Recently, while interviewing a current international umpire, it was more than a little amusing to hear that, from time to time, he stands in front of the mirror and practises his out signal - dont we all? - taking care to project just the right amount of confidence. Keeping his finger in, you might say.You get told to, he explained. You dont want to come across as wimpish.Yet neither do you want to come across as some guillotine-wielding martinet. Its a delicate thing, sentencing a batsman to his symbolic death. Theres a fairly narrow band of gestural acceptability, much like the range of habitable temperatures on earth. Undoubtedly there have been a few umpires whose executioners gesture has been authoritarian to the point of being antagonistic.While all this isnt exactly the stuff of YouTube compilations, a couple that spring to mind are that inveterate not-outer Dickie Bird, whose slightly manic gesticulation was like a grouchy old recluse chasing a couple of scrumpers from his garden, and Rudi Koertzen, who always seemed to relish the whole thing just a little too much. Giving someone out is an inherently mannered act, of course, since youre not born with your own way of doing it, but Koertzens slow death was unbearably pompous and solemn. My own preference was for the apologetic shrug: I dont want to do this, but youve let the ball hit you on the shin in front of middle stump, so…If transmitting confidence is the basis of an umpires match management, then its fair to say Bruce Oxenford had something of a mini-meltdown in Mumbai. Four overs after erroneously giving Jonny Bairstow caught behind in Englands second innings, he adjudged him caught at short leg off R Ashwin. Bairstow immediately put fist to forearm - body language that we can decode as either absolute certainty or blind self-interest - at which point the camera caught an aggrieved Oxenford grimacing like a man whod just stirred two spoonfuls of salt into his cuppa. Fack.It isnt just umpires who have to mind their body language. Evidently its an important aspect of what players get up to on the field, not least in trying to, erm, influence the umpires. For batsmen who have feathered the ball to the wicketkeeper - or perhaps via the keepers gloves to slip - its well worth mastering the butter-wouldnt-melt expression, since our fallible, malleable human perceptual capabilities are continuously susceptible to subliminal cues and micro gestures. If the opposition happens to have no reviews, or youre playing a level of cricket other than international, then this might even win you the match. Whatever you choose to do - scratch your guard, chuckle wryly, anything bar an eagle-eyed stare down the pitch - the basic idea is to immediately convey to the umpire not only that the appeal is wrong but that it is utterly preposterous, possibly even an affront to the game, certainly to their unimpeachable faculties of judgement.On the flip side, the DRS really ought to temper certain types of excessively excitable appeal - from the celebrappeal to the swarm - when they are artfully contrived to con an umpire. So youre not giving that out then? No, but feel free to use one of your reviews. Well, actually, we dont think it was out either... Either that or you follow the shamelessly brass-necked deception through to its inevitably self-defeating consequences. You knew it wasnt really out, but because the opposition had no reviews left, you thought that if the umpire were to give it then thered be no recourse to contest the decision, yet since he didnt give it out, then, even though you know it wasnt out, youre forced to burn a review on it in order to save face, to not be open to the charge of cheating. What delicious psychological knots! Its like the plot to every other episode of Frasier.Of course, players body language also bears directly upon the mano a mano struggle of a match - as Shane Warne, that renowned expert in con-man kinesics, used to say: driving onto a ground mid-game, you shouldnt be able to tell whos on top from the body language of the fielding side - but it is perhaps most important of all in the way a captain carries himself (certainly across the long haul of developing a strong team culture as opposed to merely winning a Big Moment or Crucial Session). Michael Vaughan - English crickets yin to the yang of Nasser Hussains perma-prickliness - has admitted that his outward imperturbability was often just an act. But which is better? Was Vaughans way more congenial to building a winning team than occasionally chucking your toys from the pram, or might calm inscrutability be construed as bloodlessness and passivity?The answer is that there is no right answer. Communication is all trial and error. An animal displays aggression, but it doesnt know whether the target animal will be cowed and retreat or stand and fight. The meaning of a gesture or sign is thus always more than the simple information it conveys, always tied in to various complex, contextual factors.Take Virat Kohli. As a batsman, his body language is almost always buoyant. He struts. The more runs he scores, the more he emits what we might call, with a nod to Donald Trump, swaggerdoccio. Each major innings adds to his stature as a leader. But as Max Weber, the German theorist of the sources of authority, might well have said, a cricket captain must do more than simply stack up runs, no matter how big the pile. He also has to get the best from ten other personalities. And he needs to make good tactical decisions, preferably using strong body language. Bluffed certainty is better than honest vacillation, for things can always be undone. (Once, in a club match, I immediately stationed two short extra covers for Alfonso Thomas. It was a ruse, an attempt to spook him. Later, while bowling me three or four bouncers an over, he observed: Youre a better f**ing captain than you are a batsman, mate. I took it as a compliment.)There are occasions in the field (less frequent of late, to be sure) when Kohli appears irritable and petulant, particularly with the slapstick efforts of his less mobile fielders. With Ashwin, the kingpin who balances his side, any annoyance is immediately swallowed. With Cheteshwar Pujara, lumbering fielder and good-but-not-quite-as-good-as-me batsman (one who was apparently asked to score at a quicker rate, or, to split hairs, show greater intent), those frustrations are usually left plastered across his face. Such are the complex politics into which bodily gestures are inserted. And make no mistake, they all leave a mark on the collective memory, on the esprit de corps: tolerated today, amid the champagne of victory, yet within the glacial rhythms at which a team culture develops, they may resurface later, the crack having become a fissure.Either way, its too simplistic to say that Kohlis gesticulations are wrong, or that some of his body language is counterproductive. We cannot know whats said behind closed doors, how much carrot juice is used as balm after a beating with the stick. This is a supremely driven and fit man, himself an excellent fielder, evidently troubled by some of his sides lack of athleticism. In that sense, he is merely trying to bootstrap his team toward excellence. Which is good. But to browbeat and chastise people who are trying their best can also be corrosive.All is ambivalent within crickets semiotic system - except, perhaps, the umpires raised finger, even when its crooked. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-David-Johnson-Jersey/ . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Phil-Dawson-Jersey/ . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Mike-Iupati-Jersey/ . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Jermaine-Gresham-Jersey/ .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Dj-Humphries-Jersey/ . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. LOS ANGELES -- Notre Dame returns to the Coliseum this weekend to wrap up its worst season in a decade, reeling from new NCAA sanctions and worrying about the storied programs future.No. 12 Southern California has had its share of grim times off the field in recent years, and coach Clay Helton realizes a rivalry game is a chance for a troubled team to clear its head and to focus on football.But with his Trojans (8-3, No. 12 CFP) on a seven-game winning streak, Helton believes USC has the necessary focus to finish its regular season strong in this famed intersectional rivalry with the Fighting Irish (4-7) on Saturday.We had set a goal to be remembered in November, Helton said. Well, we look up and we could have an undefeated October and November. I dont think thats been done here since 2008. ... Theres a lot of pride on the line for us as a team. (Notre Dame) is a team that has a lot of pride. When you talk about the history of football, how can you not talk about this game?USC is coming off a blowout victory over UCLA, its other traditional rival. The Trojans havent swept both rivals since 2011.While USC would advance to the Pac-12 championship game if Utah upsets Colorado later in the day, the Trojans have motivation that goes well beyond the conference title -- including the chance for an unbeaten home season.How many times has the Victory Bell and the Shillelagh been on this campus at the same time? Helton asked, referring to the trophies given to the winner of the Trojans two rivalry games. That rivalry has been going on 100 years, and its less than 20 times. How special is that? How special is it for that group of seniors to be in the Coliseum and we were able to protect our house and win each and every game?Both teams went 1/3 in September, but only USC recovered. While the Trojans ran off seven consecutive wins of increasing impressiveness, Notre Dame lost a series of close games to North Carolina State, Navy and Virginia Tech.The Irish are 15-14 in their last 29 games, but they completed an unbeaten regular season at the Coliseum four years ago. Coach Brian Kellys program hasnt returned to those heights, and this weeks announcement of NCAA sanctions for academic misconduct included an order to vacate that 2012 win over USCC.ddddddddddddQuarterback DeShone Kizer believes none of those troubles will affect the Irish when they attempt to put a big finish on a lost season.We need to prove ourselves and we need to end on a make, as you would say in basketball, Notre Dame defensive end Isaac Rochell said. So for us its a chance to show our pride and show who we are and beat a good USC team.Here are more things to watch when Notre Dame visits the Coliseum with a losing record for the first time since 1986:DARNOLDS TURN: USC freshman quarterback Sam Darnold is getting his first crack at the Irish. He is the driving force behind the Trojans seven-game winning streak, throwing 22 touchdown passes during that stretch and hurting defenses with his arm strength and creativity. A USC fan since childhood, Darnold relishes the chance to play in the Trojans rivalry games.SLOW FINISHES: If USC can get out to a quick start, the Irish could be in trouble. They have outscored opponents 116-44 in the first quarter this season, but the points have gone down with each passing quarter. The Irish have 93 points in the second quarter, two more than opponents, and 79 points in the third quarter, 12 more than opponents. The Irish have been outscored 74-46 in the fourth quarter and have scored just 23 fourth-quarter points in the past eight games.FAREWELLS: Along with the departing USC seniors, star defensive back Adoree Jackson and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster could be playing their final games as juniors. Both surefire NFL prospects have been steadying influences on the Trojans during the tumult of Steve Sarkisians tenure and the subsequent steadying under Helton.LOSING IRISH: Notre Dame is 6-6 against USC in seasons when the Irish finished with losing records. The Irish are 2-1 in Los Angeles in those losing seasons.RECORD BREAKER: Brian Kelly would set the coaching record for losses at Notre Dame with a loss Saturday. Kelly is 59-30 in seven seasons at Notre Dame, while Lou Holtz was 100-30-2 in 11 seasons.---AP Sports Writer Tom Coyne contributed to this report.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '