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Pitch prediction sometimes brings to mind the reading of palms or tea leaves.In the days before a Test, coaches and captains take familiar positions near one end of the track and stare pensively down at the clay; silently nodding or shaking heads, or murmuring softly under their breath. They drop ritualistically, to their haunches to lay hands on the surface, sometimes feeling it with closed eyes, as if searching for the pitchs life force. Towards the end of the exercise, glances are often thrown skywards and divine guidance is sought. Occasionally, the pitch curator consulted.Members of both teams observed this tradition, at Seddon Park, on Tuesday, and if they were especially intense during the examination, it is because the Hamilton pitch has had many avatars in recent years. It bounced for Sri Lanka last December, when even a visiting seamer prospered with the short ball, and Sri Lankas top order treated the crowd to an unforgettable slapstick collapse. In 2013 it had sung for offspinner Sunil Narine, who took 6 for 91 in the first innings. In the two Tests before that, reverse-swing had defined the outcome. All the way back in 2010, when Australia came, pace and seam movement had proved significant.Pakistan say they are happy to play on any track, but two days out, this track is just as green as the one at Hagley Oval had been. And although it was a warm, cloudless day, Seddon Parks curators also kept the surface covered for much of the afternoon. Much of the grass will be retained - all the better to mute Pakistans spinner, said New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling, who also plays on this surface for the Northern Districts domestic side.A lot can depend on the cloud cover we get here when conditions are around, he said. It can swing when its overcast. Im hoping it doesnt spin too much because Yasir Shah is a world-class bowler, and we really dont want to bring him into the game too much.In addition to aiding swing, the cloud cover and rain expected for the first three days of the match may also prevent the track from drying out as much as Pakistan and Yasir would like. The forecast has improved through the week, however, and Watling suggested that even a little sunshine could change the pitchs character. Our pitches here can flatten out quite quickly. If its green on day one, I can guarantee that by the end of day two, if it stays sunny, it wont be that green anymore.If the pitch does turn out seam-friendly again, the visiting quicks had shown competence in such conditions - particularly on the third morning of the first Test, when the claimed six wickets for 96. Their success had largely come from bowling shorter lengths than they had initially ventured, the previous day.Their bowlers are very good, and conditions like these can suit them, Watling said. They would have learned from that last match and will adjust their lengths accordingly. They would have learned a lot with the bat as well and we can expect a tougher challenge in this game.New Zealand are likely to retain the quicks that played in Christchurch, but will likely swap Mitchell Santner for Todd Astle in the XI. Watling said the hosts attack is varied enough to be menacing, even if the ball does not move for as long as expected.We know we always have Neil Wagner, who when conditions flatten out, can change a game and give you those couple of crucial wickets to bring our swing bowlers back into the game as well. Weve got a good balance there. With Colin bowling quite a few overs for us as the allrounder, I think it really helps Kane.Soccer Jerseys From China . 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The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games.COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- As Ken Griffey Jr. prepares to enter the Hall of Fame as a first-ballot inductee, hes throwing his endorsement behind another left-handed slugger who played for the Seattle Mariners organization in the mid-1990s.Griffey said that Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, who broke into professional ball in Seattles farm system under the name David Arias from 1994 to 1996, absolutely merits a place in Cooperstown when he appears on the ballot five years after his retirement this fall.I got a chance to see him young, Griffey said at a news conference Saturday. He wasnt Big Papi. He was Thin Papi at that time. To watch him do the things hes done over the years, hes become one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball. Hes the one guy where you say, If were up by two, lets just walk him and go for the next guy. Hes got a chance to put a team up by three real quick.Hes done an incredible job in that city. Do I think hes a Hall of Famer? Absolutely. Just look at the numbers hes put up: Three (World Series) titles, and the list of his accomplishments on the field goes on. You cant take that away from him.Ortiz, 40, has announced that he will retire at the end of this season. He has 10 All-Star appearances on his resume and ranks 19th in MLB history with 5527 home runs and 23rd in RBIs with 1,720.ddddddddddddHis Hall of Fame candidacy is likely to spark debate because hes made 1,952 career starts at DH and only 264 starts at first base.Ortiz also has been the subject of PED speculation since a 2009 New York Times report that said he tested positive for steroids in 2003, when MLB was conducting anonymous survey testing as a step toward random drug testing in the game.Mike Piazza, who will enter the Hall of Fame with Griffey on Sunday, offered a more muted endorsement of Ortiz.Piazza spent four years on the ballot while dealing with steroid speculation before making it to Cooperstown with 83 percent of the vote.I think David Ortiz is one of the most charismatic players to come along in a long time, Piazza said. Putting his numbers aside, I think hes a great guy. Hes great for the city. Hes obviously very colorful and fun to watch.I agree with Kenny, but I also believe theres a process that you have to respect. I know there are going to be debates out there on numbers and everything. Not one size fits all. Its really an individual choice. You just have to respect the process and let it play itself out. ' ' '