WEEKBaltimores Manny Machado homered in the first,

Nick Compton needs to adopt a more positive approach to his batting going forward if Englands No 3 wants to save his Test career, according to Sky Sports pundit Michael Holding. The Middlesex batsman made just nine runs from 34 balls on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Emirates Riverside as the home side closed on 310-6.However, after also failing in Englands comprehensive first Test win at Headingley last week when making a three-ball duck, the pressure is now very much on Comptons shoulders going into his second innings in Durham. Holding, however, thinks Compton should be more aggressive the next time he walks to the wicket, with the former West Indies paceman using compatriot Lawrence Rowes past difficulties for his country as an example of how to hit your way into form. Weve picked out Joe Root as our player of the day after his 80 helped England reached 310-6 after the first day of the second Test People have been saying that maybe he needs to change the way he bats, Holding told Sky Sports. There are two viewpoints.I remember years ago when Lawrence Rowe was having struggles in the Caribbean and he was not getting any runs. He went out there against England blazing one afternoon and got something like 47 or 48 in quick time. And then he came back and got a triple century.Greg Chappell went through a similar situation in Australia in the Eighties and they asked Greg, when he did eventually get some runs, if he ever thought about going out and throwing his bat.And he said: No, that is not the way I have ever batted. I just decided to keep on batting the way I know how to bat and eventually the runs will come. Milinda Siriwardana was pleased with his performance after he picked up two wickets on day one of the second Test against England Well Compton may need to start thinking a little more positively about his stroke play, because he goes out there in this defensive mode. And I think he is putting a lot of pressure on himself by being in that defensive mode.He needs to loosen up a bit. Do not go out and throw the bat, but loosen up a bit.Mahela Jayawardena, meanwhile, agrees with his fellow Sky Sports pundit and the one-time Sri Lanka captain believes Compton is placing himself under too much pressure when going out to bat.You felt that he was on a mission after he got out in the first Test match caught behind, he said of the right-hander who has been out for scores of 15, 26, 0, 19, 6, 0 and 9 in his last seven Test innings. England opener Alex Hales told David Lloyd he thinks England had the better day after England posted 310-6 So his focus was on trying to get forward and making sure that he controls that.And you could see his intent of playing forward all the time. Then all of a sudden the short ball came out of nowhere because he was not prepared.You need to be going with the flow, rather than putting yourself under pressure, by batting with a plan.It probably was a planned thing from the Sri Lankans, but he was not ready for that short ball and he took it on. Alex Hales (left) chats to Nick Compton on the opening day of the second Test in Durham So he just needs to clear his mind and bat the way he bats naturally and be more positive.One England player who is not struggling for runs so far this summer is opener Alex Hales, who made an impressive 83 on day one at the Riverside, his second score in the eighties after falling 14 runs short of a century in Leeds last week. He is showing why the selectors showed faith in him. They knew what he could produce and he has shown he could adapt Michael Holding on Alex Hales However, Jayawardena feels the Nottinghamshire batsman must now take the next step up by recording that elusive maiden Test ton in order to make him feel like he belongs at the highest level of the game.He needs to get that hundred, as once you get that, you feel you belong in Test cricket, he said.He has found a way to control his innings and tempo, but once he gets those big runs under his belt, then he can start to control his innings better. The longer he spends time there, he will find a way to control his tempo better.Jayawardena, though, has urged Hales to carry on playing his natural game, despite the Englishman once again getting dismissed playing an attacking shot against a spinner, as he also did at Headingley. Watch a pick of the action from the first day of the second Test between England and Sri Lanka Either way, Holding thinks Hales is demonstrating just why England coach Trevor Bayliss picked him for the tour of South Africa and then kept faith with the opener after his lean time with the bat during the winter.When he didnt do that well in South Africa a lot of people, including myself, were saying he doesnt really look like he is going to make it at Test level. England knew exactly what he could produce - and he is now producing.When he came into the side people spoke about his possibly being a dasher, but he hasnt batted that way in Test cricket as he realises it isnt going to work. He dug in at Leeds when wickets were tumbling around him.And now he is showing why the selectors showed faith in him. They knew what he could produce and so its good to see he can adapt. Also See: Hales and Root star on day one Second Test: As it happened Second Test scorecard Compton: My career is on the line Terrell Owens Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Tony Dorsett Cowboys Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. http://www.cowboysfootballgearshop.com/roger-staubach-jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Troy Aikman Cowboys Jersey . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Charles Haley Womens Jersey . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Baseball is returning to the Olympics in 2020. The question now is who will be playing.With the Summer Games falling in the middle of the major league season, the sport has never been able to produce the kind of best-against-best spectacle that Olympic hockey and basketball have. But even if that remains the case, there will undoubtedly be some big names taking the field at the Tokyo Games.It just might take a few years before baseball fans really know them.Baseball was a full medal event at the Olympics from 1992-2008, and it was a demonstration sport before that. In 1984, Japan won the gold medal game, beating a U.S. team that included Mark McGwire and Will Clark -- both of whom were a couple years away from their big league debuts. At the Seoul Olympics in 1988, the Americans avenged that loss when Jim Abbott beat Japan in the title game.Heres a brief chronology of Olympic baseball since it became a medal sport in 1992:Barcelona (1992): Jason Giambi and Nomar Garciaparra were part of this U.S. team, but the Americans were drubbed by Japan and Cuba and failed to win a medal. The Omar Linares-led Cubans took the gold.Atlanta (1996): Home-field advantage only meant so much for the U.S., which lost 11-2 to Japan in the semifinals and had to settle for bronze. Cuba beat Japan 13-9 for the gold, with Linares hitting three homers in the title game.Sydney (2000): Cubas Olympic dynasty was finally upended when the U.S. knocked off the two-time defending champions 4-0 to win the gold. Professionals were allowed in the Olympic tournament for the first time, but the conflict with the major league schedule meant the Americans still had a relatively unheralded roster. With Tommy Lasorda managing, Ben Sheets allowed one earned run in 22 innings, and his three-hitter in the final gave the U.S. the title.Athens (2004): The U.S. didnt even make it to the Olympics to defend its title. The Americans were eliminated in qualifying, and the gold medal went back to Cuba, which beat upstart Australia in the final. The Aussies had upset Daisuke Matsuzaka and Japan in tthe semifinals.ddddddddddddBeijing (2008): The last Olympic baseball tournament for a while ended in dramatic fashion, when Cubas Yulieski Gurriel -- who signed a $47.5 million, five-year contract with Houston last month -- hit into a double play with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. South Korea held on for a 3-2 win and the gold.There were plenty of future major leaguers playing in the 08 Summer Games. Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched for the champion South Koreans, and the bronze medal-winning Americans had Stephen Strasburg and Jake Arrieta.Japan failed to medal despite having Yu Darvish, Masahiro Tanaka and Norichika Aoki.Here are a few developments from around baseball this past week:STANDING ALONEAlex Rodriguez is set to play his final game for the New York Yankees on Friday, and David Ortiz has announced hell retire at seasons end. If those two are indeed done after this year, then Albert Pujols will be the only remaining active member of the 500-homer club.The 36-year-old Pujols is at 581. The closest active player below 500 home runs is Miguel Cabrera at 433.FANTASY FOCUSNow that the trade deadline is out of the way and players are settling in with new teams and perhaps new roles, the next big issue to watch down the stretch is innings limits. Weve seen teams exercise caution with young pitchers in ways that can affect their fantasy value.Torontos Aaron Sanchez, the AL ERA leader, hasnt been moved to the bullpen yet, but the Blue Jays are clearly being cautious with him, using a six-man rotation. Detroits Michael Fulmer will also be monitored carefully.LINE OF THE WEEKBaltimores Manny Machado homered in the first, second and third innings, driving in seven runs in a 10-2 win ove