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Australias Test-match losing streak may be making headlines, but their neighbours across the Tasman have not fared much better this year. Of nine Tests played in 2016, New Zealand has lost six, winning only the two matches against Zimbabwe. Their four most-recent results have all been losses.Unlike for Australia, however, the losing streak has come overseas, against formidable opposition: the first loss came against South Africa, and the next three in India, where many teams have suffered in the last three years.Now back at home, with a grassy pitch before them and a long summer ahead, coach Mike Hesson has said his team will not dwell on the overseas failures. They will instead aim to fall back on memories of their unbeaten stretch at home between 2013 and 2015.I think weve won seven out of our 11 Tests at home in the last three years, with a couple of draws and a couple of losses, Hesson said. You do that because conditions are familiar to you, and you adapt quicker than other sides.Weve been stressing the fact that we need to prepare for conditions that were more familiar with. Weve got some experience to draw on over the last three or four years. Its a matter of going through that rather than reliving India. Conditions over there were significantly different to what were going to face over here.New Zealands batsmen had had a particularly torrid tour of India, where no one managed a century across three Tests. Their main destroyers on that tour had been spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who shared 41 scalps between them. Hesson said his batsmen had rebounded mentally since that series, which ended a month ago.The conditions are here very different, so the skillset required is different. We acknowledge that we didnt adapt as well as we needed to in India. Hence, we underachieved, especially with the bat. Here, Im very confident the guys know the conditions. There was a period of having to deal with dented confidence, but that was some time ago. At the time we needed to dwell on some of the areas we hadnt performed well in, and weve done that. Then we need to move on - thats the nature of international cricket. When you perform and you win easily, you dont dwell on that either. You move on.The top order will have to contend with the likes of Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah, as they battle for Test form. Pakistans attack had delivered two Test victories in England this year, and Hesson believes they are a particularly dynamic outfit.Well be challenged by this Pakistan attack, theres no doubt about that, he said. Theyve got an attack that suits all conditions around the world. They swing the new ball, they reverse it, and theyve got a very good spinner. Theyve also got experience in their batting line up. Theyre tough in every condition, so theyre bowling attack is going to pose some challenges for us.The Hagley Oval surface has generally been seam-friendly over the first two days of the Test. Although it had a significant covering of grass two days from the Test, Hesson expected the pitch to settle quickly.The pitch has good pace and bounce, which stays throughout. And I think it turns into a pretty flat surface. Its one of those surfaces where you are going to need to have resources to bowl a lot of overs, rather than think youre going to bowl them out in a session and a half. I dont think its going to be like that. Adam Oates Jersey . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. Chris Wagner Bruins Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. http://www.thebostonbruinshockey.com/ .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Jaromir Jagr Jersey . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. David Backes Bruins Jersey . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. The first win out of the way, No. 21 Rhode Island opens play in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off with a home game against Marist on Monday night at Kingston, R.I.The tournament, which starts at home sites, has the Rams (1-0) playing at home Wednesday against local rival Brown. They then shift to the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., to play Cincinnati (26th in the opening poll) before going up against either No. 1 Duke or Penn State.E.C. Williams, whose 2015-16 season ended 10 minutes into the opening game because of a knee injury, returned to the court with a 21-point effort on 9-for-12 shooting as URI easily disposed of Dartmouth 84-61 on Friday night.Hassan Martin added the 16th double-double of his college career with 12 points and 10 rebounds and picked up seven blocked shots.Martin, who also had a knee injury last season, played just 24 minutes but took a run at his second career triple-double.Coach (Dan Hurley) had to calm me down, Matthews said after his return, almost a year to the day of his injury. He called me last night to let me know just to let it come. It felt good to be back. Ive been doing this my whole life. Just being comfortable and reading and reacting and having a good pace are important.Matthews hit a 3-pointer early in the game, putting him over the 1,000-point career scoring plateau. He also had three steals in the win.We got separation in the second half, Hurley said. We played a level of defense that was an elite defense. We held them to 35 percent from the field and forced 20 turnovers. Thats kind of who we are.The Ramms were picked second -- to Dayton -- in the preseason Atlantic 10 poll.dddddddddddd They are ranked at the start of the season for the first time since 1998-99 and ranked for the first time overall since 2007-08.Obviously, having Matthews and Hassan healthy is a major factor.Martin began the game as URIs all-time leader in field goal percentage at 57.3 percent and went 5-for-6 in the opener.In a statistical oddity, the Rams had 11 assists, 11 turnovers and 11 blocked shot in the game.Marist, 7-23 last season, didnt have as much fun down at Duke on Friday night, falling 94-49 in a Hall of Fame game at Durham, N.C.I didnt think we played at our best, Marist coach Mike Maker said after the game, but Duke had a lot to do with that.The Red Foxes, 4-16 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play last season, was tabbed to finish eighth in the 11-team league.They should be in for another rough ride Monday night.Jared Terrell and Kuran Iverson were also in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Rhode Island, which led 39-26 at halftime.Stanford Robinson, a transfer from Indiana, played 19 minutes and had seven points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals -- without a turnover -- in his URI debut.Its been several months -- a year for some -- since weve been on the court, said Hurley. The crowd and all the anticipation of our first game -- weve all been working so hard. Were just excited about the season. ' ' '