Joe Root has backed Alex Hales and Nick Compton to answer their critics when England take on Sri Lanka next week. [url=http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-albert-almora-jr-jersey/]Albert Almora Jr Cubs Jersey[/url] . Both batsmen are in a 12-man squad for the first Test at Headingley despite speculation

Joe Root has backed Alex Hales and Nick Compton to answer their critics when England take on Sri Lanka next week. Albert Almora Jr Cubs Jersey . Both batsmen are in a 12-man squad for the first Test at Headingley despite speculation they could miss out in the wake of up-and-down winter performances in South Africa.Neither scored a hundred during a four-match Test series, with opener Hales averaging just 17 and No 3 Compton under 31. But the only change to the batting personnel has seen Hampshire captain James Vince come in for James Taylor, whose sudden retirement left a place in the squad up for grabs.And Root told Sky Sports News HQ: We see these guys play a lot, we spend a lot of time together as a squad and we know what theyre capable of doing. Selectors kept the faith with Alex Hales (left) and Nick Compton Ive got every confidence in those guys ahead of me to go in and make big scores. Theyll want to prove a lot of people wrong whove been doubting them, and its a very exciting time for them.Vince, who is capped at one-day international and T20 level, is likely to make a first Test appearance after a decent start to the County Championship season including a century against Roots Yorkshire.James played extremely well against Yorkshire a few weeks ago, Root said. Hes been one of the guys over the past couple of years who have kept proving themselves.Englands other uncapped call-up, Nottinghamshire seam bowler Jake Ball, has also enjoyed success against Yorkshire this season and twice dismissed Root during a Division One game at Trent Bridge. Who is Jake Ball? A look at Englands new seamer He did for me, Root said. He was far too good for me, and hes a very talented cricketer.England will face tourists who have had to deal with the retirements of Test greats Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara since they won a two-match series on their last visit in 2014. Jake Ball twice dismissed Joe Root during Nottinghamshires Championship match against Yorkshire But Root said: It would be silly to be arrogant and think were going to wipe the floor with them. They have a lot of guys with a lot of talent who could do some special things in Test cricket.Roots team-mate Stuart Broad added: There is a bit of revenge to be had.I played in the Test matches at the start of 2014 and that was a tough time to play. It was quite an emotional series, it really hurt us as a team to lose in our own conditions.We know when we play Sri Lanka they play with a lot of pride and passion. Theyre always in the battle and they beat us in that battle last time.Vitality is partnering with England cricketer Joe Root who will take on the role of Ambassador. Joe will use his passion for healthy living to inspire everyone to be active and make positive changes to their lifestyle. Please visit www.vitality.co.uk for further information. Also See: Vince, Ball get England call Who is Jake Ball? England fixtures/results Get Sky Sports Willson Contreras Jersey . Los Angeles announced its new deal for Kupchak late in the fourth quarter of a 145-130 loss to the Houston Rockets. Kupchak had one year left on his current contract. Jason Heyward Jersey .J. - Henrik Lundqvist has done more than set a couple of franchise records for the New York Rangers this week. http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-brandon-kintzler-jersey/ .75 million contract for the 2014 season and avoided arbitration. The team announced the agreement on Tuesday.DENVER - Darcy Kuemper doesnt really want to be in net when the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche finally break out of their offensive funk.The Minnesota Wild goalie will gladly take his second straight shutout of the Avalanche and leave town, not having to face them again until February.Let some other goalie feel the wrath of a frustrated Colorado squad.Kuemper stopped 30 shots and Jason Zucker scored his first goal since January, helping the Wild beat the Avalanche 3-0 on Saturday night.That is a real good team, said Kuemper, who blanked Colorado 5-0 at home in the season opener on Thursday. But we stuck in there. We weathered a lot of their storms.Speaking of storms, fiery Colorado coach Patrick Roy didnt erupt over his inefficient offence, which has been bottled up by Kuemper through the first six periods of the season.Quite the opposite. Roy applauded the play of Gabriel Landeskog & Co., saying theyre on the verge of turning things around even though theyve been outshot 82-46 so far this season.Honestly, Im happy with our game, Roy said. Not with the result, but happy with the performance of our team. ... We can build on that game.Charlie Coyle added a goal and Zach Parise tapped in an empty-netter for the Wild.The Avalanche were one of the top scoring teams in the league last season, but havent been able to figure out Kuemper. He also shut out the Avalanche in Game 3 of their best-of-seven playoff series last season. The Wild advanced with an overtime win in the decisive game at the Pepsi Center.Could Kuemper be in their heads?He played a solid game. What more can you say? Landeskog said. Like any goalie, we have to make it tough on him.Zucker scored in the second period, his first goal since Jan. 16. He had surgery to fix a tendon in his quadriceps in March and missed the rest of the season.Semyon Varlamov made 31 saves for the Avalanche as their struggles in the preseason have carried over into the regular season.The Avs pulled Varlamov with 3 minutes remaining and when Matt Cooke drew an interference penalty with 2:33 left, they had a 6-on-4. Joe Maddon Jersey. Still, Colorado couldnt score.Parise guided in a goal into an empty net with 3.3 seconds left.Kuemper stopped everything shot in his vicinity. And even when he was out of position, the Avs couldnt capitalize, like when Tyson Barrie shot wide with Kuemper on the ground in the second period.The guys in front of me were unreal, Kuemper said. There was a little more work today, but our structure was there and they allowed me to read the plays well. Our structure keeps the play real predictable. It allows me to play with confidence.Down a goal heading into the second, the Avs tried to stir things up to get back into the game. Defenceman Erik Johnson went in for a hard check on Erik Haula and ended up delivering an elbow, sending Haula to the ice. Johnson was given a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for the hit.Asked if he thought Johnson might face punishment by the league, Roy said, Id be very surprised.Coyle thought he had his second goal of the game early in the second when he lifted a shot over Varlamov, who had Nino Niederreiter sprawled out on top of him. The goal was disallowed and the ruling upheld after a review.Soon after, Zucker lined a slap shot under the glove of Varlamov to give the Wild a two-goal cushion.Coyle got the Wild on the board before the capacity crowd even had time to settle into their seats when he redirected a shot past Varlamov.Roy has tried different line combinations, trying to find an offensive spark. But nothing has seemed to work against Kuemper.I take it a shot at a time and stay even keel, Kuemper said.NOTES: Minnesota had 2,500 fans show up to watch the game on the new screen at Xcel Energy Center. ... The Wild dont play again until Friday in Anaheim. ... The Wild are now 14-3-3 in their last 20 games in Denver. ... The only time Colorado was shut out last season was on March 21 against Boston. ... Colorado kicks off a four-game Eastern Conference road trip Monday in Boston. ' ' '