The series has not even begun, and, oh dear, Darren Lehmann has called Muttiah Muralitharan a f******** c****. This was in no sense a slur - the likes of which a now-contrite Lehmann used once to refer to Sri Lanka cricketers. Yet his appraisal of Murali as a fantastic coach has been received in the vein of a dirty phrase by some. With the islands greatest cricketing weapon now trained on its own team, consternation has been widespread enough for several Sri Lankan MPs to give voice to their umbrage in parliament. Perhaps we should listen to the politicians for a change, because on the subject of switching sides for the right price, these are people who know a thing or two.Murali cant take all the credit for Steve OKeefes ten-wicket haul in Australias tour match, but thanks at least in part to his work, Sri Lanka now have a second spinner to fear, in addition to Nathan Lyon, one of the best pace attacks in the world, an opposition captain averaging 60 with the bat, a middle-order batsman averaging 96, and an opener for whom boundaries flow from the bat almost as prodigiously as abuse from the lips.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are still mired in their ever-lengthening transition, and worse, their frontline attack is mostly in triage. This will be the third consecutive Test series without Dhammika Prasads hit-the-deck intensity, thanks to a shoulder complaint. They will also have to do without Dushmantha Chameeras bouncers and bony limbs. Shaminda Eranga has been suspended for an illegal action. And legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who it was hoped might make a Test debut in this series, remains unavailable through a finger injury.Yet, though the team vehicle appears to be spluttering on the bumpy road to stability and competitiveness, there does appear to be mild optimism for Sri Lanka. Fittingly, it is the cricketer most shaped like a bus driver on whom much of this rests. Rangana Herath had green, unresponsive pitches to work with in England, but now, having shed the multiple jumpers, made appearances for his bank, attended a wedding or two, and spent some time with his family, he prepares to derail his sports No. 1 team on more conducive home tracks.Herath was dismayed that, through a quirk of this tours scheduling, he cannot conspire with his beloved Galle pitch to deliver Sri Lanka the initial series advantage he so often provides. But all international pitches in the country offer turn, and, for Australia, even the seam-friendly Pallekele deck may turn into a dustbowl. For a sidekick, Herath will have Dilruwan Perera, who with his classical action, modest spin and devious smarts, is virtually Heraths offspinning mirror image, right down to the being deprived of chances into his thirties because a senior spinner is already holding court.Dry decks and twin spin is the strategy the hosts will likely deploy in this series, in light of Australias failures in India and the UAE, but unlike for the other South Asian sides, the tactic is fraught with danger for Sri Lanka. Perhaps they can be excused for capitulating last year to Yasir Shah, as he is now the top-ranked bowler on the planet, but in the past 13 months, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra and even Kraigg Brathwaite have had Sri Lankan batsmen writhing on their own soil as well.Perhaps it is because Australia sense this is a series they are expected to win that their standard pre-series insult mill has, this time, been oddly inert. Often, they seem to arrive in each new country with a pre-prepared sheet of sledges to be rolled out systematically in press conferences through the tour. In Sri Lanka, only Mitchell Starc has fired a single, underwhelming shot, claiming that Angelo Mathews is under pressure after the English tour and that as a captain, hell have to go through that pressure and perform. The thing is, though, Mitchell, Mathews can only be under so much pressure, because there is no alternative choice for the captaincy, and he remains the teams best batsman. So why bother with the jibes, I guess, when reality paints an even bleaker picture? Sri Lanka have just one victory against Test-playing opposition this year, across all formats.As a result of this terrible run, Sri Lankas fans have cooled their cricketing passions, and the board has begun a concerted campaign to woo them back. There have been pleas for support from players and PR folk, some rebranding here, a little publicity stunt there. Nothing, of course, will inspire the fan-base like a series victory but, until that comes, the die-hard supporters will have to cling to the hope that rests in Herath, and at least no one can say there isnt enough of him to cling to. Adidas Originals Stan Smith Cheap .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Cheapest Adidas Stan Smith . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. http://www.cheapadidasstansmith.com/ .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Adidas Stan Smith Wholesale . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. Adidas Stan Smith Sale . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. LUBBOCK, Texas -- Justin Gray and Shadell Millinghaus scored 14 points apiece to lead Texas Tech to a 69-48 win over Incarnate Word on Wednesday night.Zach Smith finished with 13 points and six rebounds for the Red Raiders (6-1) and Keenan Evans added 11 points and five assists.I thought tonight, about half our baskets were on assists, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. So, that means were playing unselfish basketball. I thought we drove the ball well tonight, made enough free throws to win.Simi Socks and Jorden Kite scored 12 points apiece for Incarnate Word (2-3), which shot 37 percent from the floor and lost the points off turnover margin 23-9.Entering the game, Texas Tech had four players averaging double-digit scoring. It continued its varied scoring by matching that total and having eight players score.The Red Raiders, which outrebounded the Cardinals 36-26, committed 12 turnovers and caused 22 Incarnate Word turnovers.Texas Tech dominated frontcourt play, scoring 40 points in the paint to Incarnate Words eight.I thought we had a really nice shot chart in terms of where the baskets were coming from other than the 3-point line, Beard said. Thats an objective of ours.Texas Tech jumped out to a 15-4 lead before the Cardinals climbed back into the game, 19-11. Millinghaus had 11 points in the first half, which ended with the Red Raiders up 38-25 as the Cardinals went scoreless for almost five minutes.After shooting 43 percent in the first half, the Red Raiders, who have shot 53 percent for the season, shot 54 percent in the second half to pull away. They did that despite finishing 1 of 11 behind thhe 3-point line.ddddddddddddIncarnate Word, which lost to then-ranked No. 21 Texas by five points earlier this season, was within eight points early in the second half before Texas Tech pulled away.Shawn Johnson entered the game as Incarnate Words leading scorer with 23 points per game. He was held to six points.They bodied him up, Incarnate Word coach Ken Burmeister said. Hes not the kind of player that can take it off the dribble. He has great athleticism. They boxed him up pretty good.BIG PICTUREIncarnate Word: 2016-17 is the final season in Incarnate Words transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. Next season, it will be eligible for Southland Conference and NCAA Tournaments.Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are playing without standout forwards Norense Odiase and Aaron Ross. Both are rehabbing injuries. In their absence, graduate transfer Anthony Livingston has provided quality frontcourt minutes.TREY TROUBLEThe Red Raiders entered the game first in the Big 12 with a 43.6 3-point percent shooting percentage. Wednesday, they finished 1 for 11 (9.1 percent).Youre not going to shoot it great every night, but I have a lot of confidence in our shooters, Beard said. Weve got a lot of guys that put in a lot of time. Between classes. Early morning. At night. 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