Back in the day, before thigh pads came into common use, towels (and a Readers Digest) were pressed into service for leg protection. Even so, this photo (above) of Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe walking out to bat at The Oval in 1930 is surprising with its naked thumbs (and partially exposed fingers) on their left/top hands. The oppositions bowlers werent all that fast - Tim Wall and Alan Fairfax were Australias opening quicks - but the gloves still look more suitable to motorbike-riding than batting in a Test.Even today the thumbs of top-hand gloves arent padded, but the rest of the fingers get solid protection, if you go by MS Dhonis hamburger-style bite here.West Indies keeper Carlton Baughs glove flies off, presumably after he took it off to grab the ball and throw it - just a glimpse of the multitasking that is routinely expected of wicketkeepers.Not only do they multitask, they are also multiskilled. Reserve keeper Chris Read (right) helps mend Alec Stewarts gloves in Cape Town, 2000.Sometimes even umpires need protection.Brian Lara indulges in some glove love with Runako Morton, Mumbai, 2006. Matthew Hayden had a story about the Australians disdain for such fancy behaviour. He writes in his autobiography: For years, Australian teams had taken the rise out of the glove-touching fad, and to the mirth of the boys, Ricky Ponting became the first one to do it when he batted with Brian Lara in the tsunami game at the MCG. Brian raised his gloves and Ricky had nowhere to go. He knew hed cop it from the rest of us, and he wasnt disappointed. Right then, so youll do it with Lara and the rest of us get brushed - is that the deal, we said.No mirth for Ponting here as England use the delaying tactic of calling for gloves in order to bat out a draw in Cardiff, 2009. Share the (g)love, guys, thats what we say.Nike NBA Jerseys . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Fake NBA Jerseys . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. https://www.cheapnbajerseysjustwholesale.com/ .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. NBA Jerseys For Sale . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. NBA Jerseys China . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said.Chicago Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman does not need to study film to learn the strengths of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.After all, Freeman spent the previous four seasons as Lucks teammate with the Colts.I really think hes one of those once-in-a-generation type players, said Freeman, who signed with the Bears as a free agent during the offseason. Talking to him, you realize hes one of the smartest people youll ever be around. His athletic ability, his arm and everything, I think highly of him.Hes definitely going to be tough. They can be down 30, and -- trust me, I know -- those guys over there think they always have a chance if theyve got (No.) 12 back there.Granted, odds are slim that either team will build a 30-point lead when the Bears (1-3) visit the Colts (1-3) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX). Neither teams start to the season has gone as planned, and both sides need a win to climb toward .500 and prevent their playoff chances from diminishing even further.Indianapolis is averaging 27 points per game, which ranks No. 7 in the NFL. Defense is another story, as the Colts are allowing 31.3 points per game, third worst in the league.On offense, Chicago is managing only 15.5 points a game, which is tied with the Tennessee Titans for worst in the NFL. The Bears defense is allowing 24.3 points a game, which ranks No. 19.Chicago is coming off its first win of the season, a 17-14 decision over the Detroit Lions. However, the victory carried a heavy price as wide receiver Kevin White, the teams 2015 first-round pick, broke his left fibula and badly sprained his left ankle. White missed all of last season because of injuries to the same leg.White joins a long list of injured Bears teammates that includes quarterback Jay Cutler (thumb), running back Jeremy Langford (ankle) and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (ankle). One starter who could return is linebacker Danny Trevathan, who missed the past two games because of a thumb injury.If Cutler is unable to play, veteran Brian Hoyer would make his third consecutive start. Hoyer faced the Colts last season while with the Houston Texans. He threw for 312 yards, two touchdowns and one interception iin a 27-20 loss.ddddddddddddWhen you look at them defensively, they have the guys, Hoyer said of the Texans. I think numbers can be deceiving at times.Like the Bears, the Colts know all about aches and pains, but their biggest problem might be bruised feelings after entering the season with high hopes. The team released two defensive starters -- linebacker Sio Moore and cornerback Antonio Cromartie -- following an ugly 30-27 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week in London.In the past, the Colts prevented bad games from transforming into long losing streaks. The organization is 18-7 in the first game after a loss under coach Chuck Pagano.Everybodys going to have an opinion, and thats great, Luck said. But we know we just have to execute better. Whatevers called, weve got to run it better.I think theres a human tendency to (want) change, change, change. We know you cant afford to do that in the NFL. Theres no cutting everything and throwing it out. Its double down on fundamentals, technique and execution.In the Colts backfield, running back Frank Gore needs 20 rushing yards to surpass Jim Brown (12,312) for No. 9 on the NFLs all-time list. Gores next touchdown will tie him with Terry Allen (73) for 27th in history.As Gore aims for milestones, Bears running back Jordan Howard is preparing for the second start of his career. The fifth-round pick out of Indiana was terrific in his first start one week ago as he ran for 111 yards on 23 carries. With 178 rushing yards on the season, Howard trails only the Dallas Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott among rookies.Colts defensive tackle Arthur Jones would like to prevent Howard from enjoying an encore performance. Jones rejoined his teammates this week after serving a four-game suspension for violating the leagues policy on performance-enhancing drugs.Ive been working, though, Jones said. Its not like Ive just been sitting on the couch. ...We grind every single day. I had a couple guys to work out with. Whenever they tell me my time is right to be on the field, Ill be ready to go. ' ' '