One of the most critical relationships in a cricket team is that between a captain and his spin bowler. A spinner relies more than fast bowlers do on the captain trusting him enough to offer him the right opportunities with the right fields to be successful. Not every spinner - hardly any in fact - possesses the sort of confidence we saw from a Shane Warne or a Graeme Swann at their peak, and the confidence of the captain is the bedrock on which they gain it.Thats why I was intrigued by the way Steve Smith used Nathan Lyon at the WACA Ground, specifically only giving him 12 overs on the third day, with none before lunch. Ive seen Steves explanation about wanting to focus on using the reverse-swinging ball early in the day, but I also know that when Nathan did come on to bowl in the afternoon, he almost immediately created the first clear chance of the day. I wonder how much confidence the decision to hold him back showed in him.This isnt to say that Steve and Nathan dont have a great relationship - they do. But theres a difference between being friends off the field and strong collaborators on it. One of Michael Clarkes great strengths was a terrific instinct for when and how to use Nathan for maximum impact. Its easy for us to forget that Steve remains a young captain, learning his tactical craft, and a big part of that will be finding ways to get the best out of his spinner.There was a contrast here between Australia and South Africa, one of many in a Test match where the visitors ran out handsome winners. The game turned on the second day around the time that Dale Steyn left the field injured, as Faf du Plessis gambled boldly and successfully on his dwindling pace resources. Kagiso Rabada was given licence to go after the Australians with a piercing spell of reverse swing, and South Africa never surrendered their advantage.To be perfectly honest, I was shocked how skilful Rabada was for someone so young. He actually reminded me of Pat Cummins on his Test debut at the Wanderers in 2011. That week, in a high-pressure game, immediately after we had been bowled out for 47 in Cape Town, Patty put on an amazingly complete display as a fast bowler, delivering different kinds of spells, gearing up and down in pace, swinging the ball both ways, and contributing to a nail-biting victory - he even hit the winning runs.Unfortunately for Pat, hes not been able to stay fit long enough to play another Test since then. But the maturity he showed then, beyond his teenaged years, was mirrored in the way Rabada went about his work in Perth. Once he got a sniff of a wicket he geared up from around 135kph to 145kph, found reverse swing in both innings, and seemed generally to know what he was trying to do at any given moment to work a batsman out. These skills are rare enough in the game, let alone for a 21-year-old. Above all, Rabada bowled like a leader of the attack, taking it upon himself to change the direction of the game. Thats something I look forward to seeing from Josh Hazlewood, who is now getting really settled in the Australian side. Josh played quite a lot of Shield cricket before he took his first big bag, in the 2014 final at Manuka Oval, and I reckon a similar breakthrough moment for him in Tests is just around the corner.It was no good for the team to lose both Shaun Marsh and Peter Siddle. Shaun looked very much the part as an opening partner for Davey Warner, while Sidds is always a selfless contributor to any team. Coming off his back injury, Sidds would have known the risks going into the game, and really he has fallen prey to the need to back up so quickly after the first-innings batting fell away.One part of the game we dont always take into calculations is the mental mindset of the guys, particularly now they have lost four Test matches in a row. At key moments in games, like the second day in Perth, a few losses under your belt can mean a feeling of here we go again and negative thoughts starting to build up.Thats where Ill be looking for something more from Davey and Steve in Hobart. Davey played beautifully in the first innings but probably left a few runs out there, maybe even 100 more. Steve was looking secure in the second innings when Rabada tempted him into error. The true test of where the Australians are at as a cricket team will be how they respond at Bellerive Oval this week. One thing the team has done really well over recent years - with Davey and Steve often at the forefront - is to counterpunch from a loss.Theres a lot of pride in the group about playing for Australia, and there will also be an awareness of the way Darren Lehmann works as a coach. Hes all about letting people make mistakes, because thats how you learn to play the game. But his fuse will shorten if he sees guys repeat similar mistakes a few times, and over the past four Test matches that has certainly been the case, particularly among the batsmen. Thon Maker Jersey . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Cheap Bucks Jerseys . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. http://www.wholesalebucksjerseys.com/eric-bledsoe-jersey/ . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Cheap Bucks Jerseys Online .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Glenn Robinson Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. HOUSTON -- While two games wont be enough for either the St. Louis Cardinals or Houston Astros to establish the momentum that has eluded both over the past month, their brief interleague series at Minute Maid Park could at least serve as a potential ignition.The Cardinals (62-56) claimed the final two games of their four-game set with the Cubs in Chicago over the weekend, closing that series where they began it relative to their position in the National League Central -- 12 games back of the Cubs. St. Louis last won three consecutive games July 27-29 (the finale against the New York Mets and the first two games of its series in Miami) and is 16-14 since the All-Star Game break.Left-hander Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93 ERA) will get the start for St. Louis on Tuesday night. He lost to the Astros on June 14 at Busch Stadium, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-2 setback. The Cardinals lost 4-1 the following day as Houston completed the sweep.Garcia is 2-6 with a 6.15 ERA in his career against the Astros. His 10 starts against Houston are his most against an opponent outside the NL Central.St. Louis will be without left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist, who departed in the eighth inning on Sunday with arm soreness. Siegrist has been plagued with a dead arm since returning from the disabled list last month and was removed after shaking his arm while on the mound Sunday in Chicago.Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is hopeful that Siegrist can rebound over the next week, with St. Louis facing tthree scheduled off-days during that stretch.ddddddddddddiegrist led the majors with 81 appearances last season, finishing 7-1 with a 2.17 ERA. He is 5-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 50 appearances this season.It wasnt worth (continuing) at that point, Siegrist said to MLB.com. I was shaking my arm out a little bit, really trying to get it going. Its been hard coming back from being on the DL and trying to get my arm back in shape. I kind of went through a little dead arm-type feeling, and its been hit or miss.The Astros (61-57) are dealing with bullpen issues as well. Closer Ken Giles spent the weekend on the paternity list while right-hander Luke Gregerson returned from the 15-day disabled list (left oblique) and allowed a solo home run in the seventh inning of a 9-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Houston also relied on rookie right-handers James Hoyt and Jandel Gustave in the setback.Well continue to grind through it, Astros manager A.J. Hinch told MLB.com. Well have our full bullpen back by Tuesday. Thatll be a nice return.Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56 ERA) will make his second career start against the Cardinals. He is 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in two prior appearances (one start).The Astros are 13-16 since the All-Star break with three three-game losing skids during that stretch. They dropped the final two games of their series in Toronto and are in the midst of 14 road games during a 16-game stretch. 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