Ricky Ponting took a dim view of the England men’s side that lost the 2021/22 Ashes series 4-0. When Australia needed only 12 days to win the first three Tests against Joe Root’s bumbling tourists, Ponting said: “I don’t think I’ve seen a worse-performing team in Australia.” A quick question, have you seen this lot?
Is this Jack Robinson’s year for the world surfing title? He’s off to a flyer at the greatest challenge in surfing.
What an Australian side this is. History will regard it fondly. The best nicknames in cricket are taken, with Don Bradman’s era The Invincibles and Steve Waugh’s sides The Irrepressibles, but an unprecedented run through the Ashes will warrant a moniker of suitable gravitas. Need to give that some thought. Suggestions?
Steve Smith needed one run. It took him one ball. Was he relieved to join the 10,000-run club? No. Emotional? Not even close. Doing cartwheels from one end of Galle to the other? No chance.
Beth Mooney has dominated the Ashes. With piercing eyes and pursed lips, she rarely lets anything go. ‘I probably don’t mince my words too much, to be honest,’ she says ahead of the historic Test at the MCG. ‘I don’t see the point.’
Jannik Sinner and his Australian supercoach Darren Cahill, revered globally but under-appreciated locally, were the epitome of gracious victors. But a CAS hearing in April looms.
Madison Keys was told from 12, you’ll win a slam! A compliment to a kid. A complication when you’re 29 and haven’t done it. ‘I got to the point where I was okay if it didn’t happen.’ Which was when it happened.
We’ve seen the good, the great, the bad and the ugly at the Australian Open. All par for the course, says tournament director Craig Tiley.
Boo! Not to Novak Djokovic, but to the appallingly badly behaved and boorish crowd at the so-called Happy Slam.
The battle of women’s tennis two biggest hitters will be won in the mind.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/will-swanton/page/8