmonton Oiler, Pittsbburgh Penguin and Montreal Canadien, Laraque racked up 1,126 penalty minutes in an NHL career where he was better known for his left jab than for his wrist shot.dddddddddddd But in recent years hes also become known for his political activism as a vegan, animal-rights crusader and environmentalist. He became deputy leader of the Green party in 2010. Laraque was quoted in a recent news report saying he planned to eventually seek a seat in the House of Commons with the Greens. Its not yet known when Prime Minister Stephen Harper will call a byelection for the riding, which is in a diverse north-end area with different economic classes and ethnic groups and which has a large Haitian population. Laraque, whose parents were born in Haiti, has been involved in humanitarian work there since the Caribbean country was devastated by an earthquake in 2010. The Greens finished a distant fifth in the riding in the last election, with 1.6 per cent of the ballots, less than 500 votes ahead of the Marxist-Leninist party. ' ' '