that have won nine games in each of the last two se

At our first editorial meeting to discuss ideas for Indias 500th Test, inevitably the thought strayed to the future and temporarily the mood turned sombre. It had taken just over eight decades for India to reach 500, but how many more to the 1,000th? Will there be a 1,000th?But it was apparent in a moment how absurd and incongruous that thought was. It was an occasion not for foreboding, but for gratitude. For as long as it has existed, Test cricket has been a reminder that higher and lasting pleasure can be derived from engagement and absorption, from anticipation and waiting, and from enjoying the journey as much as the destination.And it is more relevant and resonant than ever before in a world that is prone to living in moments. Few other sports are as sharply defined by singular moments as cricket, but its the sum of those moments that makes Test cricket the grandest, the deepest and the most profound of sporting experiences. Once you make the connection, it usually lasts for life.Mine started nearly four decades ago, with a small transistor radio clutched to my ear in the early winter mornings. India were playing the Bobby Simpson-led, Kerry Packer-depleted Australia, and the series, swinging one way and the other, ended in an epic six-day Test, with India falling short of a 493-run target by only 47 runs to concede the series 3-2.I was yet to hold a bat, and beyond the short Films Division news reels that played in movie theatres, I had seen no other cricket. I read up a short book by Vijay Merchant on the basics of the game, and it might have been an aunt who filled me up with some background, but the rest the mind imagined. I can swear I had a fairly graphic image of Sunil Gavaskars forward-defensive shot even before I watched him play.The colour of the game has changed immeasurably in the last four decades. The World Cup arrived in the 80s; Sachin Tendulkar ruled the heart in the 90s when India only won at home; the Test team truly arrived in the first decade of the new century; and in the last 10 years, the IPL has rewritten the rules of the game, both of how it is played and watched. But even more significantly, from the transistor radio in the 70s, Indians have at their command home-entertainment options that are no longer limited to even to the 1,700-odd television channels available.For Test cricket, this challenge also brings an opportunity. There is no doubt that the base has shrunk and will shrink further. But a niche is not necessarily an obscure corner. It can be distinct, high-profile and aspirational. It can be clutter-breaking, the rarer pleasure requiring fans to spend the commodity considered the most scarce: time. The faithful will be rewarded, and they will enlist more. In many ways, it is already a miracle that a sport lasting 40 hours a game has lasted 140 years. It will endure.It is perhaps no more than a coincidence, but what can be a bigger celebration of Indias 500th Test than the fact that it marks the beginning of Indias biggest home Test season in memory. Fault them for whatever else, BCCI officials, current and those just out of office, have shown a remarkable commitment to Test cricket. Thirteen is a significant number. With 103 Tests, the previous decade was Indias most prolific, and this decade, with 66 Tests already, is well on its way to match or exceed it. And if India stay the course, the 1,000th could come in double-quick time. Institutionalising a home season would be a progressive use of the BCCIs clout.It is also pertinent that Test cricket is going to smaller towns, with as many as six new Test venues being added. Players occasionally grumble about smaller venues that lack the attractions of the big cities, but arousing fan interest is a greater imperative. Test cricket needs spectators in the grounds, and it is worth taking the chance on smaller venues, which now have excellent playing facilities. It is now incumbent on the state associations to make fans feel welcome. They could start by making daily tickets easily available instead of the take-it-or-leave-it season tickets. Clean toilets and drinking water would be nice too. Love cant forever be one-sided, and it can no longer be taken for granted.?But it matters as much, if not more, that the players care. And in Virat Kohli, India have at the helm a cricketer not merely of considerable skills but with a passion to match. Kohli is a man of the times, a hero and an icon that the fans of his generation identify with. And he brings to Test cricket both the edge of his personality and the syntax of the shorter formats, in which he first earned his fame. He respects the challenges of Test cricket, but plays it on his own terms. His rage not only fuels the engine of his young team, it also fires public imagination.The 500th is a good reason for celebrating the past, and we will do so on these pages through the course of this Test. But there is much to look forward to too. The best way to celebrate this season would be to turn up at the grounds, tune in to the action on TV, or simply log on to our sites. We will be doing our bit, ball by ball. If you think Test cricket is worthy, its time to show it. Nike Air Max Nz Outlet . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Nike Air Max Shoes Clearance . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. http://www.nzairmax.com/ . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Nike Air Max Nz Online . JOHNS, N. Nike Air Max Nz Sale . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Trailing midway through the fourth quarter, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema wasnt all that concerned about style points or margin of victory.Not with another shocking loss like less than a year ago to Toledo still fresh on his mind.Behind a pair of fourth-down conversions in the fourth quarter, the Razorbacks (1-0) managed to avoid another early season disappointment to a non-Power 5 conference team on Saturday -- rallying for a 21-20 victory over Louisiana Tech (0-1).I know everybody would have, including myself at the end of the day, would have liked to come out of here with a larger margin of victory, Bielema said. But ... I knew (the Bulldogs) were going to be a good football team, very well coached.The Razorbacks rallied thanks to a pair of nerve-wracking calls by Bielema, particularly with first-time starter Austin Allen under center for Arkansas.Bielemas faith in his junior starter was rewarded, especially after Allen connected with tight end Jeremy Sprinkle from four yards out on fourth down to give Arkansas the 21-20 with 6:37 remaining in the game.Im glad (Bielema) called it, Allen said. Wed been practicing that play all week, everybody knew what they were doing and we did it perfectly. It worked out for us.Despite the go-ahead touchdown, the Razorbacks didnt secure the win for good until another fourth-down call by Bielema with just over a minute remaining.Facing fourth-and-inches at its own 37, Arkansas converted a first down with a power run by 240-pound running back Kody Walker -- allowing the Razorbacks to run out the clock and exhale a welcomed sigh of relief following last years early stumbles.You make the fourth-down decision looking to have success, Bielema said. The last one, its just a gut feel. I just had a feeling we were going to have a nice push, and it ended up sealing the game.With 18 wins over the last two seasons, including a pair of bowl victories, Louisiana Tech didnt expect to enter Saturday as the usual kind of early season cupcake for the Razorbacks.And the Bulldogs didnt play like it, either.Freshman JMar Smith, playing in plaace of suspended starter Ryan Higgins, finished 19 of 31 for 212 yards passing for Louisiana Tech -- helping the Conference USA school take a 20-14 lead in the third quarter after a 20-yard field goal by kicker Jonathan Barnes.dddddddddddd.However, Barnes missed another kick off the left upright from 39 yards that would have put the Bulldogs up 23-14 in the fourth quarter.That gave hope to Arkansas, which responded with a 13-play, 77-yard touchdown drive -- capped by Allen finding Sprinkle on a throwback to the left side of the end zone.Allen finished 20-of-29 passing for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his debut as the Razorbacks starter, but he also threw a pair of first-half interceptions that led to Louisiana Tech touchdowns.Rawleigh Williams led Arkansas with 96 yards rushing on 24 carries, including a touchdown.THE TAKEAWAYLA. TECH: Minus 13 starters from a year ago, and with Higgins on the bench, the Bulldogs looked every bit as good as its teams that have won nine games in each of the last two seasons. Smith had little problem picking apart Arkansas defense, with wide receiver Trent Taylor leading the Bulldogs with eight catches for 78 yards.I think we have an awful lot of positive things to build on, but I dont think this a game we wanted to be close, Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz said. We dont want to be close, we want to win.ARKANSAS: The Razorbacks entered the season with three new starting offensive linemen, and their inexperience showed on Saturday. Arkansas allowed four sacks of Allen in the close victory, and it managed only 106 yards rushing on 40 carries -- a significant concern moving forward into Southeastern Conference play.UP NEXTLA. TECH: The Bulldogs take a break from Power 5 conference competition when they face South Carolina State in their home opener, a week before traveling to face Big 12 Conference member Texas Tech.ARKANSAS: Life doesnt get any easier for the Razorbacks, who travel to Texas to take on No. 13 TCU. ' ' '