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In July, six people drowned and a few others were reported missing when a boat with more than a hundred people on board capsized in a river in Kerala. Karun Nair was on that boat, taking part in a temple festival with his family as thanksgiving for making his India debut. Nair was one of the survivors - he had to swim some distance before being rescued by a group of locals.The incident came in the middle of a mixed few months in Nairs life. He had just played for India for the first time, during their ODI tour of Zimbabwe, his selection a reward for his consistency both in first-class cricket - he averaged more than 50 after three seasons - and the IPL. He hadnt really grabbed the chance, scoring only 46 in two innings while opening the batting in fairly low-pressure chases. The lack of form continued through India As tour of Australia, but he was back in form at the start of the 2016-17 domestic season, when he was also handed the captaincy of the Karnataka side for the first time.Now, he is part of Indias Test squad for the first two Tests against England. He has been part of the squad before, but this time he is one of only six specialist batsmen included.I was disappointed with the way my ODI debut series panned out. I dont think I lived up to the standards I set myself, Nair tells ESPNcricinfo. Probably I didnt grab my chances. But after the tour I decided to put that behind me and look forward to the new season. I didnt want to sit and keep hoping, but I knew my chances will come sooner than later if I keep scoring runs.Rohit Sharmas quadriceps injury means, Nair - who has scores of 74, 54*, 53 and 145 in his first four innings of the new Ranji Trophy season - could get his Test cap in Rajkot on November 9 if India play six specialist batsmen. With Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane entrenched at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, Nair could be in line for the No. 6 slot.Im not too fussy about batting positions, honestly, Nair says. Ive been playing up the order in the IPL, so in white-ball cricket, Ive enjoyed batting up the order. I started off as an opener for my state side in my junior-cricket days and then settled at No. 4. In Zimbabwe, I was asked if I would be ready to open. As a debutant, you cant have preferences, and it was a challenge I readily accepted.Having been on the fringes of the Test team, you do think of all this while sitting outside, but eventually its about being confident in your abilities and trusting the technique that has got you to this level.It hasnt always been the case. A few years ago, Nair was full of self-doubt, which stemmed not from an inability to score runs but an inability to convert starts. Till he was 19, he hadnt scored a century at any age-group level.I had a mental block while growing up, but that also made me learn you dont throw away starts, Nair says. Not being able to convert starts made me tougher. I became more attacking. I used to make 60s and 70s and get out. When I started to attack and bat more freely, I realised the 30-40 runs came quite easily. That change in mindset made a big difference. Now, I tend to play to the situation even though I believe Im an attacking batsman.The vote of confidence about Nairs technique came from the India A coach Rahul Dravid, whom he sought out ahead of the home series against South Africa A in September 2015.Once I got the confidence from him, all my self-doubts vanished, Nair says. I was batting within myself initially. I asked him about the areas I needed to work on. It felt reassuring to hear him tell me there was nothing wrong.Someone like him saying that was of real value, so Ive never had any batting conversations with him since. He has been very supportive, backed me in pressure situations and given me the opportunity to express myself. At that stage, he had more confidence in me than I did. That sort of gives you a boost from within.There were signs of Nair having erased that self-doubt when he made a match-saving fourth-innings century in the first unofficial Test. That earned him a maiden call-up to Indias squad, for the third Test in Sri Lanka.Dravid, who has worked closely with Nair while coaching or mentoring India A, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils, picks out his hunger and attitude as qualities that have helped him transition to the next level.Karun is still a work in progress, but obviously his skills and temperament have got him to this stage, Dravid says. He picks lengths early; his instincts as a batsman are solid now.So where did he see Nair evolve into the batsman he is today?I think the role change at Delhi Daredevils brought out the best in him, Dravid says. At Rajasthan Royals, he was batting behind the main guys like Shane Watson, Steven Smith and Ajinkya Rahane. At Delhi, we gave youngsters responsibility to drive the innings, and let seniors lower down the order handle the slightly challenging situations. He showed his ability to adapt there.Having been part of the Test squad on two occasions without getting a look-in, Nair says the experience was an eye-opener in terms of what he needed to do to remain in those environs, and he soaked in the feeling of being in the dressing room and chatting with Kohli and the support staff.It was a great feeling being around legends and future legends, Nair says. It felt amazing when they spoke of your domestic performances. That gave me a sense of belonging. Being a part of the dressing room for the first time, I still cant describe. The Test cap is special and Ive seen the seniors treasure it. When my chance comes, Ill be ready. Wayne Chrebet Womens Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Joe Klecko Youth Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Cj-Mosley-Jersey/ . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Joe Klecko Jets Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Wayne Chrebet Youth Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. NEW ORLEANS -- The Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans will be on the back end of games on consecutive nights when they meet Saturday in the Smoothie King Center.And both are feeling pretty good after the way the front ends went Friday night. The Hornets (8-3) overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to end the Atlanta Hawks six-game win streak with a 100-96 home victory.At the same time the Pelicans (3-10) were welcoming back Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday in a 113-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the Smoothie King Center.The back to backs tell a lot about how much you want to win, Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. Thats what the good teams do. You cant run from it.Charlotte didnt back down when Atlantas Dwight Howard threw an elbow at the head of Hornets center Cody Zeller and was ejected with 5:38 left in Fridays game. The Hawks led by three when Howard was called for the Flagrant-2 foul.The Hornets scored the next nine points, including seven by Kemba Walker, to take control.Zeller, a fourth-year forward, finished with 23 points, making 9 of 10 shots from the field.He gets better every year. He gets better every day, Walker said of Zeller. Skill-wise he gets better and he gets better with his confidence. He works hard each and every day to improve his game. It shows every night.Fridays game started a stretch in which the Hornets play 18 games in 32 days. They wont have consecutive days off until Dec. 17-18.This is a good way to start this stretch, Clifford said. If were a good team, the kind of team that we need to be, then weve got to find a way to play a good game on the road and get a win.ddddddddddddGetting wins against the Pelicans has been easy for most teams this season, but the Hornets havent won in New Orleans in their previous three seasons under Clifford.New Orleans entered Fridays game with the worst record in the NBA, but Davis had 38 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Holiday had 21 points and seven assists off the bench as the Pelicans won their second consecutive home game.Their record is misleading, Clifford said. When you look at them play they have had a lot of injuries and theyve lost a lot of close games.Davis returned from a one-game absence with a bruised quad and Holiday made his season debut after being away from the team to be with his wife Lauren as she gave birth to the couples first child and underwent brain surgery.I think I did pretty well, Holiday said of his debut in which he had 10 points and four assists in the fourth quarter. It was really just the initial hit of being out there and in the first four minutes or whatever when I need to get a feel for the game. From there, I just felt more comfortable toward the end of the game.Holiday played 21 minutes and coach Alvin Gentry said he plans to gradually increase Holidays minutes but doesnt have a timetable for when his point guard will return to the starting lineup.Its tough for anyone to sit out all of training camp and all of the preseason and also the first 12 games of the season, Gentry said. Its going to be a little bit of an adjustment period for him. ' ' '