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SPORT - IN - NEWS It may be the depths of winter
captain, Francois Pienaar, to the 1995 rugby World Cup final. The fact that the home nation went on to lift the top prize in but cricket has been the subject of many of the sport pages in the world rugby only added to the legend, all of which has recently last few weeks, given the woeful performance of the England been made into a highly watchable movie featuring Matt Damon. team in Australia. To lose the Ashes is one thing but to capitulate Politics and sport are often said not to mix, but in this case the to a five-nil whitewash is nothing short of embarrassing, potion became a very positive feature that defined a nation and particularly for a team who six months ago wanted to challenge created a common bond at a time when it was struggling South Africa for the world number one slot. How the to establish itself in a post-apartheid era. In other mighty have fallen. I accept the need to be confident in words, sport was being used as a vehicle to bring a today’s modern sporting arena, but where does nation together, which is where sport can play confidence become arrogance? I look at some of such a vital role in people’s lives. Think of how the England team and I have to say that in the the nation gets behind our football team whenever last year I’ve seen more of the latter than the there are signs of progress in a tournament former. In truth, the Ashes series in England (although I agree that happens only very rarely!). last summer was never the three-none scoreMandela and rugby came together 19 years ago line which the series finished up. Australia and the image is still one that carries so much could easily have been two-nil up going into significance, hope and achievement. the fourth Test... The fallout has been and is likely to continue to be intensive, at least until The big question for 2014 the next series starts, but with home matches against Sri Lanka and India, now looks like being a Another year starts and I’ll leave you with one question to good time to dispense with the ‘old guard’ and bring in some consider. Andy Murray collected last year’s Sports Personality of fresh blood. Kevin Pietersen clearly divides the nation, let alone the Year award, but who would you nominate at this early stage the dressing room, and for the sake of team harmony he has to to collect this year’s prize? With a World Cup in the offing it may well go to a footballer, or will it be the turn of a boxer or go. Joe Root has been so messed around in the last year (one minute he’s at number six, the next he’s opening before being another cyclist to scoop the award? Having considered all the dropped again to number three) that it’s hardly surprising that options I’m going to suggest Ian Poulter. Having gazed into my he’s struggling for form and consistency. The blame for this has crystal ball, I have seen that Poulter once again plays a pivotal to rest with the management, and whilst I’m not particularly role in helping Europe to retain the Ryder Cup in September, but calling for Cook or Flower to be replaced, they do need to take a only after he’s collected his first major by lifting the Claret Jug at long, hard look at their own performance, especially around this year’s Open. After such a successful season he’ll be odds-on player management. It might not quite need to be back to the to take the Sports Personality prize at the end of the year...! drawing board, but at least four or five fresh faces need to be brought in for the first Test against Sri Lanka. Now is the time to Yours in sport build for the next Ashes series in 2015.
Calling time on cheating This column has discussed cheating in various sports over the last few years, but the increasing tendency for diving on the football field causes it to be raised again. I cannot believe why the authorities don’t take action once and for all and call these cheats to account. TV coverage often shows where contact has or has not been made. Where it becomes clear that no such contact has happened, then why not call the offender to a disciplinary hearing where the footage can be shown and where the evidence is irrefutable, and hand out a ten-game ban? That will get these highly paid professional sportsmen to think twice in future.
Nelson Mandela sadly passed away just before Christmas, the view being widely held that he was one of the defining leaders of the 20th century if not of all time. From a sporting perspective he was one of the defining images of that era when he wore the number six shirt of the South African
Doug Hought