hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings for his third straight loss.Sm

After losing all the Tests in a series they would have been hopeful of doing well in, Kane Williamson managed to retain some humour, but he knew his side was done in by a mix of difficult conditions for them, the quality of their opposition in those conditions, and their own lack of application at times. In packed schedules nowadays, you hardly get time to acclimatise, which means you dont have too many second chances. The most disappointing aspect for New Zealand will be that when they got a surface in Indore that resembled classic Indian pitches, they couldnt bat for long enough. It didnt help that they never won a toss, and India always were in the ascendency.When asked about R Ashwins hold on him - the leading wicket-taker of the series took out Williamson all four times he batted - Williamson joked: He didnt get me out 27 times. He got a few other blokes out too.On a serious note, Williamson did make a mention of the conditions. Hes a good bowler, Williamson said of Ashwin. Were always learning playing internationals. I guess its a new thing, personally as well. Come over here with so much rough, which is nice to bowl into. I suppose I was a victim of it a few times. I guess, when you are put in that situation where you are dismissed in a similar situation, you are able to learn and try to improve from that. The conditions guys are exposed to, and the quality of bowling, in a backhanded way, we can be thankful for those experiences that help move your game forward.Even before the season began, India had a good chance of going unbeaten through a long season of 13 home Tests. New Zealand, on paper, seemed the team likeliest to challenge India, which will now make India look invincible this season. Williamson, though, felt - and it did bring out some laughs - that the toss can be crucial in these conditions. The previous home season had a shift in the pitches India play on, and they have won all seven tosses since then.Winning the toss would be helpful, I think, Williamson said, when asked what advice he could give to the teams that are following him in Indias home season. Which is a challenge in itself: South Africa lost every toss as well. Certainly have to be at your best. Whether you win the toss, lose the toss, India were far superior in this series. It depends on the surfaces. Every surface has been different in this series, they were different in the South Africa series. Whether it is a good one… it is important to spend time at the crease, creating pressure. Batting first would be nice. It would help, certainly, in being more competitive. This India side is a very good team, and they certainly know these conditions better than anyone.Williamson said that while the conditions were more difficult when they batted in Indore, this was a pitch where they could have played more assured cricket. Speaking on finding the right balance between defence and attack, Williamson said: It is a challenge, certainly on wickets very conducive to spin that make attacking tough as well. Sometimes, being positive when it is doing a little bit more is the way forward. It is up to the individual how they want to skin it, but in this Test, which was probably a little bit more like Test matches of old where its that war of attrition and you have to play long game like India showed, as opposed to Test matches prior, where 300 was a very good score, where you go out there and play positively and you get them before they get you, here was a little bit different.They exploited conditions better than us. They played very patiently with the bat, and batting was not easy when it came our time. Not just because conditions had deteriorated, but the very good bowling attack they have. Important that we come away from here, although frustrated, having learnt a huge amount as a young group being exposed in these conditions.Williamson didnt shy away from giving India the credit and said he was disappointed his team couldnt adapt quickly enough, but added that in conditions so challenging he felt the need to send players early for more experience.The more you can play in these conditions, the better youll be, Williamson said. That has to be a given. The more experiences you get in any conditions, it is a good thing. People talk a lot about county cricket and then, when you go to England, you certainly are far more aware of what to expect. I suppose this is no different. If guys can have more experience in these conditions, it will certainly be helpful.When asked if he felt his side had spent enough time here before the series, Williamson brought up the practical issue of the packed schedules. I suppose there is always those discussions, Williamson said. Another tough point as well is that you are playing so much international cricket, it is tricky to get that extra preparation you would like. So, you are having to learn on the job a bit, which is the nature of the beast, but at the same time, it is an important thing. Whether its A teams where guys are able to get extra time to come over, particularly in these conditions where you are playing more and more cricket. Indias home summer this year is 13 Test matches. So you are playing more and more in these conditions.New Zealand now have the five-ODI series to look forward to, which will be played on flatter surfaces. Williamson hoped the team doesnt carry the scars of losing the Tests into that series. Disappointing to lose the Test series, he said. At the same time, the guys are looking forward to the change of format. It will be tough again. We know India are a very good side at that as well. Its exciting. We know that wickets will more than likely be quite different again.We have got to adapt. Go out and play with that freedom, knowing that when we do play with that freedom, we play our best cricket. There will be a little bit of scarring coming out of a three-nil Test defeat. Obviously winning is a lot better than losing. Unfortunately we have lost a few on the trot, but nice to have new personnel come in who are fresh and looking forward to the one-day series. Brett Howden Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Eddie Giacomin Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/pavel-buchnevich-hockey-jersey/ . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Ron Greschner Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Rod Gilbert Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. HOUSTON -- Of all the good things Astros starter Lance McCullers did on Monday, manager A.J. Hinch was most impressed with the poise the 22-year-old showed in escaping a couple of jams.Hes handling things with a little bit more ease and a little bit more confidence, Hinch said. Hes not pressing too much in those situations. ... Its a good sight to see as hes developing.McCullers struck out 10 in seven strong innings and George Springer homered for the second straight day to give Houston a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.McCullers (4-2), who missed his previous turn with a blister on his right index finger, allowed five hits and one run while matching his season high for strikeouts. Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect eighth and Will Harris did the same in the ninth for his eighth save.Dae-Ho Lee had an RBI single for the Mariners, whose four-game winning streak was snapped.Seattle came up empty twice after having a runner on third with no outs.The first time came when Leonys Martin hit a leadoff triple before Seth Smith struck out. McCullers then struck out Robinson Cano, but the ball got away from catcher Jason Castro and Martin broke for home. McCullers covered and took the short toss from Castro to tag out Martin at the plate.Springer got things going for the Astros with a double in the first before a single by Marwin Gonzalez. Carlos Correa drew a walk to load the bases with one out before the Astros took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Luis Valbuena.Kyle Seager hit a ground-rule double with one out in the second and the Mariners tied it on the single by Lee. McCullers settled in after that, retiring the next 14 in a row. He struck out eight in that span, including the side in the third.The Mariners didnt have another baserunner until Cano singled to start the seventh. A walk by Nelson Cruz followed by a single from Seager loaded the bases. Seattle missed another scoring opportunity when Lee grounded into a double play before McCullers retired Adam Lind to end the inning and his day.I got into a situation where the count was in my favor so I threw a pitch tthat he was either going to strike out on or hit a ball on the ground, and I was lucky that it came back to me, McCullers said.ddddddddddddThat was huge, and that was the game right there, 2-1. You pitch the whole game to face two or three batters and I came out on top that time.Seattle manager Scott Servais lamented his teams missed opportunities.I thought we had them on the ropes there in the seventh inning, bases loaded and nobody out, he said. Unfortunately, we didnt get it done. But McCullers had really good stuff. Probably one of the better breaking balls weve seen all year.Springer doubled and scored in the first inning. There were two outs in the fifth when he launched his 19th home run to left-center field to make it 2-1.Seattle starter Wade Miley (6-5) yielded seven hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings for his third straight loss.Smith went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, ending a streak of four straight games with a homer.TRAINERS ROOMMariners: RHP Felix Hernandez will throw a simulated game Wednesday. Servais said Hernandez will throw 45 pitches. Hernandez has been on the disabled list with a strained right calf since June 1.FLIP AND PITCHFour-time defending national champion and three-time defending world all-around champion gymnast Simone Biles threw out the ceremonial first pitch. But it was far from an average throw. The 19-year-old, who is from nearby Spring, Texas, flipped toward the mound before launching a high throw to pitcher Scott Feldman. Biles was relieved that it went well and glad she didnt become part of a blooper reel.UP NEXTMariners: Taijuan Walker (4-6, 3.29 ERA) starts for Seattle on Tuesday. Walker is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 23 strikeouts in his last four starts.Astros: Dallas Keuchel (5-9, 5.13 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday. Last years AL Cy Young Award winner, who has struggled this season, has won two games in a row for the first time this year and is looking for his first win at home since April 15. ' ' '