Maybe the timing was simply unfortunate, but supporters of England's Test team could have been forgiven for scratching their heads in bewilderment earlier this week.

For just around the time that England were being bowled out for 181 in their first innings in Centurion - the fifth time in 12 first innings they have failed to reach 200 this year - news came through that Colin Graves, the ECB chairman, had been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours.

Graves, to be fair, deserves some credit for the World Cup triumph. He was involved in the decision to prioritise white-ball cricket and the decision to shake up the coaching set-up. It's completely reasonable to recognise and reward that.

But if he deserves credit for that, he also needs to take some responsibility for the decline in England's first-class system. And as England slipped to another Test defeat - their sixth in a year that has included just four victories - the poverty of their red-ball game was betrayed once more. It is increasingly hard to deny the assertion that England's limited-overs progress has been made at the expense of their Test form.

This is, you may recall, the first time this century that England have finished a year without a Test series victory. And as the Test year ends just as it started, with a resounding defeat at the hands of a rival who would dearly love the resources England enjoy, it becomes ever harder to sustain the argument that England are a good team on a tough run. If something keeps happening, it's not an aberration. It's reality.

The truth is, England are a modest Test team in decline. Players who should have reaching their peak around now - Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler to name but three - are in danger of being washed away. The generation who might have been pushing for their places - Haseeb Hameed, Ben Duckett and James Vince - have not progressed as anticipated, and there is such a dearth of spin-bowling talent, that England are about to take a punt on one of two men who is far from sure of selection in their first-choice county side. It really is quite a mess.

There is a bright side to all this. Just as it took the rock bottom of the 2015 World Cup to realise that change was necessary in England's limited-overs cricket, so we are coming to a time when England may be humiliated into acknowledging the extent of their problems in Test cricket. They're really not very good at it. The sooner that is realised, the sooner change will be embraced. A lowly finish in the World Test Championship might provide just such a wake-up call.

And what will that change look like? It will see Championship cricket - two- or three-division Championship cricket involving promotion and relegation - played throughout the season. It will see the white-ball window closed and red-ball cricket played in conditions where fast bowlers and spinners are necessary.

It will see wickets prepared which better reflect the Test game - hybrid wickets prepared by centrally contracted groundsmen, if necessary - and it will see, in general terms, the domestic first-class competition nurtured and valued and protected. If the Championship is strong, with intense, high-quality, consequence-laden cricket, the strength of the Test team will follow.

We should know this already. The England side that rose to No. 1 in the world rankings included four men who scored centuries on Test debut (Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior), two more (Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell) who made half-centuries, one who claimed a five-wicket haul (James Anderson) and one who claimed two wickets in his first over (Graeme Swann). All of them were developed in a county system described by Justin Langer as every bit as tough as any in which he played.

"If England, Australia and India allow Test cricket to wither in other regions, the format will follow"

Somewhere along the way - perhaps when it was decided broadcasters wanted a white-ball window; perhaps when it was decided the Championship was the competition that could be compromised to provide the best pitches for white-ball cricket; perhaps when we started to allow players to disappear to other leagues when they should be involved in domestic cricket - we diluted that system. And Graves and co. are as responsible for those incremental steps just as much as they are responsible for the World Cup success.

Not all the blame for such performances can be put at the door of administrators, though. While captain and coach defended the decision to insert South Africa on the first day, the fact is that batting became substantially more difficult on the fourth day as the bounce became increasingly uneven. So while it's true that England's bowlers - who were, you will recall, returning from illness and injury - didn't take full advantage of conditions, it was always a high-risk policy to bat last on a surface with a reputation for deterioration.

So while England's bowlers will reflect that there were periods - particularly on the third morning - where they could have retained their lengths and composure somewhat better, they did, for only the second time in six away Tests, claim 20 wickets.

England's batting is probably even more of a concern. In the first innings they suffered a collapse in which they lost seven wickets for 39 runs; in the second a collapse of six for 46 runs. On nine occasions in 23 innings this year they have failed to make 200, and in three they have failed to make 90. Only once have they made 400 and only four times have they managed to score 300 in their first innings.

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It could have been worse, too. The only two men to make half-centuries in the match for England were both dropped early in their innings (Joe Denly on 0 and Rory Burns on 20; both, to be fair, went on to play admirably). Had either chance been taken, England may well not have made 150 in either innings.

There's a wider context here. In the last few months it has emerged that, as other nations plead for another ICC global tournament in the four-year cycle to help them with their funding issues (funding issues that render it almost impossible for them to retain the services of their best players) the 'big three' (India, England and Australia) are resisting on the basis that they may arrange an annual - yes, annual - tri-tournament just for their own benefit.

It's not especially easy to argue the morality of that approach. Or the long-term practicality. For if England, Australia and India allow Test cricket to wither in other regions - and you only have to see what has happened with the Test schedule involving Ireland in recent days to see how pertinent this is - the format will follow. Few will pay to see the same fixtures in repetition. And all the while, the drain of Kolpak talent continues. It's incredible that South Africa are able to put out a competitive side despite all the players they have lost in recent times, let alone a victorious one.

The point of all this? English cricket needs to take a good, hard look at itself. In the orgy of backslapping that has followed the World Cup win - and yes, it was a terrific performance - there is a danger that an eye has been taken off the wretched job that the ECB are doing to protect the Test game at home and abroad. They had this slap in the face coming.

He left Cleveland for Miami, finally became a champion, went back to his beloved northeast Ohio, delivered on another title promise, then left for the Los Angeles Lakers and the next challenge. He played in eight straight Finals. No NBA player won more games or more MVP awards over the past 10 years than he did. He started a school. He married his high school sweetheart.

"That's all?" LeBron James asked, feigning disbelief. No, that's not all. Those were just some highlights of the past 10 years. There were many more, as the man called "King" spent the past decade reigning over all others -- with no signs of slowing down.

James is The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Decade, adding his name to a list that includes Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky and Arnold Palmer. He was a runaway winner in a vote of AP member sports editors and AP beat writers, easily outpacing runner-up Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.

"You add another 10 years of learning and adversity, pitfalls, good, great, bad, and any smart person who wants to grow will learn from all those experiences," James, who turns 35 Monday, told the AP. "A decade ago, I just turned 25. I'm about to be 35, and I'm just in a better [place] in my life and have a better understanding of what I want to get out of life."

Usain Bolt of Jamaica was third for dominating the sprints at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics; soccer superstar Lionel Messi was fourth; and Michael Phelps -- the U.S. swimmer who retired as history's most decorated Olympian with 28 medals, 23 of them gold -- was fifth.

James was revealed as the winner Sunday, one day after Serena Williams was announced as the AP Female Athlete of the Decade. In his 17th season, he's on pace to lead the league in assists for the first time while remaining among the NBA's scoring leaders.

"When LeBron James is involved," Denver coach Michael Malone said, "I'm never surprised."

Including playoffs, no one in the NBA scored more points than James in the past 10 years. He started the decade 124th on the league's career scoring list. He's now about to pass Kobe Bryant for No. 3. No. 2 Karl Malone and No. 1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are also within reach.

Is Abdul-Jabbar in his sights? Is catching him the new decade's goal?

"I would be lying if I said I don't see it," James said. "Obviously I'm not trying to say, 'OK, well if I play this amount of time, if I average this' ... I'm not doing that because I've never done that with my career. I've always just kind of let it happen. Whatever happens, happens. But I see it. I do see it."

His work ethic, even now, makes even those closest to him marvel.

Here's a typical day this past summer for James, who remains obsessed with working even though fame and fortune found him long ago: He'd wake up at 3 a.m. and be at the Warner Bros. lot by 3:45 -- where a weight room and court, built just for him, were waiting. He'd be lifting by 4 a.m., getting shots up by 5:30 and be ready to start another day of shooting the remake of "Space Jam" that he has been planning for years by 7 a.m.

"That's who he is," said Mike Mancias, one of the longest-tenured and most trusted members of James' inner circle, tasked for more than 15 years with keeping James fit. "He does whatever it takes when it comes to fulfilling his commitments to everything -- especially his game and his craft."

The 2010s for James started with "The Decision," the widely criticized televised announcement of his choice to leave Cleveland for Miami. (Lost in the hubbub: The show raised more than $2.5 million for charity.) He was with the Heat for four years, went to the NBA Finals all four seasons with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, finally won the title in 2012 -- "it's about damn time," he said at the trophy celebration -- and led the way in a Game 7 win over San Antonio to go back-to-back the next year.

"He grew immensely here as a leader," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He impacted winning as much with his leadership as he did with his talent. I think that was the most important thing he learned with us. And he's been able to take that to different franchises and continue using that as a template."

Cleveland was devastated when he left. It forgave him. James returned home in 2014, took Cleveland to four consecutive Finals, then led the Cavaliers to the 2016 title and came up with one of the biggest plays of his life by pulling off a chase-down block of Golden State's Andre Iguodala in the final seconds of Game 7 of that series.

And in 2018, he was off to L.A.

Going Hollywood made so much sense -- he's making movies, has a production company, has a program called "The Shop" as part of his "Uninterrupted" platform featuring an array of guests from Drake to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed a bill on the show that will allow college athletes to get paid for the use of their likeness and sign endorsement deals.

"There's a lot of moments from this decade that would be up there, winning the two Miami championships, winning a championship in Cleveland, the chase-down block," James said. "But the best moment? Definitely marrying Savannah. That would be No. 1."

James and longtime partner Savannah Brinson got married six years ago. They already had two sons -- both are very good basketball players already -- and added a daughter in 2014.

James also spent most of the past decade as a lightning rod for critics.

He used his voice often on social matters, speaking out after the killing of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin and campaigning for Hillary Clinton. He supported Colin Kaepernick's methods of protesting police brutality and racial injustice. Most recently, he was criticized by many -- including top U.S. lawmakers -- for his remarks after Houston general manager Daryl Morey sparked a massive rift between the NBA and China by sending out a tweet supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

"I don't live in regret," James said. "There's no moment in this last decade that I wish I could have back. If a situation was bad or you feel like you could have done better, then I learned from it."

He doesn't know how much longer he'll play. He laments missing time with his children. His I Promise School, which opened in 2018 in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, has been an immediate success story, and he wants to see that enterprise continue growing.

Some love him. Some don't. He doesn't mind.

"When you believe in your calling or you believe in yourself, then it doesn't matter what other people say or how other people feel," James said. "And if you allow that to stop you or deter you from your mission, then you don't get anywhere."

And in the 2010s, nothing deterred James.

TULSA, Okla. – With a little more than two weeks before the start of the 34th Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, 336 entries have been filed for the week-long event inside the River Spirit Expo Center.

Headlining the entry list are six previous Chili Bowl winners, including three-time and defending race winner Christopher Bell. Bell will attempt to win his fourth-straight Chili Bowl title while driving for Tucker-Boat Motorsports.

Other Chili Bowl winners in the field include Rico Abreu, Sammy Swindell, Damion Gardner, Tim McCreadie and John Heydenreich.

NASCAR is well represented in the Chili Bowl field, with Bell, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, J.J. Yeley, Chase Briscoe and Justin Allgaier set to compete on the temporary Tulsa Expo Raceway oval.

The NTT IndyCar Series is also represented, with Conor Daly returning for his second Chili Bowl attempt and James Davison entered as a rookie.

Four World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series regulars are also entered, including reigning World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet, 10-time series champion Donny Schatz, 2013 series champion Daryn Pittman and 51-time World of Outlaws feature winner David Gravel.

USAC is also well represented, with USAC regulars Dave Darland, Justin Grant, Chris Windom, Kevin Thomas Jr., Jerry Coons Jr., Logan Seavey, C.J. Leary, Zeb Wise, Jason McDougal, Brady Bacon, Tucker Klaasmeyer and Andrew Layser among those entered.

Other notable entrants are Kyle Cummins, Jake Neuman, Zach Daum, Justin Peck, Brody Roa, Karsyn Elledge, Jonathan Beason, Derek Hagar, Shane Cottle, Paul Nienhiser, Cale Conley, Andrew Felker, Jesse Colwell, Shane Golobic, Tony Bruce Jr., Tanner Thorson, Spencer Bayston, Hunter Schuerenberg, Parker Price-Miller, Alex Bright, Blake Hahn, Bill Balog, Michael Pickens, Cannon McIntosh, Dillon Welch, Giovanni Scelzi, Aaron Reutzel and Ryan Bernal.

There are currently 54 Chili Bowl rookies on the entry list. Among them are previously mentioned IndyCar competitor Davison, multi-time DIRTcar Pro Stock champion Rob Yetman, winged sprint car regular Mark Smith, dirt late model competitor Logan Roberson, reigning Oswego Speedway International Classic champion Tyler Thompson and Fremont Speedway track champion Buddy Kofoid.

In total, 39 states and four countries (New Zealand, Australia, England and Canada) are represented on the Chili Bowl entry list.

The 34th edition of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals is scheduled for Jan. 13-18.

Click below to see the full entry list for the 34th Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.

SPEED SPORT’s Chili Bowl coverage is presented by MyRacePass, the official timing and scoring app of the 2020 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. Fans can download the MyRacePass app on their phones to follow all the action during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. For more information on MyRacePass, visit www.myracepass.com and use the hashtag #GetTheApp on Twitter!

When the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year's Eve in the midst of baseball's past offseason, a total of 54 free agents had signed, according to the research of MLB.com's Sarah Langs. The pace of the action is dramatically different this winter. If you include the Miami Marlins' agreement with Corey Dickerson on Saturday, 77 players have already agreed to terms, or about 40% more than what we saw just a year ago.

Teams have waded into the free-agent market with their wallets open, from Toronto to San Diego, to the White Sox and the Yankees, and yes, to Miami. The agents are pleased, especially for their clients.

But among some of them, a conspiracy theory has hatched. Please remember that money, strikeouts and home runs are plentiful in baseball, but trust between the teams and the union is not.

What some agents believe is that part of the reason for the spending this winter is to soften the players' concern over the relative lack of activity in the free-agent market the last few years, in advance of the labor talks. As the theory goes, the more money that the big-name players in the union have at stake in any labor war, the less likely it is they would embrace a possible work stoppage.