ralize that.I think were the type of big men that can be [on the court] late in games,

Its the first week of December and Christmas trees are being put up in houses all over Australia. Excited kids are waiting for the morning of the 25th. Some wont have the patience. Theyll go hunting for presents hidden in wardrobes, or lift the sticky-tape on a piece of wrapping paper, take a peek at whats inside. And on Christmas morning theyll regret it. A moment of impulse and everything is spoiled.It feels a little like that in Australian cricket right now. What do we want? Pat Cummins. When do we want him? Now! And indeed, Cummins is ready to play his first internationals in nearly 15 months, as part of Australias attack for the Chappell-Hadlee campaign against New Zealand. These three ODIs mark his international return from yet another long lay-off due to stress fractures of the back. At most, he will bowl 30 overs across six days with a white ball.And yet there are rumblings that he should be rushed back into the Test side, perhaps for Februarys tour of India, but maybe even in the pink-ball Test against Pakistan at the Gabba. On Inside Cricket this week, Brad Haddin was adamant that Cummins should be in contention for Brisbane if he came through the Chappell-Hadlee series fit and in form.If he gets through these three one-dayers ... traditionally these day-night games [Tests] havent been going five days and the quick bowlers might only have to bowl 16 overs in a day, Haddin said. If you use him right in a Test match, he only has to bowl four-over spells.Darren Berry, the former Victoria captain and ex-coach of South Australia, voiced a similar opinion on SEN radio on Friday morning: Surely he plays the three days and if hes up, and he fires, straight into the Brisbane Test.Notably, those who are closer to the Australia setup are more measured. National selector Mark Waugh, on the Inside Cricket panel alongside Haddin, said that while Cummins had performed well during the Matador Cup, and bowled at good pace in club cricket and two Futures League games this summer, he still had something to prove.Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves, lets just see him get through these three games, Waugh said. Look, Id love to pick him for Australia in Test match cricket, who wouldnt? But hes got to show that hes ready and hes fit.And captain Steven Smith, asked this week whether Cummins might be a chance for the Test tour of India in February-March, conceded that it was possible, but added hes obviously got to play some Shield cricket first and see how he goes. And heres the thing: Cummins hasnt played Shield cricket for a long time. A really, really long time. When Cummins last played a Sheffield Shield game, not only was Smith not yet the captain of Australia, Michael Clarke wasnt either. It was March 2011, and Ricky Ponting was leading Australia at the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.When Cummins last played a Shield game, Jackson Bird had not even made his first-class debut. Bird now has nearly 250 first-class wickets.When Cummins last played a Shield game, the Big Bash League didnt exist.In fact, since that time Cummins has played only five first-class matches. One was his memorable Test debut against South Africa in November 2011, when he took seven wickets and was Man of the Match in Johannesburg. Then came a bone stress injury in his foot. Then came stress fractures of the back.In mid-2013, he added two more first-class games for Australia A on a tour of Africa, before once again being sidelined by a back injury.In mid-2015, he was sent to England to replace the retired Ryan Harris in Australias Ashes squad, despite not having played a first-class game for two years. He played two first-class tour matches, and lo and behold, suffered another back injury.So long ago was his spectacular Test debut, and so often has he been in and out of Australias short-form squads since then, that it is easy to think Cummins is older and better prepared than is the case. In fact, he is still only 23 - still of an age where fast bowlers are susceptible to bone injuries - and in his entire career has played only eight first-class matches.Rushing him back for the Pakistan Tests - or even for the India tour, given he may have only one Shield game before the squad is chosen - would surely be a short-sighted selection. Does anyone really believe the dry pitches of India, where the fast men will toil long and hard for any reward, would be the smartest way to bring Cummins back?Its great to be back, Cummins said in Sydney on Friday, ahead of his ODI return. Longer-form cricket, Id say its pretty unlikely. I havent played first-class for a while. Certainly hopefully I can play some first-class this year. Im sure itd need to be Shield before I start thinking about anything else.Notably, Cummins also said that on this return from injury he felt more comfortable as he was not being rushed on to an Australian tour: Knowing I wasnt going to fly straight back onto the next tour and having to bowl as well as I was 12 months ago - just having a bit more time has made a big difference.It is exciting that Cummins will be back in Australian colours over the coming week. But back in Australian whites? How about getting him through half a Shield season first? If Australian cricket wants Cummins playing the long game, it may have to play the long game itself. Cheap Authentic Jordan 11 . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Jordan 11 Outlet . 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HOUSTON -- Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins couldnt quit smiling Sunday after the Houston Texans 34-24 exhibition victory over the Arizona Cardinals.Hes beginning to see just how good this offense can be now that new quarterback Brock Osweiler is settling into his role.The mindset that we have when we go out there is that we cant be stopped and today kind of showed that, Hopkins said.Osweiler threw for 146 yards and a touchdown and Houston intercepted two of Carson Palmers passes to help the Texans improve to 3-0 in the preseason. The Cardinals are 0-3.Osweiler led the Texans to scores on three of his four drives. He connected with Fuller on a 26-yard touchdown pass that extended Houstons lead to 24-10 before sitting down with about three minutes left in the first half.It was Osweilers second successful outing after he and Houstons starting offense struggled in the teams first preseason game.Were constantly improving, were fixing mistakes and were getting better each week, Osweiler said. Thats really what you want to see at this point in time.While Osweiler was solid, Houstons starting defense starred. Andre Hal intercepted Palmers second pass of the day to set up Houstons first score, a 1-yard touchdown run by new running back Lamar Miller.Palmers second drive was his only clean one, and it ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by David Johnson.On Arizonas next possession, linebacker John Simon tipped a pass by Palmer, intercepted it and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. It was the second straight game in which Palmer had an interception returned for a touchdown after Brandon Flowers did it in last week in a 9-3 loss at San Diego.Its easy to evaluate that game: its just called turnovers, Arizona coach Bruce Arians said.Palmer attempted to tackle Simon after the interception and was tackled by 305-pound defensive end Devon Still, a hit that knocked the quarterbacks helmet off. Arians had seen enough after that hit, and Palmer was replaced by Drew Stanton.Palmer chipped a tooth on the play.Im fine, he said. It (just) looked bad.Fuller finished with 67 yards receiving and fellow rookie Braxton Miller, the former Ohio State star quarterback, added three receptions for 29 yards. The Texans chose Fuller in the first round this year to take pressure off Hopkins, who was third in the NFL with 1,521 yards receiving last season despite facing near constant double teams.He had two receptions for 31 yards Sunday.INJURY UPDATECardinals: CB Mike Jenkins, who had recently returned after having surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand, was carted off the field after injuring his right knee in the first quarter. He was injured when he was juked by Hopkins and immediately crumpled to the grround.dddddddddddd He appeared to be in a lot of pain as he was helped to the cart, and slammed his right hand on the cart in disgust before he was taken to the locker room. Arians didnt have an update on Jenkins after the game.All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu, who came off the physically unable to perform list last week after knee surgery, was expected to play on Sunday, but remained on the sideline in a T-shirt and shorts.Ive been making great strides in my rehab, my recovery ... but I just didnt feel like I was ready to go out there and play the game, he said.Texans: K Nick Novak returned after sitting out most of the week after getting a concussion against the Saints last week. He made a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter and added one from 42 yards in the fourth.CLOWNEY STANDING OUTOutside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney had three tackles and put pressure on Palmer and Stanton often on Sunday, leading Houstons defense with Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt still out after back surgery. The performance comes a week after Clowney sacked Drew Brees for a 14-yard loss in a win over the Saints. The top overall pick in the 2014 draft is looking for a breakout year after failing to produce in his first two injury-plagued seasons.I just want to stay on the field all season, he said. Thats it.POSITION BATTLESCardinals: Jenkins had been among three players the mix to start at cornerback opposite star Patrick Peterson. If his injury is as severe as it appears, Arians will now have just Brandon Williams and Justin Bethel as candidates for the job.Texans: C Greg Mancz started at center on Sunday in the position left open when rookie second-round pick Nick Martin had season-ending ankle surgery this week. But he struggled with some protections on Sunday, leaving open the possibility that offseason free agent acquisition Tony Bergstrom could get another shot at the job.QUOTABLECardinals: Palmer on if his chipped tooth will make him look tougher: Im not looking for street cred right now.Texans: Simon in response to teammates saying he looked slow on his interception return: I was able to get into the end zone without getting caught, so thats whats important.ROOKIE WATCHCardinals: Undrafted free-agent Chris Hubert had a 43-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.Texans: Fourth-round pick Tyler Ervin looks to have solidified his position as the teams kick returner after returning one for 58 yards on Sunday. Irvin also had two carries for 13 yards and a 20-yard reception.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '