Best pitch of the seriesThe second-day pitch in Indore has shown very little signs of wear and tear. The small cracks that are running all the way through have neither widened nor have the edges loosened up. Even the fast bowlers footmarks are just that - footmarks. The top soil has not disintegrated much either and the signs are visible for the third day to be the best day for batting in this Test.Make the bowlers bowl to youThey say the best batsmen make bowlers bowl where they want them to. Its good to hear and profess, but is it even possible? Virat Kohli showed how its done, in the 92nd over bowled by Matt Henry. The third ball of the over was was outside off and Kohli did not offer a shot. The same sequence repeated on the next ball - outside off and left alone. Henry was forced to rethink his strategy for the fifth ball and he bowled a little closer to Kohli who then closed the face of the bat with a forward lean and collected an easy single through the midwicket region.Why is it tough to play the short ball in India?The two key ingredients while playing the short ball are bounce and pace. Life becomes a lot easier for the batsman if he could trust both of them, for that allows him to make a clear strategy. You could either decide to duck, sway or ride the bounce while defending. On the attacking front also, you could commit to the pull or hook early. In any case, the pull or hook is an instinctive shot and demands an early commitment. On Indian pitches, you can neither trust the bounce nor the pace and that is why its a little tough to formulate one strategy for all the bouncers bowled to you. One size doesnt fit allThere are a lot of theories about how to play spin. Some say one must always use his feet to go down the pitch, others would tell you sweeping is a must too. Both Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have dominated spin in this game but have followed different strategies. Rahane has stepped down the pitch regularly and has chosen to take the aerial route. On the other hand, Kohli has used a long forward stride and the depth of the crease. Rahane struck four sixes and Kohli none but their strike-rate against spin was almost identical.Maintaining shape while taking the aerial routeRahane has used his feet quite well to both the New Zealand spinners. In his pursuit to go aerial, he has followed a couple of fundamentals of hitting the long ball. He has always gone with the spin and stepped out accordingly to get in the right position. Against Mitchell Santner he stepped away from the line to go inside out, but stepped across against Jeevan Patel to target the leg side. In addition to his footwork, he formed a stable base while going in the air. 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Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. ST. LOUIS -- Adam Wainwright relished the chance to stop a skid.The Cardinals ace worked seven effective innings to help St. Louis beat Pittsburgh 5-1 on Thursday to avoid a four-game sweep and end the Pirates season-best seven-game winning streak.Today, I really wanted to push it as long as I possibly could, Wainwright said. I was having fun mixing and matching and mixing my delivery speed. I was pitching out there, thats how I did it in 2014.Wainwright (8-5) was a 20-game winner two years ago, but missed most of last season with a torn left Achilles. He is rediscovering his form now, lowering his ERA to 4.49.Hes been a master craftsman for years, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. He was on top of his game.Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run home run and Randal Grichuk also went deep for St. Louis, which reclaimed second place in the NL Central by a half-game over Pittsburgh to end a rough 4-5 homestand. All-Star Matt Carpenter (oblique) joined Brandon Moss (ankle) and Brayan Pena (knee) on the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day.We heard the news, then we went about our business, Piscotty said. We have to stay the course. I dont think anyones going to give up by any means.Piscottys 11th homer off Arquimedes Caminero was initially ruled off the top of the center-field wall but the call was overturned after review. Piscotty had three homers during the home stand but didnt think this one was out.Tyler Glasnow (0-1) was charged with four runs in 5 1/3 innings in his debut. The 22-year-old right-hander was the 11th starter used by the Pirates and, like Steven Brault earlier in the series, got his first career hit.It was kind of crazy waking up and coming to the ballpark and I really think I took it all in, the 6-foot-8 Glasnow said. It was a fun experience.Hurdle was impressed.He commanded the zone, he made his pitches, the manager said.dddddddddddd He didnt let things get out of hand at any point in time.Jordy Mercer doubled and had an RBI for the Pirates, who had come from behind to win the previous six games. They havent swept a four-game series in St. Louis since 1997 and the Cardinals havent been swept in four games at home by anyone since Colorado in 2009.Aledmys Diaz, named an All-Star earlier in the day to replace Carpenter, tripled off the top of the left-field fence and scored on a wild pitch to tie it in the fourth. Grichuks first homer since June 12 gave the Cardinals the lead for good in the fifth.Wainwright matched his season best with nine strikeouts and got his 129th career win, passing Harry Brecheen for seventh on the franchise list. Hes permitted one run over 14 innings his last two outings.The way the first month and a half went for me was a real grind but I knew I was going to turn it around, Wainwright said. And Im on my way, I wanted that eighth win.The first pitch was delayed 31 minutes by rain. During the homestand there were 5 hours and 44 minutes of delays.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (triceps) is expected to make a second rehab start on Sunday.Cardinals: 3B Jhonny Peralta (left thumb) missed his second straight start.NICE GLOVECardinals 3B Greg Garcia made two nice grabs on liners, robbing Jung Ho Kang in the first and pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez in the eighth. Garcia led off in place of Carpenter and had a double, walk and scored a run.UP NEXTPirates: Francisco Liriano (5-8, 5.34) snapped a five-game losing streak his last time out, but is 0-2 against the Cubs this year.Cardinals: Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.38) has won three straight starts and faces the Brewers for the second straight time. ' ' '