Issue 145

Sporting summer ends on high

25th September 2006

It would be far too easy to dismiss the summer's sports as a complete disaster, but on the face of it does look that way. However if we simply step back and take a closer look we all might be pleasantly surprised.

Despite the pain and the disappointment of England's defeat to Portugal at the World Cup football is back and the first league games have just taken place, already we have people and teams to look out for. Newly promoted Sheffield United's first game in the premiership for more than 10 seasons gave Liverpool a hearty fight by holding them to a one all draw, with top football commentator Alan Shearer pegging them a team that will "be hard to beat at home".

Elsewhere Wimbledon was frustrating for all Henman fans; as 'Tiger Tim' crashed out in the second round to Roger Federer. It was an unlucky draw but the dream of a Henman win on home soil is fading fast. Yet new star Andy Murray did more than make up for Henman's failure by providing us with the match of the tournament when he played and beat Andy Roddick to reach the fourth round.

The Scot then went on to build on that performance by beating Roger Federer 7-5 6-4 in the Cincinnati Masters becoming only the second player to beat Federer this year.

The main sport that has been at the forefront of our focus for the past couple of summers has taken a back seat. With royalties of the England test match coverage being granted to Sky few people have had the opportunity to cheer for new captain Andrew Strauss and his team.

England have been battling with Pakistan in this summer's series. Yet despite the controversy over ball tampering allegations on the fourth day of the final test of the series it nonetheless qualifies as a win for the England squad ahead of what should be an intriguing Ashes series.

After a disappointing draw with the Sri Lankans a series win over the Paskistanis will give the squad a renewed momentum and with players of the calibre of Alistair Cook and Monty Panesar stepping up to the mark Ashes captain Andrew Flintoff might just have reason to believe that he will be holding the urn in the new year.

Cali Smith