n a contract that calls for the rooftop owners to pay a chunk of their revenue to the team. But after the vote, team chairman Tom Ricketts issued a statement that made it clear the dispute between the Cu

Australias captain Steven Smith ranked a surprise hiding at the hands of Sri Lanka among the most deflating results of his career, after pledging his leadership would be focused upon improving the national teams record in overseas territory.The 106-run defeat in little more than three days of actual playing time has put Australias No. 1 ranking at risk, being their seventh consecutive loss in Test matches in Asia and first to Sri Lanka in 17 years. Meanwhile a hamstring injury to the left-arm spinner Steve OKeefe means Smith will be relying on the ability of the Victorian spinner Jon Holland to hit the ground running when he links up with the squad in Galle for a match on what is expected to be an even sharper spinning pitch than that seen in Pallekele. A task considered well within the teams capability ahead of the series now looks exceptionally steep.Familiar Australian weaknesses against spin bowling were laid bare by Rangana Herath and his wrist-spinning offsider Lakshan Sandakan, as they shared 16 wickets between them. At the same time batsmen like David Warner and Usman Khawaja were put to shame by an extraordinarily composed innings of 176 from the 21-year-old Man of the Match Kusal Mendis. Smith, too, had reason for self-recrimination, as his charge down the track at Heraths first ball on day two had effectively swung the match.It is disappointing, Smith said. I said before the game that we havent played well in subcontinent conditions for quite a while now. Its something that under my captaincy I want to change. There were glimpses throughout this game that weve improved in some aspects but I think we just let ourselves down a lot as well.I generally play spinners quite aggressively. Ive hit that ball for four or six several times throughout my career. I got beaten on the inside of the bat. Its just summing it up and making sure I play with a straighter bat if Im trying to go over the top. I know it looked ugly and it probably didnt look great. For me, its about making sure I still have that intent to score.In expressing sorrow for OKeefes exit, particularly after he had fought bravely alongside Peter Nevill to try to delay defeat on the final afternoon, Smith also spoke optimistically about the skills of Holland. The pair were fellow academy inductees nearly a decade ago, and will need to find quick rapport as captain and spinner to help bring Sri Lankas batsmen to heel.Galle is the biggest spinning place here in Sri Lanka, or so weve been told so its going to play a big part again, Smith said. Jon Holland is a class bowler, hes done pretty well in state cricket and having a left-arm orthodox bowler in these conditions is a must. Hes accurate, he hits a good area and hopefully we can see some of the same as what we saw from Steve and Rangana, with some balls spinning and some balls skidding. Its incredibly hard to play against and Im looking forward to him getting here and having a couple of days preparation with us.He and I went to the academy together so we know each other reasonably well and Im sure hell fit in well around this group. Theres always challenges when youre playing international cricket, especially away from home. Hes going to have to get a game plan and the speeds that he needs to bowl together pretty quickly. Well be working with him to make sure he gets that in and Im really excited for him to join us.Holland for OKeefe is likely to be the only change to the Australian side, with Smith looking for his team to atone for their missteps in Pallekele.Kevin Durant Shoes Deals . 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Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. Kevin Durant Shoes Free Shipping .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Clearance Kevin Durant Shoes . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs, who have clung to the past the way ivy clings to Wrigley Fields outfield walls, won final approval Wednesday for a $500 million renovation project at the 99-year-old ballpark -- including a massive Jumbotron like the ones towering over every other major league stadium. A voice vote in the City Council gave the team permission to move forward with plans that will dramatically change the ballpark experience on Chicagos north side. The most notable alteration is the 5,700-square-foot video scoreboard in left field -- roughly three times the size of the iconic manual one in centre, which will remain in operation as well. The team also will be able to erect a large advertising sign in right field, double the size of the cramped clubhouse, improve player training facilities in the bowels of the ballpark and build a 175-room hotel across the street. Some fans say the upgrades are almost as overdue as a Cubs World Series championship (which last happened in 1908 -- eight years before the team moved into Wrigley). "Why would you not want any of the improvements that have come over the last 60-70 years?" asked Dutchie Caray, the widow of the famed announcer Harry Caray, whose leading the fans in Take Me Out To The Ball Game helped turn Wrigley into the huge attraction it is today. "Would you ask someone not to have television because they didnt have television in the old days (or) want to travel by horse and buggy to the West Coast?" Besides, she said of the Jumbotron, "I kind of like the idea of being able to see where a guy (umpire) blew a call." Collectively, the changes -- some of which could be completed as early as next season -- represent the most dramatic additions since at least 1988, when the Cubs became the last team in the majors to install lights. That change sparked a battle even more fierce than the one over the Jumbotron. In the decades since Wrigley became the Cubs home, the park has not always aged gracefully; the team once even installed nets to catch concrete falling from the upper deck. Although Wednesdays action was the last step in the long approval process, still unresolved is a dispute between the team and owners of the famous rooftops overlooking the field. The teams owner said Wednesday that the threat of a lawsuit could potentially delay the upgrade. Barring that, though, the councils approval Wednesday was the final chapter in a decades-old tug-of-war between the team and its neighbours. During public hearings, some fans urged the city to let the Cubs modernize Wrigley, while others argued the charm of going to the ballpark would be lost. "They had to modeernize, for the team and for the comfort of the fans" said Clay Goss, a 53-yeaer-old trader after he was told of the deal Wednesday afternoon.dddddddddddd "Baseball is having a hard time getting younger fans and keeping them, and (while) Im not a fan of the Jumbotron, kids like it." After the Ricketts family bought the team in 2009, it made the argument that the ballpark needed to change. Although the Ricketts defended the brick-and-ivy walls and manual scoreboard, they said they were running a business and not a museum. Initially, the team wanted public help to pay for the project, but that effort failed. Then the team said it would pay for the entire project. But, team officials said, if they were going to do that, they needed the city to allow it to erect the Jumbotron and other revenue-generating signs that would help pay for the project. Ricketts tried to convince fans that making the renovations would help the Cubs contend again. They havent been to the World Series since 1945, the year of the infamous billy goat curse that some superstitious fans still blame for the drought. The signs became the most contentious part of the proposed renovation project, both because they would change the look of the ballpark and because they were seen as threats to the rooftop businesses across the street. The owners, who charge fans to sit on bleachers they erected on top of the buildings, argue that any sign cutting into their views threatens the existence of their businesses. Tom Tunney, the alderman whose ward includes Wrigley, said he finally agreed to support the project Tuesday after the Cubs agreed not to put up any more outfield signs for the 10 years left on a contract that calls for the rooftop owners to pay a chunk of their revenue to the team. But after the vote, team chairman Tom Ricketts issued a statement that made it clear the dispute between the Cubs and the rooftop owners isnt over. He even raised questions about when the Cubs would begin what is expected to be a five-year construction project. "We look forward to beginning construction on our $500 million plan, but before we do, we must resolve once and for all the threat of litigation and the enforcement of existing rooftop ordinances and long term certainty over control of our outfield," Ricketts said. The Wrigleyville Rooftops Association declined to comment about Ricketts statement. But rooftop owner Max Waisvisz all but promised the Cubs will find themselves in court if what they build hurts his view and his business. "What they need is a little lawsuit," Waisvisz said. "Thats the only thing these guys listen to." ' ' '