Rahanes top-order chanceSince Ajinkya Rahanes ODI career received an unexpected second wind last year, he has scored 500 runs in 12 matches at an average of 45.45. After struggling to make the XI in the preceding tour of Bangladesh, Rahane has since firmed up his place in the middle order - five of his six fifties during this period have come from No. 3 or lower. Despite his success in the middle order - a position where Dhoni once felt Rahane couldnt rotate strike efficiently from, especially on slow pitches - it is at the top that he truly belongs as his IPL record illustrates. With Rahane assured of at least three games as opener in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan, he has a chance to recapture a slot where he has tasted considerable success.Rainas returnSuresh Raina has had an interesting 12 months since he last played an ODI. After two solid T20 efforts in Australia in January, he produced middling scores scattered among four DNBs, and an underwhelming World T20. While Raina scored nearly 400 runs in the IPL and led Gujarat Lions into the playoffs, his performance was still a faint echo of the imposing numbers he racked up while at Chennai Super Kings. His recent good performances have come in four-day matches, with two half-centuries in three Duleep Trophy innings.The portents are good, though. The last time he made a comeback, Raina smashed a match-winning hundred in Cardiff, and cruised into the World Cup on its momentum. With the Champions Trophy less than a year away, he couldnt time his comeback better.Pandey and PandyaAfter years of teetering between potential and performance, Manish Pandey showed up in Sydney and barnstormed his way to a modern classic. Eight months later, he returned to Australia with the India A side and finished as the highest run-getter in the Quadrangular series. With the middle order set to take a definitive shape over the course of a long season, Pandey has the chance to cash in on his first experience of ODI cricket at home.Hardik Pandya, on the other hand, seemed to have withered away after the initial razzle-dazzle. Unlike Pandey, he wasnt propped up by the strength of impressive numbers in Australia, but it is understood the selectors liked what they saw of him. Dont go by statistics alone. You still need the seam-bowling allrounder going into the 2017 Champions Trophy in England, a BCCI source said. Whatever matches we are playing before that he needs to be given a look.Spotlight on bowlers workloadsSince the start of the Test matches in the West Indies, R Ashwin has bowled 243.2 overs in international cricket, while Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja have sent down 154.5 and 134.3 overs respectively. The three of them accounted for 31 of the 56 wickets taken by Indias bowlers in the four-Test series in the West Indies, and 32 of the 39 in the ongoing series against New Zealand. By taking stock of their workloads, the selectors have shown foresight to keep their main bowlers fresh in a long season during which India will host England, Bangladesh and Australia. Dipping into the spin reservesWith Ashwin and Jadeja usually filling the spinnerss slots in big matches, Amit Mishra has found it difficult to break into the first XI in ODI cricket. But, with both frontline options rested, Mishra has a rare chance to lead the spin attack. Keeping him company will be Axar Patel, both of who had a fruitful tour of Australia with the India A side, and the uncapped Jayant Yadav. A legspinner, a left-arm orthodox spinner, an offspinner. While Jayant was the teams second highest wicket-taker in the unofficial Tests, Axar finished as the second-most economical bowler in the Quadrangular series. The three of them will vie to become Indias first-choice third spinner in future ODI squads. Cheap Shoes Nike . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Discount Shoes Online . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. http://www.discountshoescheap.com/ .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Wholesale Fashion Shoes . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Wholesale Shoes China . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins has been named the new head coach at Temple, the school announced Tuesday.Collins replaces Matt Rhule, who was hired at Baylor after four seasons with the Owls.We will compete for championships, we will provide a world-class student-athlete experience and education, and we will represent the community with pride, said Collins, who has been a defensive coordinator for the past seven seasons combined at Florida (2015-16), Mississippi State (2011-14) and Florida International (2010).Collins, 45, had just completed the second year of a three-year deal with the Gators.He will be the Owls fourth coach in eight seasons, and all had no previous head-coaching experience before taking the job. Before Rhule, Temples two previous coaches were Steve Addazio and Al Golden.In the past two years under Collins, the Gators ranked sixth and seventh nationally in total defense.Theyre going to get a guy that motivates players, a guy that really understands the game and understands both sides of the ball, not just the defensive side, Florida coach Jim McElwain said.dddddddddddd Hes done a great job of studying the offensive side and the things that it takes there. A relentless, competitive recruiter, and a guy thats now been around at some places to see how he can establish his own kind of way of doing things.Were really excited about the opportunity for him and his family at Temple. Its a place thats really done a great job, and hell carry that on.Collins also has been an assistant at UCF, Georgia Tech, Western Carolina, Albright College and Fordham. He was Alabamas director of player personnel in 2007.Assistant Ed Foley will coach the Owls against Wake Forest in the Military Bowl on Dec. 27. Temple (10-2) is trying win 11 games for the first time in program history.?ESPN staff writer Brett McMurphy and the Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '