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At our first editorial meeting to discuss ideas for Indias 500th Test, inevitably the thought strayed to the future and temporarily the mood turned sombre. It had taken just over eight decades for India to reach 500, but how many more to the 1,000th? Will there be a 1,000th?But it was apparent in a moment how absurd and incongruous that thought was. It was an occasion not for foreboding, but for gratitude. For as long as it has existed, Test cricket has been a reminder that higher and lasting pleasure can be derived from engagement and absorption, from anticipation and waiting, and from enjoying the journey as much as the destination.And it is more relevant and resonant than ever before in a world that is prone to living in moments. Few other sports are as sharply defined by singular moments as cricket, but its the sum of those moments that makes Test cricket the grandest, the deepest and the most profound of sporting experiences. Once you make the connection, it usually lasts for life.Mine started nearly four decades ago, with a small transistor radio clutched to my ear in the early winter mornings. India were playing the Bobby Simpson-led, Kerry Packer-depleted Australia, and the series, swinging one way and the other, ended in an epic six-day Test, with India falling short of a 493-run target by only 47 runs to concede the series 3-2.I was yet to hold a bat, and beyond the short Films Division news reels that played in movie theatres, I had seen no other cricket. I read up a short book by Vijay Merchant on the basics of the game, and it might have been an aunt who filled me up with some background, but the rest the mind imagined. I can swear I had a fairly graphic image of Sunil Gavaskars forward-defensive shot even before I watched him play.The colour of the game has changed immeasurably in the last four decades. The World Cup arrived in the 80s; Sachin Tendulkar ruled the heart in the 90s when India only won at home; the Test team truly arrived in the first decade of the new century; and in the last 10 years, the IPL has rewritten the rules of the game, both of how it is played and watched. But even more significantly, from the transistor radio in the 70s, Indians have at their command home-entertainment options that are no longer limited to even to the 1,700-odd television channels available.For Test cricket, this challenge also brings an opportunity. There is no doubt that the base has shrunk and will shrink further. But a niche is not necessarily an obscure corner. It can be distinct, high-profile and aspirational. It can be clutter-breaking, the rarer pleasure requiring fans to spend the commodity considered the most scarce: time. The faithful will be rewarded, and they will enlist more. In many ways, it is already a miracle that a sport lasting 40 hours a game has lasted 140 years. It will endure.It is perhaps no more than a coincidence, but what can be a bigger celebration of Indias 500th Test than the fact that it marks the beginning of Indias biggest home Test season in memory. Fault them for whatever else, BCCI officials, current and those just out of office, have shown a remarkable commitment to Test cricket. Thirteen is a significant number. With 103 Tests, the previous decade was Indias most prolific, and this decade, with 66 Tests already, is well on its way to match or exceed it. And if India stay the course, the 1,000th could come in double-quick time. Institutionalising a home season would be a progressive use of the BCCIs clout.It is also pertinent that Test cricket is going to smaller towns, with as many as six new Test venues being added. Players occasionally grumble about smaller venues that lack the attractions of the big cities, but arousing fan interest is a greater imperative. Test cricket needs spectators in the grounds, and it is worth taking the chance on smaller venues, which now have excellent playing facilities. It is now incumbent on the state associations to make fans feel welcome. They could start by making daily tickets easily available instead of the take-it-or-leave-it season tickets. Clean toilets and drinking water would be nice too. Love cant forever be one-sided, and it can no longer be taken for granted.?But it matters as much, if not more, that the players care. And in Virat Kohli, India have at the helm a cricketer not merely of considerable skills but with a passion to match. Kohli is a man of the times, a hero and an icon that the fans of his generation identify with. And he brings to Test cricket both the edge of his personality and the syntax of the shorter formats, in which he first earned his fame. He respects the challenges of Test cricket, but plays it on his own terms. His rage not only fuels the engine of his young team, it also fires public imagination.The 500th is a good reason for celebrating the past, and we will do so on these pages through the course of this Test. But there is much to look forward to too. The best way to celebrate this season would be to turn up at the grounds, tune in to the action on TV, or simply log on to our sites. We will be doing our bit, ball by ball. If you think Test cricket is worthy, its time to show it. Fran Tarkenton Jersey . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Garrett Bradbury Jersey . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/Garrett-bradbury-vikings-jersey/ .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Dru Samia Womens Jersey . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Garrett Bradbury Womens Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open.Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says he would like to have finished his final season with the Premier League title. The Chilean manager, who bids farewell to City this weekend to make way for Pep Guardiola, lifted the trophy during his first season with the club, and has also added two League Cup wins during his time in England. And while he is happy with the job he has done, he admits he would liked to have claimed the Premier League crown one more time. Of course, for me, it would have been an important thing if we had won the title this year, but we couldnt for different reasons, Pellegrini told Sky Sports News HQ.But we managed to win the Capital One Cup and we managed to be in the spot in the Champions League and continue to the semi-finals, but for me of course, the best thing to finish my work here would have be winning the Premier League because I think that is the most important competition - more than the Champions League. The club lifted the Premier League title in Pellegrinis first season at the Etihad Im very satisfied about the work I did because we are the best team of the last three seasons. When you compare which team has the most points, its our team. Who is the team who scored the most goals? Its our team.Who is the team who have the better goal difference and win more games? All of them are our term except the team that concedes more goals, but its just four more than Chelsea who have had the best defence in three seasons.I won three titles here, because we improved a lot in the Champions League, especially this season when we arrived in a semi-final. The season before I arrived here, the club didnt win any games in the Champions League. Manuel Pellgrini thinks if Manchester City finish fourth in the Premier League, there season should be seen as a success. I always feel that I can do it better of course. We had some moments in the season where we were not a very consistent team, we lost important games but it was a very special season for different reasons that are not important to analyse now so Im very happy about the work I did here for three years.It was at the start of February when it was announced that Pellegrini would be replaced by current Bayern boss Guardiola, who has had big success at the German club following his tenure at Barcelona where he won 14 trophies in four seasons including two Championss League titles.ddddddddddddIt was very difficult because it was a moment where we were involved with competitions and without that, it affected a lot of what happened. Pep Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini as City manger in the summer But it was also important to be calm for all the other managers in the Premier League, because when Guardiola said he was coming to England, it started the speculation about Chelsea and Manchester United and City and I knew in that moment what would happen so I think it was the best way to do it.I think Man City are bringing in a very good manager that has been proven successful in all the clubs he has managed before and Im sure he will be successful here.Pellegrini will take plenty of stand-out moments from his time at City, including taking the club to their first Champions League semi-final this season where they were knocked out 1-0 on aggregate by Real Madrid. City made it to the Champions League semi-finals this season but were knocked out by Real Madrid Some of my highlights have been the way we won the first Premier League. I think that was the most cohesive team of England and we also won two titles in the first season that I was here. That we reached one step more in the Champions League that was so difficult for this team before - if you ask me that is one of our best moments.We were also very unlucky with the semi-final because you can say Real Madrid are playing in the final because we scored an own goal but I was not happy with the way we played, it wasnt about the pressure. But I doesnt mean it wasnt a great achievement to arrive at a semi-final and beating important clubs.Theres still work to do for Pellegrini as he looks to secure another top four finish for his side to ensure Champions League football next season, and they need just a point against Swansea on Sunday to beat their rivals Manchester United into the final place. City celebrated Capital One Cup success over Liverpool, the second time Pellegrini won the trophy City celebrated Capital One Cup success over Liverpool, the second time Pellegrini won the trophy I think one of the most important things we did over the three years is that we were always in the Champions League spots.During this season, we have played 37 weeks and in those weeks, we have been in those spots and I hope that we are not going to lose it on Sunday. It is a difficult game but I am sure for the third year in a row, we are going to have a spot in the Champions League. Also See: Pellegrini proud of City style Pellegrinis damaged legacy Sky Live: Swansea v Man City Final day live on Sky Sports ' ' '