Jalaj Saxena, the Madhya Pradesh and India A allrounder, has signed one-year contract with Kerala as a professional player for the 2016-17 season. He will join Iqbal Abdulla and Bhavin Thakkar, who moved from Mumbai to the Kerala side as professionals. A No-Objection Certificate from the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association was submitted to the Kerala Cricket Association on September 3.It was a personal decision, but a very emotional one too, Saxena, who is currently participating in the Duleep Trophy, told ESPNcricinfo. Its a one-year deal which will be reviewed after the season and will be extended if they feel my performances have been up to their expectation.Having played for Madhya Pradesh for more than a decade, to make this switch was hard but I was sure of it. I wanted a change of environment at this stage, but Im thankful to MPCA for giving me an opportunity over the years.The Kerala Cricket Association was reportedly keen on signing Saxena given his record as a batting allrounder over the last four seasons.From 2012-13 to 2015-16, Saxena racked up 2485 runs at an average of 46.89, with six centuries and 12 half-centuries, scoring more than 2000 runs as an opener. His offspin brought him 111 wickets at 26.01 in this period. He won the Lala Amarnath award for the best allrounder for the 2014-15 season, in which he scored 768 runs and took 20 wickets in the first-class format. Overall, Saxena has played 84 first-class matches, scoring 4604 runs with 195 wickets.Last season, one where they qualified for the semi-finals, Saxena finished with the second-best match haul in Ranji Trophy history, taking 16 for 154 to help MP beat Railways. At Kerala, he will likely be a part of a spin trio, alongside left-arm spinners Karaparambil Monish, the third-highest wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy 2015-16, and Abdulla.My performances over the last four years have given me immense confidence, Saxena said. But I realise I cant afford to drop my guard. As a professional, the onus is on you to perform. The self-belief is there now.Saxena said the motivation to sign with Kerala, once he was briefed on what was expected of him, stemmed from their poor record. Kerala are yet to earn a promotion from Group C since the Ranji Trophy was revamped in 2012-13 to accommodate 27 teams into three groups. This season, Chhattisgarh will be the tenth team in Group C. Saxena may have been eligible to play for Chhattisgarh except for minor issues related to nativity - he was born in Bhilai and moved to Indore - but he realised that with Kerala, the competition will bring out the best in him at this stage of his careerI looked at their performance. They were always mid-table in Group C, so if I can help them qualify to the elite groups, it will be a big achievement, he said. Maybe that could also be a way of being recognised. With the line-up weve got, Im confident we will improve this year. Best Site Buy China Jerseys . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Cheap Jerseys Review . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. http://www.cheapjerseysreview.com/ .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Where To Buy Cheap Jerseys . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Jonathan Allen isnt really interested in talking about the Superman play where the blocker went low and he went airborne into Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight. No. 1 Alabamas talented defensive end also shrugs off any questions about whether he could garner some Heisman Trophy votes.The 291-pounder has generated attention by returning two fumbles for touchdowns and making that midair hit leading up to Saturdays game against No. 15 LSU, plus an assortment of other plays along the way for one of the nations top defenses.He doesnt want to talk about it, Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard said. Hes a humble guy.Allen has played an even bigger role since opting to return for his senior season despite being projected as a likely high-round NFL draft pick. Hes one of the Southeastern Conferences elite pass rushers and now is preparing to face the Tigers running attack led by Leonard Fournette.Allen has six sacks and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries while leading the Tides linemen in tackles with 35. He has also matched the touchdowns scored by both leading rusher Damien Harris and Howard.The big plays have helped Allen stand out even on a defense loaded with star power. Hes on the field in more running situations this season with the departure of interior linemen Jarran Reed and AShawn Robinson.We sort of saved him a little bit for the pass rush situations last season, Tide coach Nick Saban said. He played some and alternated in there and did a really good job. But this year hes having to play in all phases of the game and has done really well, whether were playing against a running team or whether hes been called upon to pass rush or whatever its been.I would say that we had confidence that he could do all those things a year ago. He didnt have to do them as offten.ddddddddddddAllen has had a showmans impeccable timing for big plays. If youre going to take flight for a sack, might as well do it in a top 10 matchup with millions of fans watching.I heard a little bit about it, he said. I try not to focus on it. Im just trying to go out there and get better honestly, and try not to worry about what weve done in the past.LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron seems more impressed by the play than Allen.I see him jumping over that tailback that tried to cut him and hitting the quarterback underneath the jaw, Orgeron said. Great effort. Tremendous athlete. Good hip flexibility. Great hands. Very well-coached. Plays with a motor.I have a vision of him jumping over that tailback, hitting the quarterback.The bigger play in that game two weeks ago was his pivotal 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the third quarter of a tight game .Against Mississippi, in Alabamas toughest test of the season, Allen rambled 75 yards after another fumble to all but put the game away in the fourth quarter, though the Rebels made a late rally.I never scored in high school, Allen said. Its cool. Its cool to think about sometimes.Thats about as excitable as he gets when talking about his own play. But that Texas A&M performance did generate some Heisman buzz at a position where that subject seldom even comes up.I dont focus on it, Allen said. Its kind of irrelevant to me. I just want to win a national championship. Thats all I care about. Thats all I ever wanted to do, to be honest. I am just focused on winning this next game.---AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed to this report.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '