of your life.Sure, I miss the games. But those are secondary.

Match Facts Wednesday, November 16Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)Big Picture Visiting teams to Zimbabwe often use their time here as a looking glass into the future: which new combinations might be worth exploring? Who are the up-and-coming players? Whos staking a claim for the next major tour? While West Indies circumstances might be a little more tempestuous, both they and Sri Lanka have picked forward-thinking squads for this series, and there is plenty to prove on both sides.This is particularly true of the batsmen. Darren Bravo has been culled from West Indies squad for his outburst on Twitter, and they are also missing batsman Marlon Samuels, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and allrounder Kieron Pollard, depriving them of a combined 521 ODIs worth of experience. With 44 ODIs to his name Johnson Charles is, by some distance, West Indies most experienced batsman. Several somewhat unknown entities have a chance to stake a claim.The same goes for Sri Lanka, who already have one eye on their tour of South Africa in the new year. Sri Lanka have captain Upul Tharangas 189-match ODI experience to call upon, with Kusal Pereras international nous to back him up, but not an awful lot beyond that. Their relative familiarity with Zimbabwean conditions and the sparkling form of young batsman Dhananjaya de Silva may give them an advantage, but they will likely find themselves more tested by West Indies attack than by anything Zimbabwe have thrown at them in the last few weeks.Sulieman Benn and Sunil Narine have their wiles, and Shannon Gabriels improved fitness and balanced action enhances his menace. Captain Jason Holder will be personally buoyed by his recent second innings five-for against Pakistan in Sharjah, but the Bravo imbroglio may dampen the momentum West Indies gained from their historic Test success over Pakistan.Or it may not, given that in recent times West Indies have rarely seemed more than a tweet or two away from controversy, and weathering such storms is all in a days work for them. On the field, however, conditions are setting this match up as a middleweight fight that will favour the most sturdy batsmen and most incisive bowlers on either side.Form Guide Sri Lanka: WLLLW (Last five completed matches, most recent first)West Indies: LLLLWIn the Spotlight Kraigg Brathwaites Herculean efforts in Sharjah helped secure West Indies five-wicket win there, but his one-day record remains rather more modest than his Test record. With no Samuels or Bravo to provide the ballast in West Indies top order, West Indies will be looking to Brathwaite to step up and glue the top order together.Sri Lankas questions around their inexperienced middle order are yet to be answered, given the tiny target and limp bowling attack they faced on Monday. How they stand up to the greater challenge provided by West Indies may be crucial to their overall success.Team News Multiple changes to their squad will have shaken West Indies up somewhat, and despite their long-form success in the UAE, West Indies recent 3-0 defeat in the ODIs against Pakistan will be in the back of their minds. All the new names in their batting line-up have a chance to clean the slate, and there are several middle-order slots up for grabs and several all-round options.West Indies (possible): 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Evin Lewis, 4 Jason Mohammed, 5 Shai Hope, 6 Shane Dowrich (wk), 7 Jonathan Carter, 8 Carlos Brathwaite, 9 Jason Holder (c), 10 Sulieman Benn, 11 Shannon GabrielShehan Jayasuriya came in for some tap from Peter Moor on Monday, but there is no urgent reason for Sri Lanka to tinker with their XI. When the tri-series moves to Bulawayo, they will have expanded opportunities to play their spinners, and there should be a similar make-up to their line-up against West Indies.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dhananjaya de Silva, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Upul Tharanga (c), 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Shehan Jayasuriya, 8 Sachith Pathirana, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Nuwan PradeepPitch and conditions Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak suggested it wasnt so much the grass on the pitch as the clouds overhead that aided swing and seam on Monday, and both the pitch and weather conditions are expected to be very similar. Much of the day is expected to be cloudy and overcast, with occasional sunny spells, while there may well be thunderstorms in the afternoon.Stats and triviaIn 54 ODIs between these countries, West Indies hold the advantage with 27 wins to Sri Lankas 24. Yet that is weighted somewhat by West Indies yesteryear prowess. Sri Lanka have won six of the last seven matches between the teamsSuranga Lakmal is Sri Lankas leading wicket-taker this year, with 11 scalps from eight matches at 26.72West Indies last visited Zimbabwe in 2007-08, when they won a five-match series 3-1, with one game abandonedQuotes Weve been facing Carl Mumba who has been bowling very fast, so West Indies pace wont be a problem, rather the ball seaming around will be the challenge for us.Sri Lanka batsman Dhananjaya de Silva feels movement, rather than pace, will be West Indies key weaponIts obviously a big impact to lose senior guys with experience who bring pedigree to your side. Its a situation where we have to cope with what we have, and gel together as quickly as possible.Jason Holders West Indies side has been shorn of several experienced players ahead of this tri-series Jerry Tillery Womens Jersey . 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In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. For 16 years, the rhythm of my life in August was simple: helmet, pads and two-a-days. The schedule repeated like clockwork every year, from Glenbard West High School to the University of Iowa to the NFL.Until I retired in 2007.And then I thought: What do normal people do in August?The freedom was a bit jarring, after spending seven seasons in the cocoon of the NFL, where everything -- and I mean everything -- is scheduled and regimented from August through the end of the season.The NFL players who retired just this week will most likely have the same feelings. Eugene Monroe, Phil Loadholt and Greg Jennings all could still play ball, but they shut it down -- for good.We all retire for different reasons. I had a couple of small offers to play an eighth year for my fifth NFL team, but for what? To cover kicks again, to attack the four-man wedge, to scrap for a roster spot? Nah. Im good. I didnt see the value, and family life was calling.My wife was pregnant at the time with our second son, Patrick. Irish twins, they call it. And my oldest, Matthew Jr. -- who has Down syndrome -- was in therapy. I couldnt bring myself to move everyone across the country. Or to leave them behind for a job. No way.Family, ultimately, was my deciding factor. For others, its the grind of another season. It was no surprise to see vets like Monroe, Loadholt and Jennings call it quits on the eve of training camp. Even without the old-school two-a-days, the anticipation of a pro camp can absolutely crush your soul as a player.And remember, these vets arent built out of rubber like the rookies. They have injuries to deal with, their bodies are beaten down to almost nothing and the daily maintenance required to just get on the practice field can wear down even the toughest dudes.Plus, the players in todays game are now more educated than ever. They get it when it comes to injuries, concussions and future risks. Get paid, cash out and move on. Look at Calvin Johnson, who made more than $100 million playing ball. Hes already a Hall of Fame player, in my opinion. Hang it up? Why not? His body was starting to hurt.But just because the decision is clear doesnt make it easy. I remember staring at my retirement papers on the kitchen counter for days. It was like a piece of my life waiting to die.dddddddddddd.My wife mailed them. She had to. I just couldnt do it.The NFL has some nice benefits waiting down the road for vested veterans -- annuity, 401k, pension -- but all the security in the world cant prepare you for your first August without that familiar routine.I was in my early 30s when I hung em up. I drifted around for a while, jobless and without a plan. I had a degree in journalism from Iowa. That counts, right? But whats next?For me, it was graduate school. A masters in writing and publishing from DePaul in Chicago. Poetry classes. Non-fiction. Short story workshops. I entered an unknown environment. No one cared about NFL football, which I needed. Those classes became a bridge, a part of the transition.Was it a perfect jump into life outside of football? Not really. It was hard. Heck, its still hard. You never really get over losing that piece of your life.Sure, I miss the games. But those are secondary. What I really miss is being on a team and spending everyday inside a competitive environment with like-minded people. You cant recreate that stuff when you leave the game.Coaching DBs at IC Catholic Prep in Elmhurst, Illinois, is the closest Ive come. The opportunity to get back on the grass, to compete, to talk football ... thats priceless. Sure, it keeps me young. And I love the kids. Thats a special thing when you build a relationship with your players. Man, its awesome. So is the feeling when your guys start to develop in a football program you believe in.But, more than anything, I needed that competitiveness in my life. It gives me balance with family and work. It gives me an opportunity to escape the real world for three hours a day on the practice field and on Friday nights. And it brings me back to an environment that fits my personality.Ive been told Im a football guy. Thats probably true. I think its the best game in the world. And it prepared me for life more than I ever expected. But Im still adjusting to life without it. And in some ways, I always will be.ESPN.com NFL analyst Matt Bowen played seven seasons as a defensive back in the NFL. ' ' '