FunEcke » Zealand.None of this disguises the fact that Englands top-order

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Almost a year after mangling his right hand in a fireworks accident, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has made a public service announcement about keeping children away from fireworks, and warning everyone to handle the pyrotechnic devices with care.The announcement was unveiled Thursday at a fireworks safety event in Washington by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot F. Kaye.Pierre-Paul lost an index finger and part of his thumb, and was required to have reconstructive surgery to save his middle finger, when a device exploded in his hand on July 4. The two-time Pro Bowler missed half of last season because of the injury, and he struggled using the hand when he returned because he wore a boxing-like glove playing. It limited his ability to grab opponents.In the public service announcement, there is a reenactment of Pierre-Pauls accident. He tells Kaye that he lit a device and it blew up almost immediately. It is followed by a picture of his severely damaged hand, another of him in the hospital with his hand bandaged, and one of the football player and his young son.Pierre-Paul discusses the accident with Kaye and admits he is lucky to be alive.Their 45-second message to the public is to practice fireworks safety by keeping children away from fireworks, leaving fireworks use to professionals and practicing caution with consumer fireworks.The announcement was released days before Independence Day because the consumer product safety commission said that 70 percent of all injuries with fireworks occur during the 30 days surrounding the holiday. There were 11 deaths and nearly 12,000 injuries treated in emergency rooms from fireworks in 2015 -- the highest number in 15 years, according to the commission.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Hank Aaron Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Cheap Babe Ruth Jersey . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. http://www.cheapbravesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-john-smoltz-jersey .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Cheap Deion Sanders Jersey . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Cheap Bob Uecker Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Englands problem child has grown up.The kid who was sent home from a Lions tour, the kid who missed a World T20 after smashing his hand on a locker has matured - or, at least, is well on the way to maturing - into the player his talent promised he might be. In Ben Stokes, England have a gem.There will be those who look at the scorecard of this match, shrug and say: But it was only Bangladesh.And it is true that there were moments - such as during their first innings collapse - when Bangladeshs lack of experience in Test cricket was obvious. Englands record against them - they have, to date, won all eight of the Tests they have played against one another - hardly reflects the narrowing gap between these two sides.But in these conditions, the margin is not very big at all. And in this game, it has been defined by Stokes. Having produced an outstanding spell of bowling to help take Bangladeshs last six wickets for the addition of just 27 runs, he then contributed perhaps the most mature innings of his Test career to date.True, he didnt turn it into a century. And true, it wasnt as eye-catching or awe-inspiring as his centuries at Perth, Lords or Cape Town.But while all those surfaces offered, to greater or lesser degree, the pace and bounce on which Stokes naturally feasts, this innings was compiled in conditions in which he has often struggled.Slow, low and offering help to the spinners, it was the sort of surface on which Stokes has often thrashed like a drowning man and given it away in infuriating fashion. Remember the dismissals in Grenada and Abu Dhabi: caught on the mid-wicket fence. Or the dismissals in Antigua or Abu Dhabi: charging down the pitch in desperation and missing.Bangladesh tried to entice him into similar mistakes here. But where once he would have tried to thrash his way to a decent score, here he played like a Test batsman. Where once he had no confidence in his defensive technique, here he gave himself a chance to succeed by playing himself in, defending when necessary, rotating the strike and still putting away the poor ball with that brutal power that has become customary.There were three sixes in this innings, but he no longer has boundary options alone; he has the ability, the technique and temperament to build an innings. Not satisfied with being a middle-order biffer - the sort of role that some, like Shahid Afridi, settled into a little too readily - he has combined his talent with an impressive determination to work hard and keep improving. He is well on his way to being Englands best all-rounder since Ian Botham.There will be those who point to his averages - the batting average is under 35; the bowling average over - and wonder what all the fuss is about. But if you judge everything on averages, you make some very average judgments.Stokes is a cricketer who, with bat, ball and in the field, is capable of altering games in circumstances where few can. Each one of his Test centuries might reasonably be described as great; he has taken some catches - remember Trent Bridge, 2015 - that few could and his bowling here defied a slow pitch to change the course of this game.In brutal conditions in which other seamers operated in three (or even one) over spells, Stokes started the day with a six-over spell of sustained skill and hostility. On a surface on which other seamers struggled to get the ball above hip height, he had batsmen jumping and sparring. And in an environment in which other seamers had to be content with cutters and slower balls, he swung the ball sharpply.ddddddddddddWith his strength, his skill and his determination, he has developed into a huge asset to England as a bowler. If he couldnt bat to save his life, Stokes may still be an international cricketer.Some aspects of this will be of no surprise. We knew Stokes had talent: we knew he was strong; that he could thrash sixes and bowl bouncers. But he hasnt always looked an intelligent, adaptable cricketer. He hasnt always had the subtlety to complement his raw ability. But now that he has the skill to harness the reverse swing and now that he is learning to adapt to the slow surfaces on which he will probably have to play half his career, he is developing into something quite special. England missed him when he was injured. It wasnt just his on-field influence, either. The team management felt the dressing-room environment at The Oval, when Pakistan defeated them to level the Test series, was a little too quiet; a little too passive. Stokes belief, energy and determination play a huge part in driving this team forward.As Paul Farbrace said a couple of weeks ago: Stokes is a leader, wherever he goes, people want to go with him. Hes loved being vice-captain on this tour. But vice-captain or not, he is a leader, and people follow him and want to know where he is going, whether hes going out for dinner, when hes practising.The England management deserve some credit here. For many months now, they have done everything they can to make Stokes feel valued and appreciated.It would have been perfectly reasonable to demote him to No. 7 in the order here or to leave him out of the limited-overs sides. Instead they given him responsibility - he was vice-captain of the ODI side on this tour - and security in his roles. Knowing his value and seeing his potential, they have invested heavily in him. Aged 25, he should be able to repay them for several years.Dont discount that New Zealand influence, either. His father, Ged Stokes, was a rugby league player and coach who famously had a finger amputated when he couldnt wait for it to recover from a bad break. The son has inherited the fathers determination and spirit.Theres more than a little Brendon McCullum about the way he lifts this England team: he might have made a decent All Black had he stayed in New Zealand.None of this disguises the fact that Englands top-order failed again. Again and again over the last couple of years, Englands middle-order has rescued them after poor starts. While their sixth-wicket averages 83 in 2016, their next-best partnership is 53 for the seventh-wicket. That is fine, up to a point. But if England are to beat they best, if they are to win in Australia or in India, they will need the top-order to contribute far more often.This game isnt won yet, either. What we have learned so far in this match is that, after the first 30 overs or so, the ball becomes quite soft and the slow pace of the wicket partially negates the turn on offer. Bangladesh scored 331 in the fourth innings here against England in 2010 and lost, while New Zealand scored 317 for 7 to win in the fourth innings here in 2008.As a result, spinners are more dangerous with the new ball, when some deliveries turn sharply and others skid on, and seamers come into their own only if they can find some reverse. In that regard, England are well-served with Stokes. He has enjoyed an outstanding 24 hours or so, but his work is not yet done. ' ' '