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. Golden Knights Jerseys 2020 . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Stitched Golden Knights Jerseys . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. https://www.cheapgoldenknights.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Golden Knights Jerseys 2021 .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Wholesale Golden Knights Jerseys . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Army defensive back Gervon Simon has never played against Navy, and hes a senior. Even if he doesnt get his first chance on Saturday when the archrivals meet in Baltimore, hes more than ready for what will be the biggest football game of his life.This is the most excited Ive been and the most confident Ive felt in our team in all four years, Simon said. I dont think there needs to be any more motivation. As a team, we understand the significance of this game.Army coach Jeff Monken is in his third year at West Point, and he marvels at the passion of players like Simon, whose Army resume is scant. Simon, also a member of special teams, has played in only four games this season and has assisted on two tackles. Those are the only four games Simon has played in his Army career.When you consider that Simon was a standout quarterback in high school in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and that his father, Geroy, was a star receiver at Maryland and one of the most decorated players in Canadian Football League history, you understand why Monken heaps praise on this senior class.They decided that it was time for us to get it done, Monken said. Theyve worked tirelessly. Tough, resilient, hard-working group of guys that believe in each other. No matter whats come our way, they found a way to claw back and come back the next week and prepare for the next day.What a great example for the young guys coming behind them. I hope this is only just the beginning.Army (6-5) is in sort of rarefied air for a program thats been down and out for the past two decades. With a date in a bowl game this month, the Black Knights have a chance to post only their second winning season since 1996.First things first, though, for the firsties (seniors) -- stopping the 14-game winning streak fashioned by Navy (9-3) in the series.It feels good being able to go to a bowl game, but definitely not thinking about that right now, senior linebacker Jeremy Timpf said.We need to get it done, added Simon. Theres no substitute for it at the end of the day. We need to win. Thats it.That streak-ending victory nearly came a year ago with freshman quarterback Chris Carter playing in only his second gamme for Army.dddddddddddd A Hail Mary on the final play of the game fell short and the Midshipmen held on for a 21-17 triumph in Philadelphia.And so its been another 362 days -- and counting -- of the same dialogue, the same mindset that is everywhere at West Point.Theres no other program that wants to beat the other academy (as Army does), said Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva, a star at Army who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan and won a Bronze Star before getting a chance to play in the NFL. You say `Beat Navy! a thousand times a day at the academy. You say it when you salute somebody. It gets ingrained.It sucks to lose to Navy, but its for school pride, Villanueva said. We beat Navy in basketball, we beat Navy in rugby, we beat Navy in other sports. You love that. But football is one of those things we havent won in a long time.Monken, a former assistant at Navy, has placed his imprint on the Army program, and its trending up. A victory over Navy would be another step in the right direction.It would mean a lot to the program, Simon said. Itll mean so much going forward and bring momentum for the years to come -- to be able to change the result this year and get the win. The culture has changed so much from my first year here to now. Its a better culture.Regardless of the outcome, theres always one constant for the players.I think Army is on the right path, but football is never a priority in the hearts and minds of a player. It wasnt for my class, said Villanueva, who graduated from West Point in 2009. The last time we played Navy, we lost and obviously it sucks, but immediately after I pulled off my cleats II said, `My career in the Army is the one thing that takes (precedent).My heart was on serving after getting done with four years at the academy. It was never going to the academy to play football.---AP Sports Writers Dave Ginsburg in Baltimore and Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '