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New Zealand legspinner Ish Sodhi has said that learning to expect less from himself helped him forge a successful comeback to the Test team. Sodhi had spent nearly two years out of the Test side, before earning a recall for New Zealands two-Test series against Zimbabwe on the back of impressive performances in limited-overs cricket, most notably in the World T20 in India earlier in the year.Sodhi played an important role in New Zealands 2-0 sweep over the hosts, picking up eight wickets in the two Tests at 24.87. With New Zealand now gearing up for the next leg of their African sojourn - a two-Test series against South Africa - Sodhi reflected on his successful comeback while addressing the media in Durban, where the first Test begins on Friday.It was obviously very nice to win two Tests away from home, in pretty flat conditions. To take 20 wickets on those surfaces is obviously a very good effort for us, and, personally, Im pretty happy with the way the ball came out, mainly in the second Test, he said. I think I tried to lose a bit of the expectations I had on myself being away from the Test side for a couple of years. To be able to do that was pretty pleasing.Sodhi further felt improving his fitness was an important step, and along with a change in approach, helped him hit the right areas more consistently. I think Im trying to keep it a lot simpler. I guess thats probably why I played a little bit more white-ball cricket for New Zealand , because I was able to be a lot more consistent with my lines and lengths. But also, I think its something to keep reinforcing, because in the first Test match, I was a little bit nervous and I didnt stick to those processes as well as I could, he said. But, grateful that I got another opportunity and I was able to do that, so just a good reinforcer to keep things simple and put the ball in decent areas for long periods of time.And I got a lot fitter. I dont think I was fit enough to be able to bowl in the second innings when I first started playing cricket. I feel like now - still got a way to go - but definitely getting a bit closer to that now.In the last few months, Sodhi, along with left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, has established himself as a vital cog in New Zealands bowling unit. The two were among the driving forces behind New Zealands march to the World T20 semifinal, exploiting the conditions to good effect. Weve played a lot of cricket together. If you look back at domestic cricket, we played a lot of T20 tournaments and one-day tournaments. Havent played a lot of four-day cricket together, so its quite nice having him at the other end here as well, he said.But, yeah, I really enjoy working with Mitchy, on and off the park. Hes a good friend of mine as well, so look forward to continuing that partnership. Again, its about keeping it simple as much as we can and he helps me with that with his bowling as well.Weve got myself and Mitchy at 23 and 24, and Pidgy (Mark Craig) is 29 or 30 years old now, so hes got a pretty wise head on his shoulders. Even while he wasnt playing the last game, he was always giving me some advice if he felt it was needed. Mitchy is a simple bowler, so I take both of those things and put them into my work and its pretty nice to have those ideas to bounce off.New Zealand had a couple of days off upon arriving in Durban, with some of their members enjoying a stint at the golf course, while others headed off for some shark-cage diving, but Sodhi said theyre ready to get back to training. Totally different challenge, something that were really looking forward to, he said of the conditions in South Africa. Being able to adapt to different conditions has been a strength for us for the last few years, and well look to do the same. When we see the wicket tomorrow, it could be low and slow, it could be a little bit zippy for the pace bowlers, but weve definitely got all the players to take those conditions on.New Zealand will take on a slightly weakened South African side that will be without AB de Villiers, who is out with an elbow injury, and Morne Morkel, who has been sidelined for four to six weeks due to a bulging disk in his back. He (de Villiers) is an amazing player, one of the best, if not the best, in the world in all formats. But you can never take a team like South Africa lightly, Sodhi said. Theyve got runs from the top order, to even the lower order and theyve got the bowlers that can back them up in any conditions, so its just about how much we prepare over these next three days of training, and if we put in the work, hopefully we can put up a good performance.Sodhi said that while hes still learning what it takes to succeed in each of the three formats, hes enjoying his time playing all of them. Yeah, loving it, its definitely something that I always wanted to do, which is play all three formats for New Zealand, and its just interesting finding out the dynamics. Still figuring out my game in all formats as well, whats successful in which format, but it just comes down to how simple I can keep it for as long as I can. Its definitely something I want to get better at, and if I can do that while Im here, if I play or if I dont, I think Ill have a successful tour. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Broncos-Aj-Derby-Jersey/ .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Hats/ .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Broncos-Devontae-Booker-Jersey/ . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Broncos-John-Elway-Jersey/ . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Broncos-Ronald-Leary-Jersey/ . LUCIE, Fla. CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Quinndary Weatherspoon knew Mississippi State needed a lift and was glad to provide it. He was also happy when his teammates chipped in.Weatherspoon scored 19 of his career-high 25 points in the first half to lead the Bulldogs to an 80-68 victory over Boise State at the Charleston Classic on Friday night. It was a welcome result after Mississippi State lost to UCF -- it trailed 47-19 in the first half -- on Thursday night in their opening game at TD Arena.I was just looking for openings and finding others out there, Weatherspoon said. I was trying to create for others.The result was a satisfying win for the Bulldogs (2-1), who will face UTEP for fifth place in the eight-team tournament.We did a really good job bouncing back, Mississippi State coach Ben Howland said.Weatherspoon was a main reason why.After Boise State tied the game at 18-all , Weatherspoon scored 11 straight points to help the Bulldogs build a six-point lead, 29-23.In the second half, all the Bulldogs got involved and grew the lead to 19 points on Weatherspoons steal and breakaway dunk.Boise State (1-2) could not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.Tyson Carter added 15 points for Mississippi State, who had all five starters go for double figures.Weatherspoon topped his old scoring mark of 24 points set against Vanderbilt last February.Boise State coach Leon Rice said his team struggled with its shooting touch and played a long stretch of the first half without starting forward Nick Duncan, who took an elbow to the head and needed seven stitches to close up a bloody gash.We hung in there, but with Nick going out and the foul trouble, it was difficult, he said.Weatherspoon, a quick, 6-foot-4 sophomore, made nine of 12 shots and added four steals and four rebounds.Chandler Hutchison and Paris Austin had 13 points each to top Boise Sttate.dddddddddddd.BIG PICTUREMississippi State recovered from an awful effort against UCF -- the Bulldogs trailed by 28 points in the first half -- to defeat Boise State. There are still plenty of issues that need attention, however. The Bulldogs settled for way too many outside shots (they were just 2 of 15 from behind the arc the first 20 minutes) and post players Schneider Herard, Aric Holman and E.J. Datcher all struggled with their touch around the basket, combining to go 6 of 15 from the field against the Broncos.Boise State needs to find a second option when prime scorer Hutchison is off target, out of synch or on the bench with foul trouble as he was against Mississippi State. No one rose to the occasion for Boise State.HEY, I KNOW YOUThe Mississippi State-UTEP matchup will reunite good friends and L.A. rivals in Bulldogs coach Ben Howland and Miners coach Tim Floyd -- who battled each other in the West Coast, Howland as UCLAs coach and Floyd as USC leader. Its going to be a tough game, Howland said.INJURY WORRYQuinndary Weatherspoon went to the bench holding his left wrist. But after a quick look and some tape, Weatherspoon returned to the court. Despite the ice pack on his wrist, Weatherspoon said hed be ready to go for Sundays game.ITS NEVER OVERAfter Nick Duncan was stitched up, he returned to the court in a large, maroon bandage that looked like Sylvester Stallones famous head band worn by his Rambo character in First Blood. Yeah, it was kind of stylish, he said of his head band.UP NEXTMississippi State will play UTEP for fifth place at the Charleston Classic on Sunday.Boise State will play Western Michigan -- an all-Broncos matchup -- for seventh place at the Charleston Classic on Sunday. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '