g his first win in seven big league decisions in 2016.Severino lost to the Ya

October 28 Welcome to the world of modern travel, where everything goes via the Middle East. Even the route from Cape Town to Perth. On a map, it seems the best way to get from one to the other is along a straight line through the southern hemisphere. On an airline schedule, thats not possible. Instead, I will spend nine and a half hours going up to Dubai and then ten and a half hours going down. Add the changeover in Dubai and it means a full 24 hours of travel, and with the time differences, I will arrive two days after I left. Say what?October 29 I think today is Saturday but Im not really sure. I feel trapped in a time warp I dont understand.October 30 Touch down in Perth around 2am. Decide to normalise by sleeping and then force myself to get to the series launch around midday. Its a public event, at Elizabeth Quay, which is also set-up for Diwali festivities. A decent-sized group of people has come to see the Australian and South African teams, and the players are introduced individually. Most get a cheer - David Warner and Dale Steyn louder than the others - but when Dane Vilas walks out, there is complete silence. Poor guy.October 31 Welcome to the world of modern sports media, where the press conference is the most common method of communication. We have no fewer than nine interviews here. Australia put up six players in an open media session, South Africa three. Our heads are swimming with quotes. The most interesting things to come out of the day are Usman Khawajas views on diversity and the Australian fascination with Temba Bavuma. At 1.61 metres, Bavuma is among the shorter sportsmen around and has to field several questions about how he has adapted his technique to his height. Bavuma seems a bit bewildered by the attention but answers the questions as carefully as he can.November 1 The race that stops Australia will be run today, and though Im not in Melbourne, its still a big deal. Im familiar with showstoppers like this - we in South Africa have the Met in January and the Durban July (you know when) - but the Melbourne Cup is a little different. Across Australia, people dress up as though they are at the venue itself, and at 3pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, time stands still. I havent quite got used to the time zone yet, and around noon Im heading to the WACA, wondering why the streets are deserted. When I realise the gun is about to go, I get a move on and get there just in time to pop my head into the guards hut and see the end of the race.November 2 The day before a big Test series is a usually a frenzy of last-minute previews. We wind down with a traditional barbeque at a local journalists home. Our hosts daughter is doing a project on the Democratic Republic of Congo and I offer to help. How often do you go back to Africa? she asks me. I live there, I tell her, as her eyes widen in disbelief.November 3 South Africa stumble through the first day on a pitch with better bounce and carry than I have seen in months. Later we all stumble around on a walking tour, organised by Tourism Western Australia. The idea is to roam the laneways to discover how Perth is Melbournising, and stop at bars along the way. Our guide has the remarkable ability to talk to us while walking backwards. She doesnt lose her step once, not even on St Georges Terrace, said to be the windiest street in the southern hemisphere. At our second and last stop, our holiday-making UK colleague Andrew McGlashan joins us.November 4 Theres an awful feeling when Steyn goes down, clutching his shoulder, with a look on his face worse than when he left the field against India and England last summer. I suspect its serious but first need to turn attention to the remarkable comeback the rest of South Africas attack are staging. At the end of the day we discover Steyn will be out of action for at least six months.November 5 It is due to be 37 degrees today, so I choose a simple T-shirt-style dress to wear. When I arrive at the WACA, at the gate the media use (which is also the members gate), security staff stop me. My dress is too short. The members dress code dictates that dresses must sit no more than 5cm above the knee. Im quite sure mine is not shorter than that, but they disagree. After a protracted discussion - during which one woman is told she isnt allowed in because the straps on her top are too thin - I am admitted but told not to leave the press box through the day. Inevitably I have to and am warned a second time. Another journalist tweets about it and a social-media storm erupts.That evening I see Steyn waiting for an Uber in the city centre. He has just got off a train from visiting his uncle in a suburb about 40 minutes away. He admits his shoulder is very sore and says he is resigned to a lengthy period on the sidelines and that he is not going to try and rush back. He will leave Perth tomorrow night, so wont see the result, which looks headed South Africas way.November 6 I pick a dress that extends to my ankles today, but my colleague Melinda Farrell doesnt. She also bares her shoulders. She is reprimanded at the gate, and now that the rest of the press pack know about the issue, another social-media storm erupts. To the WACAs credit, their stadium manager visits us and apologises profusely. He assures us we both look fine.November 7 I wear pants today but am stopped at the gate yet again. No thongs allowed, says the staff member. I present the media argument again. I am let in. This time, both Melinda and I receive an email apology from the WACA CEO. She says the members code will be reviewed and the ground wants to bring about change. We didnt enjoy the attention over our choice of clothing but were pleased weve achieved something. South Africa have too - the series lead. Given how far they had fallen last summer, their dominance is unexpected.November 8 Hobart is the only destination on this tour that Ive not been to before, so I am particularly looking forward to being there. Its Australias second oldest city and one with an extensive convict history. Ive just finished reading Alex Haleys Roots, and I want to find something similar but Australian. Ive been recommended For the Term of his Natural Life by Marcus Clarke and I make it my mission to track it down - if I can ever feel my fingers again; its cold in Hobart. November 9 I was warned to expect less than summery conditions in Hobart but I didnt anticipate a wind so icy it threatens to freeze the blood in my veins. Not to make this all about my wardrobe but I need more clothes. Cricket Tasmanias digital-media manager, Michelle Cooling, offers to lend me some. Among them is a Hobart Hurricanes hoodie. Shes got a fan for life.November 10 Still havent managed to get to a bookshop but I am enjoying learning about the local food. Melinda takes me to Mures, a seafood establishment on the harbour, where we splash out on all the regions delicacies. Oysters done four ways, scallops, white fish, even a dessert of chocolate tarts. Its definitely among the best meals Ive ever eaten.November 11 A cannon being towed by a Ute rolls past on my morning run, headed to the Anzac Parade. Its Remembrance Day. The colonial history is more marked here than anywhere else in Australia Ive seen, especially in the architecture. The Queen Victoria Clock Tower, now home to the General Post Office, was built by public subscription and has become one of my favourite landmarks.November 12 Theres no rain yet but Australia are drowned anyway. Vernon Philander rolls back the years and takes 5 for 21. Its an even better performance than on his debut. After suffering torn ankle ligaments last season, he seems to have regained confidence and become even better than what we thought was his best. As I leave the ground, I see the Australian team bus, driven by Nathan Lyon, pull up next to Philander, who is walking to the South African bus. Lyon rolls down the window and congratulates Philander. Sportsmanship is still alive.November 13 The expected rain is finally here, and as the day progresses, it only gets heavier. When we arrive at the ground, the teams have not even turned up. We know its only a matter of time before play is called off. It happens at 2pm. I squeeze in a trip to the Hobart Book Shop and pick up a copy of Clarkes book. Im reminded that this time last year I was in Bangalore, covering the washout that was AB de Villiers 100th Test. Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain.Philadelphia Phillies Shirts .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Philadelphia Phillies Store .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/ .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Phillies Jerseys 2020 . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Stitched Phillies Jerseys . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net.BOSTON -- Rick Porcello doesnt figure to face Alex Rodriguez on Tuesday when the right-hander takes his undefeated 2016 home record to the mound as the Boston Red Sox open a three-game series with the New York Yankees.No announcement had been made on the potential involvement of Rodriguez, who is in his final four games as a Yankee after Sundays announcement. The veteran slugger is 3-for-22 with six strikeouts against Porcello lifetime, making a Wednesday matchup with left-hander Drew Pomeranz more likely.The rivals come into this summer series from opposite overall directions. The Red Sox are battling for both the American League East and wild-card spots and the Yankees having sold at the deadline to build toward the future.Boston is coming off a 5-6 road trip, while the new-look Yankees just won two of three from the first-place Cleveland Indians.Rodriguez and the Yankees announced on Sunday that he would be released after playing a final game at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. Manager Joe Girardi said he had to speak with Rodriguez to get a feeling on whether or not he wanted to play at Fenway, where he will hear it one last time from the fans.Rodriguez has hit .287 with 29 homers and 88 RBI in 131 career games at Fenway, a place he almost called home after a deal that would have brought him to Boston. He hit two homers in four games at Fenway Park earlier this season.Hes played a long time. It comes to an end for all of us at some point, Bostons Dustin Pedroia said. All I know is that it was never fun when he comes up. He can do some damage.Porcello, who is 14-3 overall, is 10-0 in 11 starts at Fenway this season. He has two starts coming on a brief six-game homestand before the Red Sox head back out onto the road.Hes walking the fewest number of players in his career over nine innings and his sinkeer has been re-established and more consistent, Boston manager John Farrell said.dddddddddddd. Those are two primary reasons for his success. Hes not beating himself.Porcello, who is 1-1 this season and 6-5 lifetime against the Yankees, has had all kinds of trouble with Jacoby Ellsbury. The center fielder is 12-for-28 with four solo homers against him.Porcello will face young right-hander Luis Severino, who pitched well out of the bullpen after his return from the minors and gets his first start since his demotion. He worked 4 1/3 strong innings in relief his last time out, getting his first win in seven big league decisions in 2016.Severino lost to the Yankees in New York on May 8 and David Ortiz has three home runs in five at-bats against him.The Yankees still are technically alive in the wild-card chase but its clear the organizations eye is on the future after trading Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran and Ivan Nova.Ive said all along Ive felt we have a good team, New York outfielder Brett Gardner said. I know weve been inconsistent and weve been disappointed and we havent, at times we havent pitched as well as we should and most of the time we havent hit as well as we should, so its been frustrating for all of us involved. But were still playing hard, still playing to win and still not giving up so we have what, 55 games left or something like that, and were going to continue to do that.Its sad. Its sad the way that this season has unfolded, not just for (Rodriguez) but for everybody and I think that if we could maybe, if we had played better as a team obviously that wouldnt be, things would be unfolding this way. Its something thats kind of hard to swallow. ' ' '