Australian cricket has been warned it may not be the grassroots participation powerhouse it thinks it is, via the release of the most comprehensive national survey yet of sport down under.The Australian Sports Commissions inaugural AusPlay survey, released on Thursday, contradicted Cricket Australias own assertion that the game is the No. 1 participation sport in the country, and by quite a margin. A more accurate description, according to the ASCs figures, would be to place it in mid-table.While CAs own Australian Cricket Census had stated that the game can point to 1.31 million total participants, the ASC survey delivered a far lower tally - 562,669 combined senior and junior club sport participants, placing cricket sixth out of the top 10 sports.It was well behind soccers 1,086,986 club participants, and also returned inferior figures to golf, AFL, netball and tennis. Ironically, the surveys results were announced in a media event at the SCG on Thursday, with soccers top brass trumpeting the outcome. CAs executive and directors were preoccupied with a board meeting at the games Jolimont headquarters.CAs own participation figures are weighted to include the school-age Milo Into Cricket and Twenty20 Blast programs, with high female participation and increased engagement by diverse Australian communities cited as notable positives in recent years.However the CA chief executive James Sutherland has admitted previously that there is a need to ensure more junior participants graduate to club teams and a more formal relationship with the game. Interestingly, CAs own club participation figure for this year was 454,657 - lower than the ASCs.Its a lot about that experience and about creating a positive learning environment and a fun environment for kids to play the sport, Sutherland had said in August when CAs figures were released. I think thats where the T20 Blast has allowed kids to bridge between entry level programs and playing what some people might call real cricket.Weve seen success but also sustained participation through into the teenage years. Very pleasing in these results to see growth in that area for the first time in a couple of years.Most major Australian sports have tended to downplay each others participation figures, arguing either that the numbers are too generously weighted towards junior programs or that the figures are gleaned through processes that are not sufficiently independent. The AusPlay survey has been designed to provide a more definitive picture.The Australian Governments investment in AusPlay means we will now have a deeper understanding of the sport and physical activity behaviours of our nation, the ASC chairman John Wylie said. The AusPlay survey will report every six months and provide up-to-date information about trends in sport and physical activity participation that will guide key decisions in this area.Responding to the release of the survey, a CA spokesperson said: The AusPlay survey fills a major gap in national sport and recreation data. We welcome the contribution this data will make to drive the ambition we share with the Government to increase participation. We welcome that the survey again affirms Crickets place in the top tier of Australias leading participation sports and look forward to using the insights it provides to further grow Cricket participation.However, it is important to note that school participation is presently omitted from the survey report. School participation is one of the key pillars of our participation framework and an area where Cricket has been enormously successful in recent years. We would welcome the inclusion of school participation in future AusPlay surveys to ensure it reflects an even broader participation footprint. Mark Walton Jersey . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Malik Jefferson Jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. http://www.cheapbengalsjerseyssale.com/?tag=bobby-hart-jersey-sale .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Josh Malone Jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Clint Boling Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman knows how well Ervin Santana commands his fastball on both sides of the plate.They were teammates in Atlanta in 2014, but familiarity hasnt helped much. Freeman is 1 for 12 in his career against Santana.Hes got that slider you think youre going to hit, and it just disappears, Freeman said. He had it working today.The Braves managed just four hits against Santana in seven scoreless innings, and their rally in the eighth fell short in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.Minnesota improved to 48-71, four games better than the Braves, in a matchup of the two worst teams in the major leagues.Santana (6-9) walked two and struck out six, throwing 64 of his 107 pitches for strikes to win his third straight start. Atlanta beat him 2-0 on July 26, but Santana had his repertoire working in muggy conditions at Turner Field.I feel great, Santana said. There was a lot of humidity, but we got the win. Thats the most important thing.The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the first on Trevor Plouffes RBI double. In the eighth, Joe Mauer hit his 10th homer and Kurt Suzuki had an RBI single to make it 3-0.Brandon Kintzler earned his 12th save in 13 chances after facing four batters in the ninth.Santana allowed three runners to get into scoring position before striking out Jace Peterson in the second, Chase dArnaud in the third and pinch-hitter Jeff Francoeur in the seventh.Pitching against the majors weakest offense, Santana improved to 3-2 with a 1.99 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break. Atlanta ranks last in runs and homers.Hes efficient, interim Braves manager Brian Snitker said. He throws strikes. He changes speeds. He can bury his breaking ball when he wants to.The Braves cut the lead to 3-2 in the eighth. Ryan Pressly gave up Matt Kemps RBI double and Nick Markakis RBI groundout, but he stranded a runner at third when Adonis Garcia lined out.ddddddddddddMinnesota made it 4-2 in the ninth when Mauricio Cabrera, the sixth of seven Atlanta pitchers, gave up Plouffes RBI single.Mauer went 3 for 4 and is hitting .418 with 14 RBI in his last 19 games. Suzuki is hitting .322 with 26 RBI in his last 42 games.Atlanta starter Joel De La Cruz (0-6) gave up four hits, one run, two walks and struck four in 5 1/3 innings.The Twins are 15-8 in their last 23 road games. The Braves dropped to 18-40 at home.WELCOME TO THE BIGSBraves SS Dansby Swanson, the No. 1 overall draft pick of 2015, will be in the lineup Wednesday and make his major league debut when hes called up from Double-A Mississippi. Swanson replaces Erick Aybar, who was traded before Tuesdays game to Detroit for catching prospect Kade Scivicque. In 127 games in the minors, Swanson hit .277 with 10 homers and 66 RBI.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: Twins manager Paul Molitor said Miguel Sano could return to Wednesdays lineup after missing the last three games with a sore right elbow. An MRI taken Monday showed no structural damage. Sano had Tommy John surgery on the same elbow and missed the 2014 season.Braves: Snitker said All-Star RHP Julio Teheran was encouraged after making a rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A Gwinnett. He allowed three hits and two runs -- one earned -- with five strikeouts in five innings. Teheran, the Atlanta ace, is expected to come off the DL and start Friday against Washington. Hes been sidelined since July 30 with a right lat strain.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson (4-7) is 2-7 with a 6.10 ERA in 11 career interleague starts.Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (6-5) won at Minnesota on July 27 despite giving up 12 hits and seven runs -- six earned -- in 5 1/3 innings. Cheap Soccer Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Hockey JerseysNike NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Nike MLB Jerseys ChinaWholesale Baseball Jerseys ChinaWholesale College JerseysCheap Jerseys From ChinaWholesale Jerseys Near MeCheap Jerseys OnlineCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticCheap Nike NFL Jerseys AuthenticCheap Soccer Jerseys ChinaCheap NCAA Jerseys AuthenticCheap Nike NBA JerseysCheap NHL Jerseys AuthenticMLB Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Throwback JerseysCheap Nike NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '