Hindustani classical music - the millennia-old premier art form of the subcontinent - is almost impossible to appreciate without understanding its meanings and symbols. For anyone ignorant of that context, the form can be both aesthetically confusing and fundamentally boring.I began thinking about the subtle difference between something that one person might find boring and another would view as a work of art, while watching the fourth day of the third Test between England and Pakistan.Pakistan had taken two quick wickets and were bowling wide of the stumps with a spread field. All over TV and social media, people complained of how boring it was. Could a little context have provided greater appreciation?Let us return to our analogy. Understanding the context, and purpose, of classical music is almost essential to be able to enjoy it. It has been often posited that Hindustani classical music was developed to embody the concept of time as held in Hinduism: time is understood to be cyclical, not just at the level of days and seasons but also at the level of the universe, with long cycles of change. Cycles are understood to repeat, yet also not be exactly similar to each other.About seven centuries ago the influence of Sufi Muslim thought on Hindustani classical music began to show. The Sufi musician Hazrat Inayat Khan wrote that the whole universe is a single mechanism working by the law of rhythm […] cycles of rhythm with major cycles and minor cycles interpenetrating uphold the whole creation in their swing. Musically, then, the idea developed of repeating cycles with subtle changes of rhythm within them serving as a theme of expression for the artist.In a way, Michael Holding, Shane Warne and perhaps millions of others were subjected to a similar performance at Edgbaston. Both the former bowlers, who were commentating when Rahat Ali embarked on a series of maidens against Joe Root, were aghast at Pakistans tactics. To them it seemed like an admission of defeat right when Pakistan looked strongest. The ESPNcricinfo commentary team agreed.52.4 Rahat Ali to Root, no run, too wide once again, not entirely sure what the tactic is... but Misbah gives his man a big clap for his determined widthEven when Pakistans negative tactics are explained, as Nasser Hussain did in the commentary box right after, they are explained within the framework of pragmatism and conservatism. There is very little understanding of why they do what they do. At the heart of these tactics is the belief that modern batting has changed irrevocably. After almost two decades of neo-liberal Australianism in which Test batting sped up considerably and players started playing shorter formats more often, cricket has come to a precipice. Unlike before, where perhaps a batsman needed a vacant cover to be tempted into a drive, modern batsmen now play shots compulsively, particularly their go-to shots. Even if a fielder is present, they need to play that shot just to feel in control.The trick, then, is to make them wait for it, and to force them to lash out eventually and make a mistake. So the plan is to repeat cycles of the same bowling line, using subtle changes in length and movement to serve as the rhythm. After a couple of overs of dot-balls, Rahats changes began to entrap Root.54.3 Rahat Ali to Root, no run, thats sharp again, a bit of extra nip from a good length, and the angle brings the edge of Roots bat into peril. Gets away with it 54.5 Rahat Ali to Root, no run, good probing line, swinging late, outside off, and Root is lured by this one. The pressure is starting to tell...54.6 Rahat Ali to Root, no run, that is a very fine over, the fourth maiden in a row, as Root is once again forced to make a decision outside off, and just about keeps his bat out of harms wayMuch like with Hindustani classical music, the appreciation of these variations is not possible if one expects a basic, linear narrative. Ideas recur but in subtly different ways. Bowl wide and sometimes get one to seam, or to swing, or to roll by innocuously. Like notes in classical music, none of the variations are out of place or without purpose. Instead, they keep building, note by note, ball by ball, towards the same cycles, similar yet apart.My favourite performer in this entire spell was Root, who knew of the trap that was being laid for him, and yet also realised that his only purpose was to play a single note. Eventually he played his part, only for Mohammad Hafeez to destroy the entire spell by failing to hold on to the catch.It would be unfair to say Pakistan lost the Test due to Hafeezs dropped catch. The poor bowling later that day, and the collapse the day after, were more immediate causes. But that passage of play on day four was the moment that a team that has forged its identity in crickets backwaters composed its own virtuoso performance. It is an eternal shame that it fell apart right when it was hitting its peak. Bob Horner Braves Jersey . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. Ender Inciarte Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. https://www.cheapbraves.com/1313o-huascar-ynoa-jersey-braves.html . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Hank Aaron Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Dusty Baker Braves Jersey . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we pose a question to a rotating panel of ESPN fantasy basketball experts to gauge their thoughts on a hot topic. Todays contributors are DFS expert Renee Miller and ESPN Fantasys Kyle Soppe and Joe Kaiser.LeBron James and Jimmy Butler rank 11th and 12th, respectively, on the Player Rater on a per-game basis. In points leagues, which player would you rather own going forward this season and why?Renee Miller: This is really close, but what decided it for me was thinking about my response to a trade offer of James for Butler. Im taking the James side. One key factor is that I think James and the Cavaliers make a priority of taking care of James body. Hes a lesser injury risk, and while he may have nights when he plays fewer minutes or rests, ultimately, I think you have a better chance of getting a full season out of him.So far, however, James and Butler are both averaging 35 MPG. Butler has a slightly higher player efficiency rating (27.9 vs. James 25.6), but James wins in usage rate (29.8), assist ratio (28.1) and rebound rate (12.2). Those peripheral stats add up in points leagues, and James is a legitimate triple-double threat, whereas Butler lacks in the assist department, averaging just 3.9 APG.If you own Butler, I think youre very happy with his production so far this season, and his dual position eligibility is a plus. Hes an energetic player averaging almost two steals per game and is a primary reason for the Bulls current winning record. Overall, though, Id prefer to own James, and youve got to be feeling good about getting him in the latter part of the first round.While its great for Cleveland to have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love around James, there is no doubt that this is still very much his team -- not to mention one off the best teams in the league -- and James nightly stat lines prove it.ddddddddddddJoe Kaiser: As great of a season as Butler is having, which was no certainty heading into the campaign after Chicagos questionable additions of Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Michael Carter-Williams, Im still going with LeBron.Both players are playing right around 35-36 minutes a night and, while they are similar statistically in almost every way, LeBron is the far superior distributor (9.3 to 3.9 APG) and that allows him to score 5-10 more fantasy points on a consistent basis.Kyle Soppe: For me, Its James. Dont get me wrong, Butler is a fantasy monster and will continue to be so, but the high floor of The King makes him my pick here.I imagine the argument against James is that he could take a hiatus at some point this season, but he has played more than Butler in three consecutive seasons and is actually averaging more minutes this season than the Bulls All-Star. They are neck-and-neck on the Player Rater right now despite James taking the fewest shots per game of his career (17.1), converting his free throws at the fourth-lowest rate of his career and averaging a career-low 1.6 blocks-plus-steals per game.Butler, on the other hand, is shooting a career-best percentage from the field, from the 3-point line and from the free throw line (while attempting a career high in shots and free throws) in addition to averaging 10.3-percent more rebounds than he ever has. The stats seem to suggest that Butler isnt a great bet to build on his current numbers while James is unlikely to regress ... so no, I dont think Butler passes him when all is said and done this season. ' ' '