random, baseless verbal remarks or face discipline for a failure to c

Kate Cross on the Womens Big Bash, sleeping struggles on her flight home, and preparing to play South Africa... Womens Big BashIt is hard to believe that the inaugural Womens Big Bash League has been and gone already. What a two months of cricket it was! It was really special to be involved with the Brisbane Heat in the first tournament of its kind, and it was great to see it be such a success. Kate took part in the innaugral WBBL, playing for the Brisbane Heat We were obviously really disappointed not to make the finals but unfortunately we couldnt get over the line in our must win game against the Adelaide Strikers. Id like to pass on my congratulations to Alex Blackwell who captained the Sydney Thunder to the trophy, stamping their name in the history books. On a personal note, I can always say I was the first ever bowler to bowl a front foot no-ball in the WBBL... Quiz question one day, maybe?On a serious note, the WBBL is the perfect example of the continuing strides being made in the womens game. Every corner we turn, we seem to be making history and its so exciting to be part of. Sore back to Business Class Lauren Winfield struggles to sleep on the flight back from Brisbane So it was time to leave Brisbane after our two month stay there which was sad indeed. My England team-mate, Lauren Winfield, who was with me at the Heat, was struggling to get into a comfortable sleeping position on our flight to Manchester, resorting to this rogue position.She was struggling so much so in fact, that at one point I had fallen asleep and woke up with Loz nowhere to be seen… Having drifted back off I woke up again to find her still missing (probably 90 minutes later). Getting a bit worried as to where she was, I suddenly saw her sauntering down the aisle looking very smug. I asked her where shed been and it turned out shed had a stint in a spare seat in Business Class. Sure. As you do. She was eventually discovered by a stewardess and asked to leave. Needless to say, the sorry, but I thought it was okay because I have a sore back excuse didnt sit very well. Kate cant wait to get her England kit back on for the series in South Africa It was great to see family and friends for the weekend once we finally landed, and a perfect chance to recharge the batteries before heading down to Heathrow to meet up with the England girls as we head out to South Africa. It was our first opportunity to meet new Head Coach, Mark Robinson, although Im not sure my first impression was a great one, when he quickly discovered that I havent taken after my dad, David, and am dreadful at football. Hes a big Hull supporter… I guess someone has to be!Three Lions on our shirtsIt was great to catch up with all the girls and hear about what they had been up to over the winter. There seems to be a real excitement around the group which is a refreshing environment to come back into and everyone has a really good feeling about what is to come in the next 12-18 months. There is nothing better than getting your England kit back on and standing proud with all the girls. Liam Plunkett (L) and Mark Wood (R) are rehabbing in South Africa after injuries We have just finished a week of training in Potchefstroom which was brilliant. The facilities there are fantastic, and it was a great opportunity to get some practice on grass pitches under our belts. The England PEPP (Potential England Performance Programme) fast bowlers are also out here, along with Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett who are rehabbing after injuries.It was really interesting to get to see what the lads get up to on the fast bowlers programme and how they train. We also discovered that the grass in Potch is pretty dry and trousers are an absolute must when fielding, Sarah Taylor discovered this one the hard way (ouchie). Sarah Taylor shows off her battle scar after fielding on the rough grass in Potchefstroom We have just moved to Pretoria where we have some warm-up games coming up this week before the three-match ODI series which starts on Sunday. Everyone is excited to get back out on the park and put a hard winter of work on display. Wish us luck!Crossy Also See: Womens cricket home Sportswomen Cricket fixtures/results Get Sky Sports Air Vapormax Soldes . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Vapormax Plus Pas Cher Chine .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. http://www.vapormaxpascher.be/air-max-vapormax-flyknit-3-pas-cher/femme.html . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Air Vapormax 97 Soldes . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Vapormax Flyknit 2 Pas Cher .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. The NFL is still seeking an audience with the four linebackers its investigating for an alleged link to performance-enhancing drugs.The leagues latest message to James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Mike Neal and Julius Peppers came with an ominous and onerous threat: Answer our questions in the next 10 days, or start your suspension.NFL senior vice president of labor policy and league affairs Adolpho Birch sent a letter Monday to the NFL Players Association detailing a plan to suspend Harrison, Matthews, Peppers and Neal if they dont speak with the league by Aug. 25.Their punishment would then start the following day on an indefinite basis, to be ended at the discretion of Commissioner Roger Goodell once an interview has been completed.Birchs memo to the union was obtained by The Associated Press, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation whos not authorized to speak publicly about it.Harrison, a 14-year veteran, is a longtime leader for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matthews and Peppers are key cogs in Green Bays defense, and Neal is currently a free agent who spent the past six seasons with the Packers. Harrison, Matthews and Peppers have been picked for the Pro Bowl a combined 20 times.The NFL first notified the quartet on Jan. 11 about the investigation into a television report by Al-Jazeera featuring allegations made by Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern at an anti-aging clinic, about the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs by several athletes including the four linebackers. Sly later recanted his claims.Birch, in his letter, said the league has made at least seven attempts to arrange the interviews.Goodells power to punish has been a prickly issue between the NFL and the union in recent years, so the elevation of this dispute was not surprising since it revolves around the potential of player discipline and how it fits withiin the collective bargaining agreement.ddddddddddddhe stance of the players has been steadfast in this case, refusing to be interviewed without being presented with what theyve called credible evidence. Affidavits were sent by the NFLPA on behalf of the players to substitute for the interviews. Birch dismissed each as simply half-page statements, which were wholly devoid of any detail. Birch also said the league determined that an assertion made in Neals affidavit was demonstrably false.Harrison said in his statement, sent to Birch July 25 by the NFLPA, he never met nor communicated with the source of the report and has never violated the NFLs policy on performance-enhancing substances.Neither the CBA nor the policy state that a player must agree to an in-person interview based upon random, baseless verbal remarks or face discipline for a failure to cooperate with a league investigation, union attorney Heather McPhee wrote then on Harrisons behalf.Birch cited Article 46 of the CBA in noting the discipline that can come for noncooperation or obstruction. Such a suspension would be separate from any possible future determination of violation of the steroid policy.We cannot accept your unilateral assertion that the cursory, untested statements you have submitted satisfy the players obligation, Birch wrote.Retired quarterback Peyton Manning was also cited in Al-Jazeeras doping report in December. The NFL announced last month it has closed its separate probe on Manning, who granted interviews and provided all records sought by league investigators.---AP Sports Writer Simmi Buttar in New York contributed to this report.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '