Alastair Cook has kissed a few frogs in his search to find a new opening partner, but will now be hoping that either Haseeb Hameed or Ben Duckett turns out to be his prince.If all goes to plan, one of them will become his 10th opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss (at the end of the 2012 season) when the first Test against Bangladesh starts in Chittagong on October 20.They are far from like-for-like selections. While Hameed is a fairly classical looking player - he is no blocker, but he has a solid defence and pleasing armoury of conventional strokes - Duckett is a bold choice in the modern sense that he seems naturally inclined to attack and has every shot in the book, as well as several that are not. While he has scored his 1,338 Championship runs this season at a strike-rate of 79.45 - a rate that, not so long ago, was considered respectable in List A cricket - Hameed has scored his 1,154 at a strike-rate of 39.33. Hameed, however, has been opening in Division One, while Duckett has been opening in Division Two.Duckett will have the first opportunity to impress. He is expected to open in the ODI series that precedes the two Tests and it is possible that he will convince the management in those games that he has the character as well as the skills to win selection for the Test side. James Whitaker, the national selector, is clearly a huge admirer, referring to Duckett as a special player and a point-of-difference player. Not since the elevation of Joe Root as a debutant been spoken of in such terms.After the ODI series, the pair will go head to head in the red-ball warm-up games. With Cook absent on paternity leave, they will open in both the two-day warm-up games that precede the Tests, and though the captain is expected to return in time for the first Test, there has to be a possibility that Duckett and Hameed will open together; the first pair of debutant openers for England since 1937 when Jim Parks senior and Len Hutton did so against New Zealand at Lords.While it has been presumed that Hameed is in pole position to open - testament to his incredible ascent, really, given his age and lack of first-class experience - it may prove that Duckett is more Trevor Bayliss type of player. Bayliss has gone on the record previously as stating his preference for quick-scoring players and, while he has retracted that a little, he may be hesitant at positioning Cook and Hameed together at the top of the order. While Cook has certainly increased his scoring range and Hameed is not the out-right blocker some suggest, it is not impossible to envisage a scenario where progress becomes sluggish with the two of them together. Whether that should matter is another point entirely.Duckett, speaking shortly after his selection was announced, promised to continue to play his natural, positive game and suggested his aptitude against spin bowling might play to his advantage.I do play aggressively in first-class cricket and that has worked for me at the minute, he said. But there is plenty for me to learn in the Test game.Im still learning with the red ball stuff and havent nailed my game in that format just yet. To watch the likes of Cook out in Bangladesh it will be amazing for me to learn a few things.One thing I do have is my ability to play against spin. I think in Bangladesh they could bowl spin first-change so that is something Id be confident in facing and if I was given a chance then Ill try and be as positive as I can be and, fingers crossed, it pays off.I played hockey at school so the sweeps, reverse sweeps and quick hands might have come from that.The main thing about playing spin is that a spinner wants to bowl six balls in the same spot and you could just block it. But my main thing is about putting them under as much pressure as I can and whoever that guy is bowling at me, whether it is Shane Warne or whoever, I just have to put them under as much pressure as I can.If you can find ways of scoring then theyll be on the back foot straight away.Hameeds skills are, perhaps, not as obvious, but they are substantial nevertheless. Blessed with an apparently unflappable technique, he has made a huge impression at Lancashire in recent months. Not only is he their leading run-scorer in the Championship season - an astonishing achievement for a teenager - but he has become the youngest man to be capped by the club since World War Two. He has, as Whitaker put it, run-scoring in his DNA.We think hes got loads of technical qualities, Whitaker said. He has a really good, solid technique and a great temperament.Were excited. Im sure hell bring lots of quality to the team. Hes passed every test so far in his young life, and hes really hungry for success.He plays the ball late. Hes got good discipline and defence as well. But make no mistake, hes got the shots. Weve seen him take on some good-quality county bowling, with cuts and pulls. Hes got the shots in the locker; hes just very shrewd as to when he uses them.Whitaker also confirmed that a decision had been made to drop Hales from the Test squad before it became apparent that he was unwilling to tour Bangladesh. While he is likely to return for the ODI series in India - there has been no date set for when the India squads will be named, but it is expected to be a 16-man Test squad - he will not be considered for the Test series there.It seems the non-selection of Jack Leach, Somersets left-arm spinner, owed something to the experience of Simon Kerrigan in the Oval Test of 2013. While Kerrigan had played some A team (or Lions as it is now known) cricket before that Test, he was still something of an unknown quantity and perhaps hadnt spent enough time around the rest of the squad to feel completely comfortable.As a result, it is thought Kerrigan was not in the best position to do himself justice. He conceded 53 runs from eight first-innings overs and did not bowl again in the match. The experience seems to have scarred him and he has never quite recaptured the excellence of his bowling before it. The selectors are keen not to expose Leach to the same experience. It was noticeable that his county captain, Chris Rogers, said earlier this week he felt Leach emotionally still has a bit of a way to go before he was ready for the top level.The flaw in such an argument comes with the realisation that Hameed has not played any Lions cricket, either. Is the discipline of spin bowling so different mentally to that of opening the batting? Perhaps. Or maybe Hameed is simply a more phlegmatic character. Either way, expect Leach - and Ben Foakes, who was another to narrowly miss out on selection in the Test squad - to feature in performance squads named on Monday. Stephon Marbury Jersey . JOHNS, N. Jason Kidd Jersey .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. https://www.cheapsunsonline.com/ . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Ricky Rubio Jersey . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Dan Majerle Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. With the 2016 finals fast approaching, ESPN NRL expert Brett Kimmorley identifies the good, bad or otherwise from an action-packed round 25 in his latest edition of Set of Six.Cowboys title defence alive and kickingI am now convinced the Cowboys can go back-to-back: how do you stop them? Just the creativity they have - we talk about Johnathan Thurston, but they also have Lachlan Coote, Michael Morgan, Jake Granville, Jason Taumololo, who is the wrecking ball of their side, and Matt Scotts been rested.I saw enough on Thursday night to say the North Queensland Cowboys are the best team in the competition and its made me sway away from the Melbourne Storm.I think the Cowboys only won one of their last five games last year leading into the finals and went on to become premiers.They know how to win tight games, they have the best player in the world in the halves, they have momentum now and they are relatively injury free.Brisbanes mystery mentor is no Average JoeTheyve been working with a touch football expert in Brisbane since Kevin Walters left and hes apparently a life coach as well. He popped up a few weeks ago when Wayne Bennett didnt bring Walters back into the fold and as much as you try and do some research, people dont tell you a great deal about him. As far as people get is Joe someone.The two things I took out of the Broncos win against the Storm on Friday night was the energy they had. They all continually mentioned energy at every media interview they did after the game and the fact that they trained for the past month with this touch football mentality where they pass the football more had an add-on effect against Melbourne.It helps you avoid the wrestle and if players know they are going to get the ball as a support runner, they are going to be more encouraged to support the ball and it generates a lot more momentum and its very hard to defend against.I dont know if the Broncos will play that style every week, but certainly that positivity and energy goes a long way to getting the job done with the talent they have in their roster. If Im a half-back and Ive got people around me willing to run in support, then Im loving that because it gives me so many different options to pass the ball to. Weve seen Ben Hunts and Anthony Milfords running game increase over the last two weeks and that only happens when youve got support.Matt Moylan holds the key to Penriths seasonMatt Moylan is just an amazing football player and he doesnt get the raps that Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston and Jarryd Hayne get; but hes so great to watch. We talk about Nathan Cleary and the forwards, but if Penrith do something this year Moylan will be the star of the occasion.I like his ability to play both sides of the field; sometimes play first pivot; second pivot; third pivot; he can goal-kick. Moylan ticks every box in my mind and obviously being Panthers captain at such a young age shows he is very calm in the head which is what guys like Thurston, Cronk, Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns had.?He is always smiling and he looks like hes a kid going out to play park football. He wont swear, throw the football or do any of the other rubbish you sometimes see from players when they make a mistake.Its refreshing to see a kid with a smile on his face, enjoying his football and gooing out onto the field each week and having a dig.dddddddddddd.Cronullas fantastic farewell for Michael EnnisIt was a great farewell for Michael Ennis from Southern Cross Group Stadium on Saturday night. The Sharks did an amazing tribute to Ennis after the win against the Roosters;?hes only been at Cronulla for two years so its not like he is a club local junior or anything, but I think they appreciate how much hes done for the club.It was a great ceremony and a special moment for a player I spent a bit of time with, and I think this is the type of appreciation that players cherish when they come to the end of their careers.Most fans hate him until he joins their club; hes the ultimate competitor but a lovely fellow and a really great family guy. Id love to see the Sharks go all the way for him, but that will be the last time he plays at Southern Cross Group Stadium so it was nice that he gets the opportunity to play his last game there.Unfortunately, Jamie Lyon didnt get that opportunity to know that he was playing his last game at Brookvale Oval for Manly and I think theyre special moments for a player.?Raiders can win it all, but ...The Raiders are one of the sides that can win the competition but I thought their mindset against the Sea Eagles was a bit off on Saturday. The fact they scored 40-odd points without Blake Austin is great,?but the fact that Manly scored 30 points against them showed they slipped back into that we score, you score mentality that has been their weakness in the past.Theyve been so good for a number of weeks staying mentally switched on for the full 80 minutes, but I thought this was an indication that they can get a little bit loose or a little bit disinterested and this competition is such a mind game.The Raiders showed me a little bit of that loose mindset and they wont get away with it in the finals. Theyve won nine straight games now and its hard to stay up each week.It just shows that if youre up for so long and drop a little bit, you can lose to anyone.?Cheap ruck penalties need to be addressedCameron Smith was spot on Friday night in debating Anthony Milfords tactic of throwing the ball into an opposing player in the play-the-ball to milk a cheap penalty.If you dont do it deliberately then you should get the ball back and another set of six. But in Milfords case, he almost threw the ball along the ground to hit a Storm player behind the ruck, and I think its a rule we need to look at it.Its a bit of gamesmanship and I congratulate Milford for knowing the rules because not many may know that rule. But I have a concern that a pocket ref could get in the way one day and it will cause a fair bit of embarrassment when a team gets another set of six in a critical moment.?I thought Felise Kaufusi had done enough to get himself out of the way but it is very ironic that Cameron Smith went off his head because hes done it plenty of times in the past and milked other penalties from falling over in the ruck as well.It is a rule that was probably introduced when we had one referee in the game but now we have two referees, and one sits close in the pocket to adjudicate, it is probably time to review it. ' ' '