Sometime during Pakistans first full day in New Zealand, some of the players might have turned on the television to watch Australias fourth innings in Perth. They will have seen Kagiso Rabada doing what he does. And beyond the admiration for his skills, there will have been envy - what Pakistan would give to have their own Rabada right now - followed by a sigh, because they would remember, more than most, that it wasnt long ago that Pakistan seemed to hold the trademark on young speed demons.Last month Bangladeshs Mehedi Hasan became only the 13th player to take a Test five-for before his 19th birthday. Of the previous 12, six were Pakistanis, four of them fast bowlers. And that list doesnt even include the likes of Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Zahid and Shoaib Akhtar, all of whom managed the feat in their early 20s.It is in this context that the supposed current travails of Pakistani fast bowling are measured. Of the five quick bowlers Pakistan have taken to New Zealand (Mohammad Amir, Imran Khan, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Wahab Riaz), and will most likely retain for the Australia leg of the tour, only one is under the age of 28 - Amir, who has already lived a life far more eventful than most people his age have done.The tours to New Zealand and Australia are significant - perhaps the biggest since, well, this summers trip to England. And despite the players protestations about how the Tests in New Zealand are likely to be more difficult than those across the Tasman Sea, its obvious where their legacies will be defined.Pakistan havent lost a Test series to New Zealand in 30 years, while their two wins in Australia since 1980 came in dead rubbers after they lost the series. The tour to Australia is how ex-players define how hard Test cricket is. They tell stories, of big, hairy men, ready to kill them at a moments notice.Pakistan will go to Australia for the first time in 17 years with a realistic chance of returning victorious. But, perhaps for the first time in living memory, their worries are primarily over their fast bowling. Its an odd feeling for a Pakistan fan. Decades of experience tell them that it will be up to the teams batsmen and spinners to ensure that the fast bowlers efforts wont be in vain. And while over the last six years this team has busted one Pakistani myth after another, it would appear that their brand of spin-heavy control cricket might finally come undone down under.Twenty months after Wahab became a household name, 11 months after Amir made his return to the national side, the concern for Pakistan fans, and their captain, remains with the fast-bowling unit. This isnt what the script promised.There are a lot of reasons for why Pakistan find themselves in this situation. As always, the finger-pointing goes back to domestic cricket, where a combination of helpful pitches, substandard balls, and the fact that the cricket season is in the winter end up helping medium-pacers and discouraging old-school Pakistani fast bowling. The result is that in the current season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, there are as many as ten medium-pacers who have taken over a dozen wickets at under 20.Then you have to consider the nostalgia bias - far more prevalent than any recency bias - that affects the Pakistani cricket fraternity. If they are to be believed, there were a dozen or so fast bowlers in the 90s who would have all been world-class if given enough of a chance (usually stated as: If Wasim and Waqar hadnt destroyed their careers). Yet the numbers dont bear that out. During Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis golden period - 1990 to 2003 - the other quick bowlers (those who took at least 20 wickets) combined to average 34 with the ball. Thats what the current five fast bowlers achieve - mostly in less helpful conditions.And thats the crux of the issue really. The myths that feed Pakistani exceptionalism might proclaim otherwise, but has there ever been that much depth? Right now Pakistan are operating with what should have been their second-string attack. Is this attacks performance any worse than those achieved by second-string attacks in the past? And are these bowlers as bad as is being suggested? Not really.Amir still doesnt have a full season under his belt; Rahat performs a very specific role, which he has nearly always succeeded at; Imran and Sohail, in helpful conditions, have delivered repeatedly. And Wahab is far better than his critics suggest. For all his proclivity to being smashed around like a drum, only four bowlers who have taken over 30 wickets in Asia over the last decade have had a better average than him.For all their limitations, the West Indies series, where they supposedly failed to turn up, was an exception rather than the rule for these bowlers. For six years they have operated mostly in unhelpful conditions and delivered more often than not.But as always, the thoughts turn to the what-ifs and the potential. Thats why the young speed demon will always be favoured, for his promise makes even his possible ineffectiveness worth it.In that ideal world, Pakistan would have gone on this tour with an ageing Asif ready to say his goodbyes, having spent six years tutoring Amir and a Junaid Khan who wasnt made of papier-maché. With Wahab ready to bowl on tracks that suit his style of bluster, Pakistan would have started the New Zealand series with fast bowling their strength rather than their supposed weakness.In the real world, though, Pakistan have travelled to the southern hemisphere with five pacers, all with question marks over them, wanting to change history. They may be able to affect what will happen, but theyll never change what has already gone by. And that, it would seem, will never be good enough. Kostas Antetokounmpo Mavericks Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Dallas Mavericks Jerseys . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. http://www.mavericksteamofficial.info/jason-kidd-mavericks-jersey/ . 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NEW YORK -- The injury-riddled New York Mets got the first of their many missing pieces back Saturday, when infielder?Jose Reyes was activated from the disabled list after missing the minimum 15 days because of a left oblique strain.Reyes played shortstop and hit in the leadoff spot in Mets 3-2, 11th-inning win over the San Diego Padres.Reyes provided an immediate spark for the slumping Mets. He drew a leadoff walk, dashed to second on a wild pitch and continued to third when catcher Christian Bethancourt threw high into center field for an error. Reyes scored on Walkers single.Manager Terry Collins said before the game that two other missing starters will begin rehab assignments and will likely return to the club in the coming week.Slugger Yoenis Cespedes (quad) will play in rehab games beginning Monday, meet the team on the West Coast on Thursday and play Friday in San Francisco. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (knee tendon) will begin rehab games Tuesday and is targeted to return during the series against the Giants.Those guys cannot get back at a better time, Collins said. We need them. We need their leadership, besides their playing ability.Reyes has been keeping up with the team as it has stumbled through a four-game losing streak and fallen below .500 for the first time since April 17. He heard about Collins challenging the teams effort and passion in a closed-door meeting Thursday.We need to win some ballgames. We need to find a way to win some games, hopefully starting tonight, Reyes said. We need to put it together. Like Terry said, it doesnt matter whos here. You know, I remember 2006. I mean, we had maybe 10 guys injured in 2006, and we still made it to the playofffs, so its no excuse.dddddddddddd Whoever is here has to contribute. We have to turn it around, for sure, sooner than later.Reyes will be the starting shortstop until Cabrera comes back. Then he is expected to move to third base or maybe outfield.We need that energy, Collins said of Reyes. Hes trying to revitalize his career, and hes in the right place for that. If anybody loves to play in New York and come through, its Jose Reyes.Reyes began the season with the Rockies and served a 51-game suspension under MLBs domestic abuse policy. When the suspension ended, Colorado released him, and he signed with the Mets. In 16 games with New York, he has a .770 OPS with nine extra-base hits and three steals in four attempts.?To win games, you have to score runs. We need to find a way to score more than three or four runs, Reyes said. You cannot always rely on your pitching. I mean, you have to make something happen on the field ... start running, and make life easy for the pitcher. Whoever scores runs in this game is going to win a lot of ballgames.In other news,?Jonathon Niese?will step into the starting rotation Wednesday in the spot vacated by Logan Verrett, who?allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings Thursday. Niese is managing a cartilage issue in his left knee that needed to be drained when he was with the Pirates earlier this season.Ive been working at it, getting it stronger, and it feels good now, Niese said. Sticking with getting back into a routine now, and hopefully that will work.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '