With the spectre of gender equality being the main topic of conversation in Formula 1 over the last two weeks, the Hungarian Grand Prix gave the sport a chance to escape the controversy. With Red Bull dominating the first two practice sessions, however, fears were raised that this weekend was going to be the most boring of the season. Fortunately, this was not the case. This blog post will review the events of the weekend in Hungary, but first, I wanted to give my own view on the issue that has dominated Formula 1 news over the past few weeks.
During the 'young driver' test scheduled for last week at Silverstone, Williams opted to run 30-year-old Susie Wolff, making her the first female driver to run in an official Formula 1 test for 10 years. This sparked great debate, with the BBC Sport website having only the news that a woman would be running a test at Silverstone as their F1 news on the front page. Despite what feminists across the country would have us believe, in my opinion this is a much lesser story than it has been made out to be. I do not hold the same, slightly bigoted views, of Sir Stirling Moss, that women lack the 'necessary mental attributes for Formula 1'. There are two logical reasons behind my view. Firstly, the accusations of nepotism. The fact that Susie Wolff, the Williams test driver, is married to Toto Wolff, the Executive Director of Mercedes, is suspicious enough. It becomes even more suspicious when you learn that he also holds 16% of the shares in Williams, giving him adequate sway to suggest potential test drivers.
However, argument one is irrelevant without argument two. I am a great believer that jobs should be earned on merit, meaning that the best driver gets the drives in the Formula 1 teams. I recognise that with the influx of cash and sponsors that this is often not the case, which is a shame. I also believe that positive discrimination is not 'positive' as its name suggests, but can often be as sexist and discriminatory as the alleged treatment of women in the first place. In such a competitive economy, reserving jobs for any gender, race, or ethnic group, which may result in a second-rate candidate being selected over the best, is unacceptable. The results of the Silverstone test reinforce my point. Had Susie Wolff blown the rest of the field away, setting faster times than her male counterparts, then I would absolutely say that this was newsworthy, and she would be a name to remember for the future (though the fact that she is 30 kind of makes a mockery of the 'young' part of the 'young driver test'). This would also have made my initial argument of nepotism irrelevant, as she could rightly have claimed to be there on merit. The fact remains that she was not, setting a pace a second off race driver Maldonado, and, even worse, 0.4 seconds slower than her fellow male test driver, who had less experience than herself in the same car. We do not make a massive issue of male drivers who set slower times than their male counterparts. Women say they want equality, so why should a female race driver who is slower be given any more airtime? It would be good to see a female Formula 1 driver, but when, and only when, the individual is fast enough to merit the drive.
Moving back to the events of this weekend, qualifying proved to be a major shock, based on the results from practice. Q1 gave us initial indications of the end result, with both of the Mercedes looking strong. With Vettel appearing to be off the pace, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton took advantage, finishing in a strong 1/2 for the German team. Romain Grosjean, who had also looked strong in practice, finished 3rd, giving Lotus hope for a positive qualifying session. Red Bull had further problems in the shape of Mark Webber, who suffered firstly from an electrical problem, and then with a failure of the KERS system. This ensured that he would not be challenging for the pole, forcing him to withdraw from Q3. The main shock in Q1 was the disappearance of Paul di Resta. The Scot, whose team had been performing well in qualifying at the start of the season, struggled with the new Kevlar-lined Pirelli compounds, and found himself in 18th. Force India's loss was McLaren and Williams's gain. The two teams have made significant improvements since Silverstone, which we can only assume is to be attributed to a better handling of the new tyres. Q2 saw a continuation in the trend, with Mercedes once again securing a 1/2 finish, beating out the improved Vettel. Q2 will be best remember for the incredibly tight finish on the bubble at the end, with 8th to 12th all within the 1:20.5 bracket. This time, it was Sergio Perez who was the beneficiary, the Mexican fighting back from a crash in P3 to get into the top 10 for the first time this season. Q3 saw Vettel out of the traps early, to set a stunning 1:19.5, the fastest time of the day. This threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the pack. Could Mercedes respond? Rosberg crossed the line first of the pair, with his effort only good enough for 4th. But Hamilton is supreme around the Hungaroring, winning on 3 of his 6 races there. His 1:19.3 managed to beat Vettel's last-ditch attempt by 0.04 seconds to secure the most unlikely of poles. His third in a row, but could he now go and convert it into a victory?
From the lights out, Hamilton managed to navigate the opening turn without losing a place, unlike in Germany. If Mercedes thought they had had a good start, they were sadly mistaken. Rosberg ran wide at Turn 3, before clipping Massa. This saw the German tumble down the field, going from 4th to 12th in just one lap. After trading fastest laps with Vettel, Hamilton eventually managed to break the vital DRS 1 second window on lap 8, ensuring that Vettel did not have the advantage in straight line speed. Vettel's inability to catch Hamilton was dropping him back into the clutches of the impressive Grosjean, and soon the young Frenchman was on the triple-World Champion's tail. Behind that trio, the Ferraris were struggling to keep up with the pace, heaping further pressure on Alonso's title aspirations. Hamilton's lightning-fast start had appeared to catch up with him when he had to dive into the pits on lap 9 for a fresh set of tyres. Rejoining behind Button, he quickly dispatched his fellow Brit on fresher rubber the following lap. This would prove to be the most critical pass of the race.
Hamilton's early stop seemingly handed the advantage to Vettel, as it suggested that the Mercedes struggled with tyre wear. However, just two laps later, Vettel's tyres went 'off the cliff', and he was forced into the pit lane. He too, rejoined just behind McLaren's Button, except he found it far more difficult to pass the Englishman. After the first round of pit stops, the order was the same, but Vettel being held up behind Button allowed Lewis Hamilton to scamper clear at the front, and backed the Red Bull man into Grosjean, Alonso and even his teammate. Eventually, on lap 24, after 13 laps of trying, the German passed Button, but by this point Hamilton was already 11 seconds up the road. Vettel's pass left space for Grosjean, who took full advantage, only to bang wheels with the McLaren and force the Frenchman onto the escape road, cutting the chicane. This would have devastating consequences on the Lotus's race. Just a few laps later, he was handed a drive through penalty for 'exceeding the track's limits', dropping him into 8th.
With Hamilton now in clean air, he could attempt to peg the gap. However, a rampant Vettel began eating into the considerable lead, and with Hamilton still unsure about Vettel's strategy, he knew he had to keep pushing. The Mercedes man pitted for a second time on lap 32, rejoining behind Mark Webber. This had potentially serious consequences, as the Red Bull man could easily back up the leader into his team mate. Fortunately for the Brit, he pulled an outrageous passing manoeuvere around the outside of the Aussie at Turn 2, once again giving himself a clean track ahead. Vettel's race strategy seemed certain once he had pitted just two laps later, as going a full half distance on a single set of tyres would have been highly unlikely. With Hamilton's lead now out to 15 seconds, a maiden race victory looked in the bag for the Stevenage-born man. The fight was now on for the podium places. With Raikkonen and Webber both 2-stopping, and with Grosjean now out of contention, both had a chance at 3rd, or even 2nd.
Hamilton's final pit stop, on lap 50, meant that he had a seemingly comfortable run to the line. However, Vettel's pace once the Brit had stopped, forced the Mercedes to up his game again. Taking well over a second a lap out of him, Vettel rapidly brought the gap down to 10 seconds, and left Hamilton concerned once more. Lap 56 would have been a sight for sore eyes then, as the German finally pitted. As he made his final stop, it became obvious that the intended target with those laps was not to catch Hamilton, but to avoid slipping behind Raikkonen! He rejoined a full 5 seconds behind the Lotus man, but was now on fresher tyres. Quickly reeling in the Finn, he relentlessly attempted to pass, a pass which would have handed him another vital three points in the title race. However, despite the German's best efforts, Kimi kept him at bay for the remaining laps. Up front, Hamilton, who looked to be cruising, would have had a nervy last few laps when he learnt that his team mate, Nico Rosberg, had been forced to retire with an engine problem. This capped an incredibly disappointing Sunday for Nico, who had looked on course for a podium before the first lap incidents. Fortunately for Lewis, no such problems occurred, and he took the chequered flag in Hungary by a full 10 seconds from Kimi Raikkonen, with Vettel having to settle for third.
A maiden Mercedes win for Lewis Hamilton, who, after so many pole positions, has finally converted one into a race win on Sunday. A mature drive, especially considering his personal circumstances, events that have been made all too public. Predictions of Lewis coming roaring back into the title picture are perhaps a tad premature, but I see no reason why we will not see that distinctive yellow crash helmet in the winner's enclosure more often this season.
Analysis of sporting events, talking points and controversies.
Monday 29 July 2013
Saturday 27 July 2013
Premier League 2013/2014 Fixtures Announced: So It Begins... Again (Prediction Competition)
A few weeks ago, I did a series of posts analysing the major contests (title race, 4th place, relegation), and the way that (at the time) recently announced fixtures seemed to initially suggest the momentum was swinging. I had intended that series to be a 4-part series, as over the last couple of years, my dad and I have been developing a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with all of the fixtures for the Premier League season, designed to allow users to make predictions. I had intended to post my updated spreadsheet with the other three posts in the series. Unfortunately, due to both time constraints, and a couple of technical problems in my formula writing, this year's spreadsheet has taken me longer than expected to produce. I am pleased to report, however, that it is now fully operational, and can be found at the bottom of this post. This means that I can now, belatedly, bring you the fourth, and final post in my series about the Premier League fixtures.
I started developing this spreadsheet after doing a prediction competition within my family for the 2010 World Cup. The first year's Premier League sheet was fairly primitive, with little in the way of formulae or calculations. I enlisted the help of my dad, a PC expert, and Maths graduate for year 2. He helped my spreadsheet automatically assign points when the correct result is input, calculate the tables (without the need for several sheets of A4 and a pencil) and create other interesting statistical facts regarding the predictions (such as percentages, leads and monthly scores). My sheet is now thorough, simple to use, and comes with a lot of interesting stats and analysis, which I have found interesting to design, and even more interesting to use.
And so to this year, and the competition I am offering online. Since I started my blog a couple of months ago, I have been wanting to extend the number of users in my spreadsheet this year. Last year I found it worked far better with 5 than it did the first edition (when it was just me and my brother). So now I am uploading it onto here, so that anyone that wants to have a go can! I will briefly outline the rules in a second, but firstly, I just want to explain the layout, and the way you can enter. The spreadsheet is laid out in columns, with the first two being time and date related, the next six being the fixture itself, followed by five columns designed for a user's predictions. After that, there are another five columns that allow me to generate the current table as it happens. As you will see, there is a blank either side of the hyphen in the 'user' columns. This is where you can input your prediction for each of the fixtures in the rows. The differentiation between white and green indicates the beginning and end of each week of fixtures, allowing me to calculate weekly statistics more easily, and keep track of the season as it happens.
Entering could not be simpler. All you have to do is fill in the prediction column, with your name (or nickname) at the top and send it back to me at itsmorethanjustagameblog@gmail.com. I will then add your predictions to my master sheet, which will contain all users. Users can choose if they want to send me their predictions all in one go (as I tend to do, as I often forget to predict each week), or on a weekly basis. A separate competition will be undertaken between the two sets, to prevent anyone gaining an unfair advantage. For those who are sending me weekly updates, please note that if you do forget a week, or even an individual mid-week match, you will instantly be given 0 for that week. Please also remember to fill in your predicted top goalscorer and creator at the bottom of the sheet. This, for obvious reasons, must be done at the start of the season!
Now, for the rules of the competition. All entries must have been recieved (either for the whole season, or just the first week), by 12:00 noon GMT on the 17th August 2013. In terms of the way the points are allocated, a user recieves 1 point if they correctly predict the result (e.g. home win, away win, draw), regardless of the score, and they recieve 2 points if they accurately predict the exact scoreline. The user also recieves 5 points if they correctly predict the top goalscorer, and 5 points for the top creator. Both of these will be added to their final total. Obviously, the person with the highest number of points at the end of the season wins! Unfortunately, this is done purely for fun, so no prize will be awarded. This is just for those who want to get involved and test their prediction skills! I will be posting a weekly update on my blog of the running score totals, so keep an eye out for them!
If there is anything I haven't explained properly, or any other questions you have about the competition, please email me at the above address, and I would be happy to answer.
EXCEL SPREADSHEET: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3ZJeaoViDrNb0RXb2NQTV9pUXc/edit?usp=sharing
To open, click on link and then click on file and open through Google Sheets to input your scores.
I started developing this spreadsheet after doing a prediction competition within my family for the 2010 World Cup. The first year's Premier League sheet was fairly primitive, with little in the way of formulae or calculations. I enlisted the help of my dad, a PC expert, and Maths graduate for year 2. He helped my spreadsheet automatically assign points when the correct result is input, calculate the tables (without the need for several sheets of A4 and a pencil) and create other interesting statistical facts regarding the predictions (such as percentages, leads and monthly scores). My sheet is now thorough, simple to use, and comes with a lot of interesting stats and analysis, which I have found interesting to design, and even more interesting to use.
And so to this year, and the competition I am offering online. Since I started my blog a couple of months ago, I have been wanting to extend the number of users in my spreadsheet this year. Last year I found it worked far better with 5 than it did the first edition (when it was just me and my brother). So now I am uploading it onto here, so that anyone that wants to have a go can! I will briefly outline the rules in a second, but firstly, I just want to explain the layout, and the way you can enter. The spreadsheet is laid out in columns, with the first two being time and date related, the next six being the fixture itself, followed by five columns designed for a user's predictions. After that, there are another five columns that allow me to generate the current table as it happens. As you will see, there is a blank either side of the hyphen in the 'user' columns. This is where you can input your prediction for each of the fixtures in the rows. The differentiation between white and green indicates the beginning and end of each week of fixtures, allowing me to calculate weekly statistics more easily, and keep track of the season as it happens.
Entering could not be simpler. All you have to do is fill in the prediction column, with your name (or nickname) at the top and send it back to me at itsmorethanjustagameblog@gmail.com. I will then add your predictions to my master sheet, which will contain all users. Users can choose if they want to send me their predictions all in one go (as I tend to do, as I often forget to predict each week), or on a weekly basis. A separate competition will be undertaken between the two sets, to prevent anyone gaining an unfair advantage. For those who are sending me weekly updates, please note that if you do forget a week, or even an individual mid-week match, you will instantly be given 0 for that week. Please also remember to fill in your predicted top goalscorer and creator at the bottom of the sheet. This, for obvious reasons, must be done at the start of the season!
Now, for the rules of the competition. All entries must have been recieved (either for the whole season, or just the first week), by 12:00 noon GMT on the 17th August 2013. In terms of the way the points are allocated, a user recieves 1 point if they correctly predict the result (e.g. home win, away win, draw), regardless of the score, and they recieve 2 points if they accurately predict the exact scoreline. The user also recieves 5 points if they correctly predict the top goalscorer, and 5 points for the top creator. Both of these will be added to their final total. Obviously, the person with the highest number of points at the end of the season wins! Unfortunately, this is done purely for fun, so no prize will be awarded. This is just for those who want to get involved and test their prediction skills! I will be posting a weekly update on my blog of the running score totals, so keep an eye out for them!
If there is anything I haven't explained properly, or any other questions you have about the competition, please email me at the above address, and I would be happy to answer.
EXCEL SPREADSHEET: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3ZJeaoViDrNb0RXb2NQTV9pUXc/edit?usp=sharing
To open, click on link and then click on file and open through Google Sheets to input your scores.
Monday 22 July 2013
The Ashes 2013: 2nd Test, Lord's: Are The Predictions Really So Ridiculous?
In my 1st Test review, I stated that the events of the previous 5 days suggested that the predictions made by the likes of Sir Ian Botham (who made a seemingly outrageous 10-0 prediction over the next two Ashes series) were completely ridiculous, and bordering on disrespectful of the opponent. Predictions like that also tend to have the effect of underestimating their opponent, a fear that appeared realised as the Aussies moved within 15 runs of victory at Trent Bridge. However, the events of the previous four days at Lord's have shattered those illusions, and have forced me to question whether the predictions of Botham were actually so ridiculous in the first place. A complete decimation of the Australian batting, with the bowling often being treated with similar contempt, England have now moved within one Test victory of a series win, and still appear on course for a home whitewash.
The Lord's test started with England winning their second consecutive toss. With the wicket seeming dry and perfect for batting, the consensus was that this was a fantastic toss for Cook to have won. However, after a brief visit from the Queen, delaying the start (cue calls of 'reign stops play'), play began with a bang. England's top order were shattered by firstly Shane Watson, and then new-man Ryan Harris, leaving England without Root, Cook and Pietersen, and languishing on 28-3. Cue an inspirational fight-back from Trott and Bell, with the latter progressing to his third succesive century to put England in command of the Test by tea. Trott, who had reached his fifty in quick time, perished with a silly mistake, bringing the inexperienced Bairstow to the crease. He provided the perfect foil for Bell to add major runs, but should have gone on just 21, when the predatory Siddle ripped through the gate to send his off-stump cartwheeling. However, closer inspection revealed a no-ball, and the lucky Yorkshireman was called back. And he made the Aussies pay, reaching an impressive 50. With England rampant on 271-4, Aussie captain Michael Clarke will have been understandably worried. His solution: turn to the untested leg-spinner Steve Smith. Fortunately, the gamble paid off, as Smith took the wickets of Bell (109), Bairstow (69) and Prior (6) in quick succession, leaving the Aussies in higher spirits by the end of day 1, as England closed on 289-7.
Day 2 started with the Test still very much in the balance. With the average first-innings total at Lord's being closer to 400, England knew that the first session needed to be good to recover from the lapse in concentration at the end of the previous day. But their day got off to the worst possible start, as Bresnan went first ball to Harris. 289-8, and now England looked desperate. Anderson, after the briefest of responses, went to Harris. 312-9. With England seemingly on target for a below-average score, hopes rested on the partnership of Swann and Broad. Fortunately, they didn't disappoint, scoring at a tremendous rate, and moving England closer to that magic 400 mark. When Broad eventually perished, England sat on a much healthier 361, with a real target to now attack the Australians. Clearly frustrated, the Aussies lacked concentration in the early overs of their reply, with Watson narrowly avoiding an edge to Anderson first ball. Having briefly regathered his thoughts, the opener went for 30 to leave Australia on 42-1 at lunch, and missing a crucial batting cog. Things got much worse after lunch, as firstly Rodgers, then Hughes joined Watson in the pavilion in successive overs to leave Australia on 53-3. After debutant Khawaja briefly stabilised the innings, he too fell. 69-4. With Michael Clarke and Steve Smith the only registered batsmen left, an Ian Bell-esque recovery was needed. Clarke promised much, being the first man to reach 25 since Watson. But a disastrous couple of overs put the Aussies on the brink of collapse, as firstly Smith (2) and then Clarke (28) perished, leaving Australia on 91-6. The collapse was soon complete, as a shambolic run out gifted England the wicket of Agar, before Siddle, Haddin and Harris all fell before tea, finishing the innings on 128 all out. A dismal total. More bizarrely, however, England did not enforce the follow-on, electing instead to bat on themselves, presumably hoping to add further runs to the lead. The plan did not start well, with almost a carbon copy of the first innings. This time Cook (8), Trott (0) and Pietersen (5) all went cheaply, gifting Australia a way back in at 31-3 by the close.
Day 3 would seal the English victory, however. Starting the day on such a small total, the Aussies would have been confident of skittling the English batsmen and having a crack at a reasonable total to win. What they didn't account for was someone to have the game of their life. That someone was England's Joe Root. The young Yorkshireman started day 3 in confident fashion, himself and night-watchman Tim Bresnan picking up where they left off the previous night to pile 99 runs onto the total. With Root handily placed on 72, Bresnan lost his wicket on 38, after an excellent innings. After three successive centuries, the last person Australia would have wanted to have seen walking to the crease was Ian Bell. Himself and Root continued the onslaught of the Australian bowlers, helping Root to his maiden Test 100. There is certainly no better place to start than with an Ashes hundred at Lord's. A worrying sense of deja-vu set in as Bell cruised to his 50, and with England seeming invincible, it was surely only a matter of time until he reached three figures? Wrong. After another incredible innings, the usually calm Bell chipped a simple delivery down the throat of Chris Rodgers on 74. Despite this set back, Root remained collected, extending England's lead past the 500 mark, and bring up his 150 in fantastic fashion. At the close of play, England led by 566, and would pick up day 4 on 333-5, with Root on 178 not out.
What proved to be the final day began in dramatic fashion. In just the third over, Bairstow's quick innings came to an abrupt end, as he edged a Harris delivery through to Haddin. Just two overs later, Joe Root's dream of a Lord's double century went up in smoke. After such a composed innings, a horrible shot straight up into the air saw the young man perish. Immediately, England captain Cook signalled the declaration, leaving England on 349-7dec, and setting the Australians a seemingly insumountable target of 583 to win. More importantly, it gave England a whole day and a half to take the necessary 10 wickets. After starting nicely, the inconsistent Shane Watson was trapped lbw by Anderson for 20. Chris Rodgers soon followed for just 6, leaving the Aussies in real trouble of not making it to day 5, on just 32-2. The wickets continued to tumble, with Hughes gone soon after for just 1. 36-3. Michael Clarke and Usman Khawaja set about rebuilding the innings, with the pair making a good partnership. Not enough to worry England, but well built. Had the pair stuck around until the close, the nerves may have begun to settle in amongst the English players. However, both fell after making half-centuries. Joe Root, who seemingly walked on water for the last two days of the Test, was the catalyst behind both dismissals. Firstly, the captain Clarke, who clipped a simple delivery round the corner to his opposite number at slip for 51. He was swifly followed by Khawaja, who did something similar, picking out Anderson at gully for 54. Another collapse was threatened as Smith went for just 1 in the next over, but the Aussies stabilised.
With England requiring just 4 wickets, it was a touch ironic that the man they faced next was the very man they had tried, and failed to get out for so long at Trent Bridge: Ashton Agar. When he did eventually depart for 17, it wasn't without its share of controversy. Having been given not out on the field after a shout for a caught behind, England reviewed the decision to the third umpire. Needing to find 'conclusive evidence to overturn', Agar's cause was seemingly vindicated when no mark showed on HotSpot. However, much to the astonishment of the batsman, the decision was reversed, based solely on movement and a noise, rather than on the much more trusted thermal imaging. This certainly pours fuel on the already burning fire over DRS, with critics now suggesting that it doesn't actually work. Certainly, this decision appears to be unjust, and most DRS decisions this series have certainly benefitted the hosts. If this had been at Old Trafford (the football ground rather than the cricket one), we would be talking about 'Fergie-time' and bias and conspiracy theories. I am all for technology in sport, but when it is incorrectly used, there is no excuse. A swift apology may be required, as we saw in rugby league recently.
After Agar's dismissal, Australia attempted to get going, but every time they began to look comfortable, a wicket would fall. Next to go was Haddin, who was completely outfoxed by the bowling of Swann, to leave England needing just 2 wickets, and the Australians simply looking to draw the inevitable defeat out a little longer. The tail began to wag slightly, with Peter Siddle beginning to play some strokes. However, at 190-8, he too fell, leaving England just one wicket from victory. As 6 o'clock drew ever closer, new rules were consulted. As Australia were nine wickets down, an extra half an hour is allowed to be played, in order to try and finish the game then and there. Pattinson and Harris, having batted valiantly for the final wicket, now had to withstand another period of intense pressure. After holding England at bay for 10 minutes over the allotted time, Swann began the final over of the day. After defending the first ball, Pattinson was trapped lbw with the second to send the English crowd into delirium, and leave the English side needing just one more Test victory to secure the urn once more.
Having watched the Trent Bridge Test on the edge of my seat, I found myself becoming less and less interested during the Lord's one. As I have said previously, I would most enjoy a highly competitive set of Tests, with an English victory being the ultimate outcome. The 1st Test fulfilled all of my expectations, and more. However, this one left me feeling bored. Not at the way the English played, as it was at times exhilarating. I am becoming bored of the Australian batting order collapsing. Having discussed this with several people, the best piece of advice as to why I feel this way is undoubtedly that I 'haven't experienced the pain'. With my first memory of being interested in an Ashes Test series being in 2005, I have only experienced English home wins. I therefore was not watching when England were ripped apart for series after series in the 90s, and so cannot feel that delight at watching an old enemy suffer now. From my point of view, I hope the Test at Old Trafford is considerably closer than the one at Lord's, as I am looking for entertainment. I do now understand, but cannot feel, the point of view from every other cricket fan in the country: more of the same please!
The Lord's test started with England winning their second consecutive toss. With the wicket seeming dry and perfect for batting, the consensus was that this was a fantastic toss for Cook to have won. However, after a brief visit from the Queen, delaying the start (cue calls of 'reign stops play'), play began with a bang. England's top order were shattered by firstly Shane Watson, and then new-man Ryan Harris, leaving England without Root, Cook and Pietersen, and languishing on 28-3. Cue an inspirational fight-back from Trott and Bell, with the latter progressing to his third succesive century to put England in command of the Test by tea. Trott, who had reached his fifty in quick time, perished with a silly mistake, bringing the inexperienced Bairstow to the crease. He provided the perfect foil for Bell to add major runs, but should have gone on just 21, when the predatory Siddle ripped through the gate to send his off-stump cartwheeling. However, closer inspection revealed a no-ball, and the lucky Yorkshireman was called back. And he made the Aussies pay, reaching an impressive 50. With England rampant on 271-4, Aussie captain Michael Clarke will have been understandably worried. His solution: turn to the untested leg-spinner Steve Smith. Fortunately, the gamble paid off, as Smith took the wickets of Bell (109), Bairstow (69) and Prior (6) in quick succession, leaving the Aussies in higher spirits by the end of day 1, as England closed on 289-7.
Day 2 started with the Test still very much in the balance. With the average first-innings total at Lord's being closer to 400, England knew that the first session needed to be good to recover from the lapse in concentration at the end of the previous day. But their day got off to the worst possible start, as Bresnan went first ball to Harris. 289-8, and now England looked desperate. Anderson, after the briefest of responses, went to Harris. 312-9. With England seemingly on target for a below-average score, hopes rested on the partnership of Swann and Broad. Fortunately, they didn't disappoint, scoring at a tremendous rate, and moving England closer to that magic 400 mark. When Broad eventually perished, England sat on a much healthier 361, with a real target to now attack the Australians. Clearly frustrated, the Aussies lacked concentration in the early overs of their reply, with Watson narrowly avoiding an edge to Anderson first ball. Having briefly regathered his thoughts, the opener went for 30 to leave Australia on 42-1 at lunch, and missing a crucial batting cog. Things got much worse after lunch, as firstly Rodgers, then Hughes joined Watson in the pavilion in successive overs to leave Australia on 53-3. After debutant Khawaja briefly stabilised the innings, he too fell. 69-4. With Michael Clarke and Steve Smith the only registered batsmen left, an Ian Bell-esque recovery was needed. Clarke promised much, being the first man to reach 25 since Watson. But a disastrous couple of overs put the Aussies on the brink of collapse, as firstly Smith (2) and then Clarke (28) perished, leaving Australia on 91-6. The collapse was soon complete, as a shambolic run out gifted England the wicket of Agar, before Siddle, Haddin and Harris all fell before tea, finishing the innings on 128 all out. A dismal total. More bizarrely, however, England did not enforce the follow-on, electing instead to bat on themselves, presumably hoping to add further runs to the lead. The plan did not start well, with almost a carbon copy of the first innings. This time Cook (8), Trott (0) and Pietersen (5) all went cheaply, gifting Australia a way back in at 31-3 by the close.
Day 3 would seal the English victory, however. Starting the day on such a small total, the Aussies would have been confident of skittling the English batsmen and having a crack at a reasonable total to win. What they didn't account for was someone to have the game of their life. That someone was England's Joe Root. The young Yorkshireman started day 3 in confident fashion, himself and night-watchman Tim Bresnan picking up where they left off the previous night to pile 99 runs onto the total. With Root handily placed on 72, Bresnan lost his wicket on 38, after an excellent innings. After three successive centuries, the last person Australia would have wanted to have seen walking to the crease was Ian Bell. Himself and Root continued the onslaught of the Australian bowlers, helping Root to his maiden Test 100. There is certainly no better place to start than with an Ashes hundred at Lord's. A worrying sense of deja-vu set in as Bell cruised to his 50, and with England seeming invincible, it was surely only a matter of time until he reached three figures? Wrong. After another incredible innings, the usually calm Bell chipped a simple delivery down the throat of Chris Rodgers on 74. Despite this set back, Root remained collected, extending England's lead past the 500 mark, and bring up his 150 in fantastic fashion. At the close of play, England led by 566, and would pick up day 4 on 333-5, with Root on 178 not out.
What proved to be the final day began in dramatic fashion. In just the third over, Bairstow's quick innings came to an abrupt end, as he edged a Harris delivery through to Haddin. Just two overs later, Joe Root's dream of a Lord's double century went up in smoke. After such a composed innings, a horrible shot straight up into the air saw the young man perish. Immediately, England captain Cook signalled the declaration, leaving England on 349-7dec, and setting the Australians a seemingly insumountable target of 583 to win. More importantly, it gave England a whole day and a half to take the necessary 10 wickets. After starting nicely, the inconsistent Shane Watson was trapped lbw by Anderson for 20. Chris Rodgers soon followed for just 6, leaving the Aussies in real trouble of not making it to day 5, on just 32-2. The wickets continued to tumble, with Hughes gone soon after for just 1. 36-3. Michael Clarke and Usman Khawaja set about rebuilding the innings, with the pair making a good partnership. Not enough to worry England, but well built. Had the pair stuck around until the close, the nerves may have begun to settle in amongst the English players. However, both fell after making half-centuries. Joe Root, who seemingly walked on water for the last two days of the Test, was the catalyst behind both dismissals. Firstly, the captain Clarke, who clipped a simple delivery round the corner to his opposite number at slip for 51. He was swifly followed by Khawaja, who did something similar, picking out Anderson at gully for 54. Another collapse was threatened as Smith went for just 1 in the next over, but the Aussies stabilised.
With England requiring just 4 wickets, it was a touch ironic that the man they faced next was the very man they had tried, and failed to get out for so long at Trent Bridge: Ashton Agar. When he did eventually depart for 17, it wasn't without its share of controversy. Having been given not out on the field after a shout for a caught behind, England reviewed the decision to the third umpire. Needing to find 'conclusive evidence to overturn', Agar's cause was seemingly vindicated when no mark showed on HotSpot. However, much to the astonishment of the batsman, the decision was reversed, based solely on movement and a noise, rather than on the much more trusted thermal imaging. This certainly pours fuel on the already burning fire over DRS, with critics now suggesting that it doesn't actually work. Certainly, this decision appears to be unjust, and most DRS decisions this series have certainly benefitted the hosts. If this had been at Old Trafford (the football ground rather than the cricket one), we would be talking about 'Fergie-time' and bias and conspiracy theories. I am all for technology in sport, but when it is incorrectly used, there is no excuse. A swift apology may be required, as we saw in rugby league recently.
After Agar's dismissal, Australia attempted to get going, but every time they began to look comfortable, a wicket would fall. Next to go was Haddin, who was completely outfoxed by the bowling of Swann, to leave England needing just 2 wickets, and the Australians simply looking to draw the inevitable defeat out a little longer. The tail began to wag slightly, with Peter Siddle beginning to play some strokes. However, at 190-8, he too fell, leaving England just one wicket from victory. As 6 o'clock drew ever closer, new rules were consulted. As Australia were nine wickets down, an extra half an hour is allowed to be played, in order to try and finish the game then and there. Pattinson and Harris, having batted valiantly for the final wicket, now had to withstand another period of intense pressure. After holding England at bay for 10 minutes over the allotted time, Swann began the final over of the day. After defending the first ball, Pattinson was trapped lbw with the second to send the English crowd into delirium, and leave the English side needing just one more Test victory to secure the urn once more.
Having watched the Trent Bridge Test on the edge of my seat, I found myself becoming less and less interested during the Lord's one. As I have said previously, I would most enjoy a highly competitive set of Tests, with an English victory being the ultimate outcome. The 1st Test fulfilled all of my expectations, and more. However, this one left me feeling bored. Not at the way the English played, as it was at times exhilarating. I am becoming bored of the Australian batting order collapsing. Having discussed this with several people, the best piece of advice as to why I feel this way is undoubtedly that I 'haven't experienced the pain'. With my first memory of being interested in an Ashes Test series being in 2005, I have only experienced English home wins. I therefore was not watching when England were ripped apart for series after series in the 90s, and so cannot feel that delight at watching an old enemy suffer now. From my point of view, I hope the Test at Old Trafford is considerably closer than the one at Lord's, as I am looking for entertainment. I do now understand, but cannot feel, the point of view from every other cricket fan in the country: more of the same please!
Chris Froome Wins 2013 Tour De France: Like London Buses?
The 100th edition of the Tour De France, held over the last few weeks, has not been without incident. Crashes, controversy and drug talk has followed the cyclists around France, culminating in the second British winner in two years, after over two centuries of failure. Certainly British cycling has improved over the last few decades, with riders like Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins and, more recently, Chris Froome coming to the fore. Are we seeing the beginning of a spell of British dominance in the Tour, or is it just a case of 'London buses': we wait centuries for one, and then two come along at once? This blog post will sum up the events of the 2013 Tour de France, and assess whether we are likely to see further British winners in the near future.
This year's tour began in chaos, with a team bus becoming stuck at the finish line, causing a huge pile up. This left Tony Martin with a concussion and a contusion on his left lung, and Geraint Thomas with a fractured pelvis. The carnage also prevented Mark Cavendish from taking the first yellow jersey of his career, leaving Marcel Kittel to take the first stage. Froome and Team Sky's consistency ensured that Froome rose from his initial classification of 41st after stage 1, to 7th after the team time trial stage 4. Stage 5 saw the Manxman Cavendish take another stage in his career, with a convincing sprint finish to win. Froome had to wait until the 8th stage to take a victory, simultaneously claiming the yellow jacket for the first time. An emphatic 51 second victory gave signs of what was to come, and set Froome up nicely for the mid-part of the Tour.
Froome maintained his lead over the next four stages, giving himself a three minute overall lead by the end of stage 11. Stage 11 will also be memorable for Mark Cavendish. Neither the Tour, nor the Olympics, has given Cavendish the success that many believe he is due, with the Manxman the only British rider in 2012 not to take a gold medal home from London. This year was unfortunately no exception to that pattern, with his most memorable moment coming in the cycle between Avranches and Mont-Saint-Michel. After being blamed for a collision in the previous stage, Cavendish recieved whistles, boos, and most seriously, was sprayed with urine by a spectator as he rode in stage 11. A shameful act, which threatened to derail an otherwise enthralling Tour. Cycling as a sport does not need further controversy, with the doping scandals still hanging over the athletes heads. Further questions were to be raised after the announcement by Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, stating that they had been found guilty of doping. This led to questions over the conduct of Tour leader Froome, to the extent that some of his blood was sent off for analysis, and tapes of his previous Tour performances were reviewed, in order to determine whether it was 'humanly possible to improve to that level without doping'. Fortunately for both the Brit, and cycling as a sport, the tests concluded that Froome had not been doping, and was able to continue his assault on the rest of the field.
Over the next couple of stages, Froome's lead began to be eaten away at, losing a full minute in stage 13, and finishing 7 minutes adrift of the stage winner in the following race. His grip on the yellow jersey was beginning to look tenuous, and he will have undoubtedly been looking nervously over his shoulder. However, he responded in magnificent fashion, taking stage 15 on the backdrop of one of the most iconic mountain climbs of the Tour, and extending his lead to four minutes over the chasing pack. Surely it was his to lose now? A further victory in the individual time trial stage 17, saw the Brit practically confirmed as the Tour winner, as only a crash, or a serious incident, could prevent him from taking his maiden Tour victory. The win was confirmed in the final stage, finishing safely in the peloton to ensure that he followed Bradley Wiggins's lead, and became only the second Briton ever to win the historic event. The final stage also saw the incredible run of Mark Cavendish come to an end. Having won 4 successive stages on the Champs-Elysees, the Manxman failed to emulate his previous successes, being pushed out by the sprint king of the 2013 Tour, Marcel Kittel. But the day belonged to Froome, who stepped out of the shadow of Bradley Wiggins's sideburns, and showed that he is a fantastic rider in his own right. I am certain we will see many battles, both on the road and the track, between the pair of them over the coming years. British cycling certainly seems to be in good hands.
Traditionally, Britain have always been successful when it comes to cycling. In recent Olympics, this has been magnified, with names like Victoria Pendleton, Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and Mark Cavendish becoming household names. There was certainly reason to be concerned that this was just a 'Golden Era' for British cycling, as these 'eras' often only last a decade or so. If we look at other sports, England's dominance in rugby lasted less than that, and England's 'Golden Generation' in football never really materialised. So concerns were certainly raised when it began to look as though Beijing would be Chris Hoy's last Olympics, and Pendleton began to look past her best. However, firstly Wiggins, and then Froome on the men's side, and Laura Trott on the women's side, seem capable of picking up the mantle, and certainly seem no less talented than their pre-decessors. Credit must go the British Cycling coaches, headed by Dave Brailsford, for managing to consistently nurture such fantastic talent. As for whether we will see British dominance in the Tour de France, I think we would optimistic to predict that. However, I wouldn't mind betting that both Froome, and Wiggins, will be considered amongst the favourites every time they take to the hallowed streets.
This year's tour began in chaos, with a team bus becoming stuck at the finish line, causing a huge pile up. This left Tony Martin with a concussion and a contusion on his left lung, and Geraint Thomas with a fractured pelvis. The carnage also prevented Mark Cavendish from taking the first yellow jersey of his career, leaving Marcel Kittel to take the first stage. Froome and Team Sky's consistency ensured that Froome rose from his initial classification of 41st after stage 1, to 7th after the team time trial stage 4. Stage 5 saw the Manxman Cavendish take another stage in his career, with a convincing sprint finish to win. Froome had to wait until the 8th stage to take a victory, simultaneously claiming the yellow jacket for the first time. An emphatic 51 second victory gave signs of what was to come, and set Froome up nicely for the mid-part of the Tour.
Froome maintained his lead over the next four stages, giving himself a three minute overall lead by the end of stage 11. Stage 11 will also be memorable for Mark Cavendish. Neither the Tour, nor the Olympics, has given Cavendish the success that many believe he is due, with the Manxman the only British rider in 2012 not to take a gold medal home from London. This year was unfortunately no exception to that pattern, with his most memorable moment coming in the cycle between Avranches and Mont-Saint-Michel. After being blamed for a collision in the previous stage, Cavendish recieved whistles, boos, and most seriously, was sprayed with urine by a spectator as he rode in stage 11. A shameful act, which threatened to derail an otherwise enthralling Tour. Cycling as a sport does not need further controversy, with the doping scandals still hanging over the athletes heads. Further questions were to be raised after the announcement by Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, stating that they had been found guilty of doping. This led to questions over the conduct of Tour leader Froome, to the extent that some of his blood was sent off for analysis, and tapes of his previous Tour performances were reviewed, in order to determine whether it was 'humanly possible to improve to that level without doping'. Fortunately for both the Brit, and cycling as a sport, the tests concluded that Froome had not been doping, and was able to continue his assault on the rest of the field.
Over the next couple of stages, Froome's lead began to be eaten away at, losing a full minute in stage 13, and finishing 7 minutes adrift of the stage winner in the following race. His grip on the yellow jersey was beginning to look tenuous, and he will have undoubtedly been looking nervously over his shoulder. However, he responded in magnificent fashion, taking stage 15 on the backdrop of one of the most iconic mountain climbs of the Tour, and extending his lead to four minutes over the chasing pack. Surely it was his to lose now? A further victory in the individual time trial stage 17, saw the Brit practically confirmed as the Tour winner, as only a crash, or a serious incident, could prevent him from taking his maiden Tour victory. The win was confirmed in the final stage, finishing safely in the peloton to ensure that he followed Bradley Wiggins's lead, and became only the second Briton ever to win the historic event. The final stage also saw the incredible run of Mark Cavendish come to an end. Having won 4 successive stages on the Champs-Elysees, the Manxman failed to emulate his previous successes, being pushed out by the sprint king of the 2013 Tour, Marcel Kittel. But the day belonged to Froome, who stepped out of the shadow of Bradley Wiggins's sideburns, and showed that he is a fantastic rider in his own right. I am certain we will see many battles, both on the road and the track, between the pair of them over the coming years. British cycling certainly seems to be in good hands.
Traditionally, Britain have always been successful when it comes to cycling. In recent Olympics, this has been magnified, with names like Victoria Pendleton, Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and Mark Cavendish becoming household names. There was certainly reason to be concerned that this was just a 'Golden Era' for British cycling, as these 'eras' often only last a decade or so. If we look at other sports, England's dominance in rugby lasted less than that, and England's 'Golden Generation' in football never really materialised. So concerns were certainly raised when it began to look as though Beijing would be Chris Hoy's last Olympics, and Pendleton began to look past her best. However, firstly Wiggins, and then Froome on the men's side, and Laura Trott on the women's side, seem capable of picking up the mantle, and certainly seem no less talented than their pre-decessors. Credit must go the British Cycling coaches, headed by Dave Brailsford, for managing to consistently nurture such fantastic talent. As for whether we will see British dominance in the Tour de France, I think we would optimistic to predict that. However, I wouldn't mind betting that both Froome, and Wiggins, will be considered amongst the favourites every time they take to the hallowed streets.
Sunday 14 July 2013
The Ashes 2013: 1st Test, Trent Bridge: Edgebaston 2005 All Over Again?
If this summer's Ashes needed building up any further, the action of the past four and a half days will have whetted the appetite of any cricketing fan for the next few weeks. Exactly the start this series needed, with the 1st test, held at Nottingham's Trent Bridge, having a little bit of everything. Fantastic bowling, batting mistakes, controversies, involving both humans and technology, a fantastic debut and finished off with a nail-biting final day. In this post, I will review the key action over the past few days, analysing what it means for this Ashes series, and for the state of cricket moving into the future.
Looking at my Ashes preview post, I noted that people expected England to end this series as comfortable winners. Whilst I do want England to win, I also want a good entertaining game of cricket. Based on the last five days, I am glad to report that both still seem on the cards. A truly enthralling opening test, and if we get four more like it, we can begin talking about the greatest Ashes series ever. Reminiscent of the famous 2005 Ashes test at Edgebaston, where England won by just 2 runs, first test of 2013 will be remembered in the same breath.
Day 1 began as almost all test matches begin: tentatively and nervously. This led to no end of batting mistakes, causing an incredible 14 wickets to fall in the one day. At first, the toss seemed a good one to win, with England coming out the initial victors. The first session was probably honours even, with England putting on an encouraging 98 runs for the loss of only 2 wickets. The second session saw the demise of the dangerous England middle-order. Trott led the batting attack, only to lose his wicket just short of his half century, whilst the dangerous Pietersen, Bell and Prior all went for small scores.This session belonged to the Australians, and particularly Peter Siddle. The experienced Australian swing bowler, of whom much is expected from Down Under, took his 8th career Test 5 wicket haul. As outlined earlier, he will be integral to any Australian success this summer. Starting the final session at 185-6, after a brief fightback by Broad and Bairstow, England's tail collapsed. From 213-6, the final four wickets fell for just 2 runs, in an incredible display of batting incompetance. The primary beneficiary was young Mitchell Starc, who had the opportunity of a hat-trick, after the wickets of Bairstow and Finn in successive balls. England's first innings did little to settle the nerves of the watching fans, who knew they had posted a below-average total. In response, the Australians began even worse, with big-hitters Shane Watson and Ed Cowan going in successive balls to Finn, before James Anderson took the big wicket of captain Michael Clarke. In danger of total collapse, the Aussies dug in, putting on a further 50 runs for the loss of one wicket, leaving them at 75-4 by the close. A scoreline that left both believing they had a chance, but it would be England that would be the happier, as the Aussies failed to convert their chance to jump on England's batting mistakes.
Day 2 will be remembered for the emergence of a potential star: 19-year-old Ashton Agar. Amost single-handedly, he dug his side out of trouble, with records tumbling around him as he went. However, the day started fairly positively for the Aussies, with Steve Smith making the first half-century of the 2013 Ashes. But once again, the pendulum swung, as Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Starc and Pattinson all going in double quick time, with Jimmy Anderson the tormentor-in-chief. These wickets left Australia in disarray at 117-9, and a comfortable victory for England looked on the cards. Step forward Ashton Agar. Little was expected when the young man walked to the crease. After nearly three hours, and 98 valuable runs for Australia, the match was back in the balance. I have to admit, even as an England supporter, I was willing him on to his maiden Test 100, instead of leaving him with a regret. But, as the ball sailed towards Graeme Swann at 280-9, the dreams died. Credit must also go to Agar's hitting partner, Phil Hughes, for an excellent knock of 81, allowing the debutant to make his shots. The batting mistakes showed little sign of abating for England's second innings, as opener Joe Root went cheaply, before the usually reliable Jonathan Trott went for a golden duck. This put England bang in trouble, still trailing by 54. Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen stabilised the innings, taking England to the close without further loss, and setting Day 3 up as the crucial one in this Test.
Unfortunately, the third day produced the biggest controversy of the Ashes so far, which overshadowed the majority of the play. Involving Stuart Broad, it came after an initial England revival from captain Cook and Pietersen which saw them reach 121-2. Both then lost their wickets in quick succession, bringing Ian Bell to the crease. His innings would be pivotal, putting England in a commanding position. His partnership with Broad in particular set England up for the final couple of days. However, here is where the controversy lies. At 297-6, Broad clearly edged an Ashton Agar delivery through to Michael Clarke at 2nd slip. Out all day long. Unfortunately, Aleem Dar remained unmoved, perhaps because the ball flicked clearly off the gloves of Australian wicket keeper Brad Haddin. The more disappointing sight, however, was the fact that Broad refused to walk off, despite such a obvious nick. To me this smacks of 'Roy Carroll syndrome', where a player knowingly decieves the officials to gain an advantage. To those supporting Broad's decision, the phrase 'not cricket' was devised for exactly these situations, as the game of cricket was seen as the pinnacle of sporting fair play, and the phrase was used to arbitrate other moral decisions. To see Broad clearly disregard this high moral standing was disappointing, and it shows that not even the sport that created the phrase, and which prides itself on its morality, is immune from cheating. Thanks to this, England were able to get to the close with a healthy lead of 261, keeping the critical partnership of Bell and Broad at the crease.
Day 4 saw Ian Bell make a fantastic hundred, in an innings that he described as one of his best. This allowed the English to set an imposing target of 311, after another back innings collapse of the English tail. A strong opening partnership for the Aussies was crucial in order to chase down the 311, and Watson and Rodgers started in fantastic form, making it to 84-0 by the drinks break. Watson, who has often been criticised for his inability to convert his medium scores into large ones, then went next ball. Joe Root's maiden Test wicket of Ed Cowan just before tea gave England the lift they needed going into the final session, but still left Australia in with a chance. That chance was seemingly extinguished in the remaining session. The wickets of firstly in form Rodgers, Clarke, Smith and Hughes put England on the brink of a superb opening Test victory. Unfortunately for Australia, it was here where their poor decision-making told, as captain Clarke has been accused of being a touch too trigger-happy with the review system. This led to 'Broad-gate' on day 3, and to derision over his own dismissal on day 4, as the Australian captain seemingly wasted all of his reviews on each day. In contrast, Alastair Cook has been seen as a wise decision-maker in terms of reviews, snaring the wicket of Hughes against the decision of the umpire, and taking his time before using the DRS. A good example to many captains, as technology can only benefit sport, but must be used properly so as not to be frustrating.
The final day began with the odds stacked heavily in the hosts' favour. With England needing just the 4 wickets of the tail-enders, and Australia needing another 137 runs, it looked a case of when and not if. And with wickets falling in clumps, sooner rather than later appeared the mindset. However, with first-innings hero Ashton Agar at the crease, anything was possible. The first few overs passed without incident, with Australia putting valuable runs onto their total, and putting the pressure on the English bowlers. Then came the breakthrough. Agar was caught at slip from the bowling of Anderson to give England the relief they needed. Starc and Siddle came and went quickly, again to the bowling of Anderson, leaving England requiring just one wicket for that priceless victory. However, the curse of the number 11 struck once again. Brad Haddin, who had been at the crease overnight, continued to a battling 50, inviting Pattinson to trust him. As Australia got closer and closer to their target, memories of Edgebaston 2005 came flooding back. At 291-9 at lunch, you could have forgiven England for being decidedly nervous, as Australia threatened to snatch the test match away from them. Then another moment of controversy decided the match. A big appeal went up from Anderson and the English fielders after they believed Haddin nicked one through to Prior. Given not out, Cook made the decision to review. After a lengthy delay, in which HotSpot seemed to reveal a mark on the bat, the decision was reversed, leaving Haddin disraught and thrust the majority of Trent Bridge into raptures.
A first Test victory of 14 runs did little to calm the nerves of the England players or fans, in a topsy-turvy game in Nottingham. However, I for one hope for more of the same, as we saw one of the most memorable Ashes tests of all time. In youngsters like Ashton Agar, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, the sport of cricket, and the Ashes, is safe. I only hope we can say the same for the morality and fair play that should be instilled from the grassroots.
Looking at my Ashes preview post, I noted that people expected England to end this series as comfortable winners. Whilst I do want England to win, I also want a good entertaining game of cricket. Based on the last five days, I am glad to report that both still seem on the cards. A truly enthralling opening test, and if we get four more like it, we can begin talking about the greatest Ashes series ever. Reminiscent of the famous 2005 Ashes test at Edgebaston, where England won by just 2 runs, first test of 2013 will be remembered in the same breath.
Day 1 began as almost all test matches begin: tentatively and nervously. This led to no end of batting mistakes, causing an incredible 14 wickets to fall in the one day. At first, the toss seemed a good one to win, with England coming out the initial victors. The first session was probably honours even, with England putting on an encouraging 98 runs for the loss of only 2 wickets. The second session saw the demise of the dangerous England middle-order. Trott led the batting attack, only to lose his wicket just short of his half century, whilst the dangerous Pietersen, Bell and Prior all went for small scores.This session belonged to the Australians, and particularly Peter Siddle. The experienced Australian swing bowler, of whom much is expected from Down Under, took his 8th career Test 5 wicket haul. As outlined earlier, he will be integral to any Australian success this summer. Starting the final session at 185-6, after a brief fightback by Broad and Bairstow, England's tail collapsed. From 213-6, the final four wickets fell for just 2 runs, in an incredible display of batting incompetance. The primary beneficiary was young Mitchell Starc, who had the opportunity of a hat-trick, after the wickets of Bairstow and Finn in successive balls. England's first innings did little to settle the nerves of the watching fans, who knew they had posted a below-average total. In response, the Australians began even worse, with big-hitters Shane Watson and Ed Cowan going in successive balls to Finn, before James Anderson took the big wicket of captain Michael Clarke. In danger of total collapse, the Aussies dug in, putting on a further 50 runs for the loss of one wicket, leaving them at 75-4 by the close. A scoreline that left both believing they had a chance, but it would be England that would be the happier, as the Aussies failed to convert their chance to jump on England's batting mistakes.
Day 2 will be remembered for the emergence of a potential star: 19-year-old Ashton Agar. Amost single-handedly, he dug his side out of trouble, with records tumbling around him as he went. However, the day started fairly positively for the Aussies, with Steve Smith making the first half-century of the 2013 Ashes. But once again, the pendulum swung, as Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Starc and Pattinson all going in double quick time, with Jimmy Anderson the tormentor-in-chief. These wickets left Australia in disarray at 117-9, and a comfortable victory for England looked on the cards. Step forward Ashton Agar. Little was expected when the young man walked to the crease. After nearly three hours, and 98 valuable runs for Australia, the match was back in the balance. I have to admit, even as an England supporter, I was willing him on to his maiden Test 100, instead of leaving him with a regret. But, as the ball sailed towards Graeme Swann at 280-9, the dreams died. Credit must also go to Agar's hitting partner, Phil Hughes, for an excellent knock of 81, allowing the debutant to make his shots. The batting mistakes showed little sign of abating for England's second innings, as opener Joe Root went cheaply, before the usually reliable Jonathan Trott went for a golden duck. This put England bang in trouble, still trailing by 54. Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen stabilised the innings, taking England to the close without further loss, and setting Day 3 up as the crucial one in this Test.
Unfortunately, the third day produced the biggest controversy of the Ashes so far, which overshadowed the majority of the play. Involving Stuart Broad, it came after an initial England revival from captain Cook and Pietersen which saw them reach 121-2. Both then lost their wickets in quick succession, bringing Ian Bell to the crease. His innings would be pivotal, putting England in a commanding position. His partnership with Broad in particular set England up for the final couple of days. However, here is where the controversy lies. At 297-6, Broad clearly edged an Ashton Agar delivery through to Michael Clarke at 2nd slip. Out all day long. Unfortunately, Aleem Dar remained unmoved, perhaps because the ball flicked clearly off the gloves of Australian wicket keeper Brad Haddin. The more disappointing sight, however, was the fact that Broad refused to walk off, despite such a obvious nick. To me this smacks of 'Roy Carroll syndrome', where a player knowingly decieves the officials to gain an advantage. To those supporting Broad's decision, the phrase 'not cricket' was devised for exactly these situations, as the game of cricket was seen as the pinnacle of sporting fair play, and the phrase was used to arbitrate other moral decisions. To see Broad clearly disregard this high moral standing was disappointing, and it shows that not even the sport that created the phrase, and which prides itself on its morality, is immune from cheating. Thanks to this, England were able to get to the close with a healthy lead of 261, keeping the critical partnership of Bell and Broad at the crease.
Day 4 saw Ian Bell make a fantastic hundred, in an innings that he described as one of his best. This allowed the English to set an imposing target of 311, after another back innings collapse of the English tail. A strong opening partnership for the Aussies was crucial in order to chase down the 311, and Watson and Rodgers started in fantastic form, making it to 84-0 by the drinks break. Watson, who has often been criticised for his inability to convert his medium scores into large ones, then went next ball. Joe Root's maiden Test wicket of Ed Cowan just before tea gave England the lift they needed going into the final session, but still left Australia in with a chance. That chance was seemingly extinguished in the remaining session. The wickets of firstly in form Rodgers, Clarke, Smith and Hughes put England on the brink of a superb opening Test victory. Unfortunately for Australia, it was here where their poor decision-making told, as captain Clarke has been accused of being a touch too trigger-happy with the review system. This led to 'Broad-gate' on day 3, and to derision over his own dismissal on day 4, as the Australian captain seemingly wasted all of his reviews on each day. In contrast, Alastair Cook has been seen as a wise decision-maker in terms of reviews, snaring the wicket of Hughes against the decision of the umpire, and taking his time before using the DRS. A good example to many captains, as technology can only benefit sport, but must be used properly so as not to be frustrating.
The final day began with the odds stacked heavily in the hosts' favour. With England needing just the 4 wickets of the tail-enders, and Australia needing another 137 runs, it looked a case of when and not if. And with wickets falling in clumps, sooner rather than later appeared the mindset. However, with first-innings hero Ashton Agar at the crease, anything was possible. The first few overs passed without incident, with Australia putting valuable runs onto their total, and putting the pressure on the English bowlers. Then came the breakthrough. Agar was caught at slip from the bowling of Anderson to give England the relief they needed. Starc and Siddle came and went quickly, again to the bowling of Anderson, leaving England requiring just one wicket for that priceless victory. However, the curse of the number 11 struck once again. Brad Haddin, who had been at the crease overnight, continued to a battling 50, inviting Pattinson to trust him. As Australia got closer and closer to their target, memories of Edgebaston 2005 came flooding back. At 291-9 at lunch, you could have forgiven England for being decidedly nervous, as Australia threatened to snatch the test match away from them. Then another moment of controversy decided the match. A big appeal went up from Anderson and the English fielders after they believed Haddin nicked one through to Prior. Given not out, Cook made the decision to review. After a lengthy delay, in which HotSpot seemed to reveal a mark on the bat, the decision was reversed, leaving Haddin disraught and thrust the majority of Trent Bridge into raptures.
A first Test victory of 14 runs did little to calm the nerves of the England players or fans, in a topsy-turvy game in Nottingham. However, I for one hope for more of the same, as we saw one of the most memorable Ashes tests of all time. In youngsters like Ashton Agar, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, the sport of cricket, and the Ashes, is safe. I only hope we can say the same for the morality and fair play that should be instilled from the grassroots.
Thursday 11 July 2013
The Ashes 2013: England Expects?
In my relatively short cricket experience, I have never before seen an Ashes series where the weight of expectation is so on the English. In the run-up to this summer, all the talk has been the extent of an English victory. All previous Ashes series that I remember has had an air of hope rather than expectation, where a Warne and McGrath-inspired Australia ripped through the English batting in the 90s and early 2000s. More recently, the English record against their great cricketing rivals has improved dramatically, with home victories in 2005 and 2009, before an historic series win in Australia in 2010/2011. These recent victories, and the depletion of the great Australian team of the 90s, has led the press and the public to conclude that, for the first time in my recollection, the English side are the overwhelming favourites going into the test series. This blog post will investigate why this is the case, and outlining who will be the ones to watch in this summer's series.
The first question I would have to ask when considering why people consider England the favourites is: does English cricket suffer from the same over-exaggeration as ails many other sports? For example, before every football World Cup, we recieve a barrage of (tabloid) press coverage stating that England are certainties to win the competition. Optimism bordering on stupidity. As with most competitions in my memory, England progress out of the group, before perishing on penalties in the second round or quarter finals to the likes of Portugal or Argentina. In terms of cricket, the more recent successes, in both the Test format, (Number 1 in the world for a while last year) and the shorter forms (T20 World Cup victors in 2010) suggest that the English cricket side are one of the top teams in the world, and as such should be considered favourites in many of the test series they contest. In terms of the Ashes, whilst predictions such as Sir Ian Botham's 10-0 guess in the next two series may be a touch ridiculous, there is certainly no reason why the English side cannot retain the Ashes on both home and foreign soil. As a result, at first glance, whilst we may naturally be biased, and thus over-exaggerate slightly, it is certainly not to the extent that we see with football.
Momentum plays a significant role in all types of sport, and often can indicate the favourites for an event. Cricket is no different. Whilst England have had a relatively serene run-up to this Ashes test, with the controversy over the dropped (and slightly bitter) Nick Compton being the only newsworthy piece to come out of the English dressing room, the Australians have had a rather turbulent last couple of months. The major controversy of the build-up to the Ashes series featured star batsman David Warner. In what was described as an 'unprovoked physical attack' on English batsman Joe Root after a drunken night, Warner put his place in the Ashes side in doubt, and threatened to derail the Australian warm-up to the test series. He has since been confirmed as part of the Australian team to take part in the tour, but one can't help but wonder whether that will cause rifts in the dressing room. I know that I certainly wouldn't be happy to know that a friend of mine had not been given a place over a team-mate who has committed assault! Any cracks in the armour of the Australians will be exploited to the full by the English, and as a result the 'favourites' tag may be justified.
Another bizarre decision by the Australians occurred just weeks before the beginning of the Ashes. The removal of head coach Mickey Arthur, replacing him with Darren Lehmann, will do little but destabilise the Australian side, especially as the Aussies will take a while to change their regimes to fit the new man. To compare this to another sport, this is like a football owner removing their manager a week before the Champions League final and expecting his team to play to their optimum capacity despite this. It is always an unrealistic expectation, handing the English further inertia and momentum going into the opening test in Nottingham.
If we look at the two teams, we can see further evidence of why England are considered the favourites. The Australian bowling attack promises much, with the dangerous Peter Siddle spearheading the swing bowling. With promising, but inexperienced Ashes bowlers in Pattinson and Starc, we can certainly see how the Aussies can take wickets. The 'mystery' bowler Ashton Agar, making his Ashes debut at the tender age of 19, will either prove to be a master stroke by Michael Clarke, or one that England will take full advantage of. Certainly, the Australians will miss Mitchell Johnson, who would have made a considerable difference to their attack. In terms of batting, once again we see much inexperience in the top order. Whilst opener Shane Watson is well recognised as a top batsman, and Michael Clarke will star further down the order, the rest have been shown to be inconsistent in warm-up matches, and this will undoubtedly be exploited by the English bowlers. Should David Warner make a significant appearance, he will play a vital role in anchoring the Australian innings, being a dependable number 3 or 4. With this team, the Australians are more looking to build for the future than relying on now. Gone are the big names like Hayden, Hussey, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee and McGrath, leaving the Aussies with gaping holes in their team sheet. This has seen a series whitewash at the hands of India, and could see them toil in England.
Looking at England, we see many of the established names that we have become so accustomed to over the last few series. We have not suffered quite as much as the Australians in terms of retirements, and as such can still boast names like Cook, Pietersen, Bell, Trott, Swann and Anderson. This gives us an undoubted advantage over the Aussies, and with relatively established youngers like Broad able to help the likes of Finn and debutants Bairstow and Root, the English side seems to be far more cohesive than their Australian counterparts. The bowling attack looks particularly damaging, with Anderson, Broad and Swann all capable of taking wickets at will. Finn too looks a prospect, and will benefit massively from the experience of the next few weeks. In terms of batting, England have a good attack, but we have seen that when one wicket falls, we often find it difficult to prevent a collapse. Batsman like Cook, Trott, Bell and Prior will look to anchor the innings, allowing the more flair players like Pietersen and Root to play their shots and make quick runs.
Most of the initial analysis has been proven to be in operation when looking at the opening day at Trent Bridge. Whilst the Australian bowling attack has looked threatening, with Peter Siddle the pick of the Aussie bowlers (taking a five-fer), the more inexperienced bowlers have looked good but inconsistent. The English batting once again suffered from a tail collapse, going from 213-6 to 215 all out in double quick time. The batting collapse continued into the Australian innings, with both Watson and Clarke falling cheaply before the close, leaving the Aussie innings perilously poised at 74-4. The first session of today's play will be a crucial one for this test series, allowing either side to get their foot on the throat of their opponent early.
In terms of the test series, whilst 10-0 seems a completely ridiculous over-exaggeration, I have to admit that England are looking good to retain the Ashes on home soil. This is unusual coming from me, as I am usually such a pessimist about English sport, refusing to believe the hype that all too often surrounds our national teams. In this case, I have to agree with the evidence, and whilst a whitewash seems a step too far, a series win is certainly not out of the question. I look forward to the rest of the Ashes, and hope that rain plays no part in this summer's contest!
The first question I would have to ask when considering why people consider England the favourites is: does English cricket suffer from the same over-exaggeration as ails many other sports? For example, before every football World Cup, we recieve a barrage of (tabloid) press coverage stating that England are certainties to win the competition. Optimism bordering on stupidity. As with most competitions in my memory, England progress out of the group, before perishing on penalties in the second round or quarter finals to the likes of Portugal or Argentina. In terms of cricket, the more recent successes, in both the Test format, (Number 1 in the world for a while last year) and the shorter forms (T20 World Cup victors in 2010) suggest that the English cricket side are one of the top teams in the world, and as such should be considered favourites in many of the test series they contest. In terms of the Ashes, whilst predictions such as Sir Ian Botham's 10-0 guess in the next two series may be a touch ridiculous, there is certainly no reason why the English side cannot retain the Ashes on both home and foreign soil. As a result, at first glance, whilst we may naturally be biased, and thus over-exaggerate slightly, it is certainly not to the extent that we see with football.
Momentum plays a significant role in all types of sport, and often can indicate the favourites for an event. Cricket is no different. Whilst England have had a relatively serene run-up to this Ashes test, with the controversy over the dropped (and slightly bitter) Nick Compton being the only newsworthy piece to come out of the English dressing room, the Australians have had a rather turbulent last couple of months. The major controversy of the build-up to the Ashes series featured star batsman David Warner. In what was described as an 'unprovoked physical attack' on English batsman Joe Root after a drunken night, Warner put his place in the Ashes side in doubt, and threatened to derail the Australian warm-up to the test series. He has since been confirmed as part of the Australian team to take part in the tour, but one can't help but wonder whether that will cause rifts in the dressing room. I know that I certainly wouldn't be happy to know that a friend of mine had not been given a place over a team-mate who has committed assault! Any cracks in the armour of the Australians will be exploited to the full by the English, and as a result the 'favourites' tag may be justified.
Another bizarre decision by the Australians occurred just weeks before the beginning of the Ashes. The removal of head coach Mickey Arthur, replacing him with Darren Lehmann, will do little but destabilise the Australian side, especially as the Aussies will take a while to change their regimes to fit the new man. To compare this to another sport, this is like a football owner removing their manager a week before the Champions League final and expecting his team to play to their optimum capacity despite this. It is always an unrealistic expectation, handing the English further inertia and momentum going into the opening test in Nottingham.
If we look at the two teams, we can see further evidence of why England are considered the favourites. The Australian bowling attack promises much, with the dangerous Peter Siddle spearheading the swing bowling. With promising, but inexperienced Ashes bowlers in Pattinson and Starc, we can certainly see how the Aussies can take wickets. The 'mystery' bowler Ashton Agar, making his Ashes debut at the tender age of 19, will either prove to be a master stroke by Michael Clarke, or one that England will take full advantage of. Certainly, the Australians will miss Mitchell Johnson, who would have made a considerable difference to their attack. In terms of batting, once again we see much inexperience in the top order. Whilst opener Shane Watson is well recognised as a top batsman, and Michael Clarke will star further down the order, the rest have been shown to be inconsistent in warm-up matches, and this will undoubtedly be exploited by the English bowlers. Should David Warner make a significant appearance, he will play a vital role in anchoring the Australian innings, being a dependable number 3 or 4. With this team, the Australians are more looking to build for the future than relying on now. Gone are the big names like Hayden, Hussey, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee and McGrath, leaving the Aussies with gaping holes in their team sheet. This has seen a series whitewash at the hands of India, and could see them toil in England.
Looking at England, we see many of the established names that we have become so accustomed to over the last few series. We have not suffered quite as much as the Australians in terms of retirements, and as such can still boast names like Cook, Pietersen, Bell, Trott, Swann and Anderson. This gives us an undoubted advantage over the Aussies, and with relatively established youngers like Broad able to help the likes of Finn and debutants Bairstow and Root, the English side seems to be far more cohesive than their Australian counterparts. The bowling attack looks particularly damaging, with Anderson, Broad and Swann all capable of taking wickets at will. Finn too looks a prospect, and will benefit massively from the experience of the next few weeks. In terms of batting, England have a good attack, but we have seen that when one wicket falls, we often find it difficult to prevent a collapse. Batsman like Cook, Trott, Bell and Prior will look to anchor the innings, allowing the more flair players like Pietersen and Root to play their shots and make quick runs.
Most of the initial analysis has been proven to be in operation when looking at the opening day at Trent Bridge. Whilst the Australian bowling attack has looked threatening, with Peter Siddle the pick of the Aussie bowlers (taking a five-fer), the more inexperienced bowlers have looked good but inconsistent. The English batting once again suffered from a tail collapse, going from 213-6 to 215 all out in double quick time. The batting collapse continued into the Australian innings, with both Watson and Clarke falling cheaply before the close, leaving the Aussie innings perilously poised at 74-4. The first session of today's play will be a crucial one for this test series, allowing either side to get their foot on the throat of their opponent early.
In terms of the test series, whilst 10-0 seems a completely ridiculous over-exaggeration, I have to admit that England are looking good to retain the Ashes on home soil. This is unusual coming from me, as I am usually such a pessimist about English sport, refusing to believe the hype that all too often surrounds our national teams. In this case, I have to agree with the evidence, and whilst a whitewash seems a step too far, a series win is certainly not out of the question. I look forward to the rest of the Ashes, and hope that rain plays no part in this summer's contest!
German Grand Prix 2013: Home Hero at the Nurburgring
The German Grand Prix represented the chance for many unlikely 'firsts' for several teams and drivers, as the 2013 Formula 1 season moved into its ninth race. For pole-sitters, and eventual winners of the last Grand Prix, Mercedes could claim their first home Grand Prix win since their re-introduction into the sport, somthing that the Silver Arrows craved. Similarly, both Nico Rosberg and, more surprisingly, world champion Sebastian Vettel were also looking for their inaugural victory on home soil. Of the rest of the field, the most surprising name to never win the historic race was Kimi Raikkonen. The championship contender had come within a lap of taking victory at the Nurburgring in the European Grand Prix of 2005, and had to retire from the lead of the German Grand Prix of the same year (held at Hockenheim), but had never managed to take the top step. All of these storylines led to an intriguing battle in both qualifying, and the race.
Before any racing had even begun, there was the very real possibility that there would be no racing at the circuit this last weekend. After the serious problems with the Pirelli tyres supplied at the British Grand Prix, many of the drivers stated that they would boycott the event should the problems resurface. Certainly an eventuality none in the world of F1 wanted, but an understandable conclusion, given the danger of the race at Silverstone. This meant that even more scrutiny was placed upon the tyres supplied, with Pirelli workers toiling day and night in an attempt to ensure the security of their products. As it was, there were no significant incidents in either free practice, or the qualifying. This meant that, thankfully, the race could continue undiminished.
A more positive note accompanying the Grand Prix was the Williams' milestone of 600 Grand Prix. Whilst the team have been noticeably struggling this year, failing to accrue any points from the opening 8 races, I remember many glories in my Formula 1 watching. Whilst I have not been alive long enough to see any of their world championship winning cars, there have been many memorable moments. One that springs instantly to mind are the many confrontations between Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya between 2001 and 2004. With the up-and-coming Montoya threatening to outdo his more illustrious teammate, a long-running spat developed between the two drivers. Whilst they did come to a 'working relationship', there were more than enough arguments, and more than a few collisions between the pair, that indicated there was no love lost. Another more recent moment is last year's incredible maiden victory for Pastor Maldonado at the Spanish Grand Prix. After a fortuitous pole, the Venezuelan held off the challenge from his competitors, particularly Fernando Alonso, to claim the most unlikely of victories for Sir Frank Williams and the team. A genuine giant of Formula 1, it will be a very sad day if the name Williams disappears from the sport. So here's hoping for many more memorable moments!
Back to the action of last weekend, the German Grand Prix qualifying took place in sweltering heats, with the threat of rain a distant memory. This allowed us to see the true pace of each of the cars, putting Red Bull at a distinct advantage in the earlier practice sessions. Whilst Williams were celebrating their 600th Grand Prix, a double elimination in Q1 will have done little to increase the party atmosphere in their section of the paddock. Other than the Williams, the back of the field was filled with the usual suspects, the Marussias and Caterhams. Going into Q2, the from 4th to 14th were covered by just 0.7 seconds, promising an unpredictable and entertaining session. Whilst both the Red Bulls and the Mercedes had managed to make it into Q2 using just the harder tyres, the rest of the pack were not guaranteed such an easy ride. The big shock of Q2 involved the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg. Despite being tipped to contest the pole position, the German side failed to accurately anticipate the cut-off time, dropping Rosberg into 11th, and out of the session. The main losers of the second session were Force India, who after a couple of promising qualifying sessions, failed to get either of their drivers into the top 10, finished 12th and 15th. The main beneficiaries were McLaren, getting Button into the top 10, and Toro Rosso, with Daniel Ricciardo continuing to stake his claim to take over from Mark Webber at the parent team at the end of the year. Into the final session, the consensus around the paddock was for a Vettel pole, if not a front row lock-out for the Red Bulls. However, Lewis Hamilton threatened to derail the charge when he popped his Mercedes in front of the Red Bulls after the first round of lap times. Vettel responded, going to the top of the leaderboard as the chequered flag dropped. But Hamilton was still on a lap, and the Mercedes driver shocked everyone to beat Vettel by nearly 2 tenths.
After their success at Silverstone, everyone expected the Mercedes to be competitive in the race. And starting on pole at a circuit where they appeared to be on the back foot looked ominous for the rest of the grid. However, their dreams of controlling the race from the front went up in smoke as Hamilton was overtaken by both of the Red Bulls by the end of the first corner. Ferrari's low-key afternoon continued, with Felipe Massa spinning out of the race after just 4 laps. It is unclear whether it was a mechanical failure or a simple driver error, but it capped a fairly poor weekend for the Brazilian. Unfortunately, the main two talking points of the race were not for racing incidents. The first, and most serious, happened at the first round of pit stops. Mark Webber entered the pits on lap 9, for a routine stop as the soft tyres began to 'go off'. Due to the desire for a quick stop, sometimes the tyres are not quite fastened on correctly, as either human or mechanical error does sometimes occur. Usually, these errors are spotted and the driver is stopped as he leaves the pitlane. Unfortunately, in this case, Webber's tyre was so unsecurely fastened that it flew off as he left his box, causing mechanics to scamper out of the way and catching a FOA cameraman square in the chest. This comes as a stark reminder that F1 is a dangerous sport for more than just the driver. I wish the cameraman a speedy recovery, and I hope to see less incidents like this in the future.
Despite the incident, Webber was able to continue, albeit at the back of the field. After a few laps in which Lewis Hamilton fell back behind Raikkonen and struggled to keep Alonso at bay, the second talking point occurred. A routine engine failure on lap 25 turned into a nightmare, as Marussia's Bianchi pulled off to the side of the track. After a few flames and a lot of smoke, the drama had seemingly ended. That was until the car began rolling backwards across the track! At least there was no oncoming traffic to collide with the out of control Marussia, which would have made the situation far more serious. The safety car was deployed to deal with the incident, and when the race restarted, the two Lotuses began heavily pressurising the leader Vettel. When Grosjean pulled in for his second and final stop a few laps later, Red Bull's response was instant. They pulled Vettel in the next lap, ensuring that he rejoined in front of the Lotus. All eyes then turned to Kimi Raikkonen, who remained on track, worrying the Red Bull garage that he planned to one-stop. As each lap passed, the mood became ever more tense. Unfortunately for the Lotus team, 50 laps is all Raikkonen could manage on the tyres. However, his change to the soft tyres promised a nervous last 10 laps, as Kimi could now go a full second faster than his teammate and Vettel in front. Alonso too took that gamble, hoping to chase down the Lotuses for the podium.
The change in speed was instant. Both Raikkonen and Alonso began reeling in the front two very quickly, with Grosjean eventually moving out of his teammate's way to allow Kimi to chase down the race leader. Further down the field, Williams's 600th Grand Prix ended in disappointment, as an epically slow stop prevented Pastor Maldonado from claiming their first points of the season. An incredibly poor season so far from the veteran team, who need to improve in the second half if they are to challenge for the top 10. As we moved into the final lap, we were promised a showdown, with both the race win and the final podium spot up for grabs. It seemed it was destined to come down to the final DRS zones of the race. However, in both cases, they ran out of time. This meant that Sebastian Vettel took his first victory on home soil, and the 30th win of his career. Raikkonen maintained his incredible scoring run, and Grosjean took an encouraging podium, hoping to kickstart his Formula 1 career after a difficult first season. Alonso had to settle for 4th, pushing him even further behind the overall championship lead. After a promising qualifying, Hamilton and Mercedes faded, finishing 5th after a brief resurgence to overtake Jenson Button on the last lap. But the day belonged to hometown hero Vettel, who now takes an increasingly healthy lead into the second half of the season, knowing that the title is now his to lose.
Before any racing had even begun, there was the very real possibility that there would be no racing at the circuit this last weekend. After the serious problems with the Pirelli tyres supplied at the British Grand Prix, many of the drivers stated that they would boycott the event should the problems resurface. Certainly an eventuality none in the world of F1 wanted, but an understandable conclusion, given the danger of the race at Silverstone. This meant that even more scrutiny was placed upon the tyres supplied, with Pirelli workers toiling day and night in an attempt to ensure the security of their products. As it was, there were no significant incidents in either free practice, or the qualifying. This meant that, thankfully, the race could continue undiminished.
A more positive note accompanying the Grand Prix was the Williams' milestone of 600 Grand Prix. Whilst the team have been noticeably struggling this year, failing to accrue any points from the opening 8 races, I remember many glories in my Formula 1 watching. Whilst I have not been alive long enough to see any of their world championship winning cars, there have been many memorable moments. One that springs instantly to mind are the many confrontations between Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya between 2001 and 2004. With the up-and-coming Montoya threatening to outdo his more illustrious teammate, a long-running spat developed between the two drivers. Whilst they did come to a 'working relationship', there were more than enough arguments, and more than a few collisions between the pair, that indicated there was no love lost. Another more recent moment is last year's incredible maiden victory for Pastor Maldonado at the Spanish Grand Prix. After a fortuitous pole, the Venezuelan held off the challenge from his competitors, particularly Fernando Alonso, to claim the most unlikely of victories for Sir Frank Williams and the team. A genuine giant of Formula 1, it will be a very sad day if the name Williams disappears from the sport. So here's hoping for many more memorable moments!
Back to the action of last weekend, the German Grand Prix qualifying took place in sweltering heats, with the threat of rain a distant memory. This allowed us to see the true pace of each of the cars, putting Red Bull at a distinct advantage in the earlier practice sessions. Whilst Williams were celebrating their 600th Grand Prix, a double elimination in Q1 will have done little to increase the party atmosphere in their section of the paddock. Other than the Williams, the back of the field was filled with the usual suspects, the Marussias and Caterhams. Going into Q2, the from 4th to 14th were covered by just 0.7 seconds, promising an unpredictable and entertaining session. Whilst both the Red Bulls and the Mercedes had managed to make it into Q2 using just the harder tyres, the rest of the pack were not guaranteed such an easy ride. The big shock of Q2 involved the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg. Despite being tipped to contest the pole position, the German side failed to accurately anticipate the cut-off time, dropping Rosberg into 11th, and out of the session. The main losers of the second session were Force India, who after a couple of promising qualifying sessions, failed to get either of their drivers into the top 10, finished 12th and 15th. The main beneficiaries were McLaren, getting Button into the top 10, and Toro Rosso, with Daniel Ricciardo continuing to stake his claim to take over from Mark Webber at the parent team at the end of the year. Into the final session, the consensus around the paddock was for a Vettel pole, if not a front row lock-out for the Red Bulls. However, Lewis Hamilton threatened to derail the charge when he popped his Mercedes in front of the Red Bulls after the first round of lap times. Vettel responded, going to the top of the leaderboard as the chequered flag dropped. But Hamilton was still on a lap, and the Mercedes driver shocked everyone to beat Vettel by nearly 2 tenths.
After their success at Silverstone, everyone expected the Mercedes to be competitive in the race. And starting on pole at a circuit where they appeared to be on the back foot looked ominous for the rest of the grid. However, their dreams of controlling the race from the front went up in smoke as Hamilton was overtaken by both of the Red Bulls by the end of the first corner. Ferrari's low-key afternoon continued, with Felipe Massa spinning out of the race after just 4 laps. It is unclear whether it was a mechanical failure or a simple driver error, but it capped a fairly poor weekend for the Brazilian. Unfortunately, the main two talking points of the race were not for racing incidents. The first, and most serious, happened at the first round of pit stops. Mark Webber entered the pits on lap 9, for a routine stop as the soft tyres began to 'go off'. Due to the desire for a quick stop, sometimes the tyres are not quite fastened on correctly, as either human or mechanical error does sometimes occur. Usually, these errors are spotted and the driver is stopped as he leaves the pitlane. Unfortunately, in this case, Webber's tyre was so unsecurely fastened that it flew off as he left his box, causing mechanics to scamper out of the way and catching a FOA cameraman square in the chest. This comes as a stark reminder that F1 is a dangerous sport for more than just the driver. I wish the cameraman a speedy recovery, and I hope to see less incidents like this in the future.
Despite the incident, Webber was able to continue, albeit at the back of the field. After a few laps in which Lewis Hamilton fell back behind Raikkonen and struggled to keep Alonso at bay, the second talking point occurred. A routine engine failure on lap 25 turned into a nightmare, as Marussia's Bianchi pulled off to the side of the track. After a few flames and a lot of smoke, the drama had seemingly ended. That was until the car began rolling backwards across the track! At least there was no oncoming traffic to collide with the out of control Marussia, which would have made the situation far more serious. The safety car was deployed to deal with the incident, and when the race restarted, the two Lotuses began heavily pressurising the leader Vettel. When Grosjean pulled in for his second and final stop a few laps later, Red Bull's response was instant. They pulled Vettel in the next lap, ensuring that he rejoined in front of the Lotus. All eyes then turned to Kimi Raikkonen, who remained on track, worrying the Red Bull garage that he planned to one-stop. As each lap passed, the mood became ever more tense. Unfortunately for the Lotus team, 50 laps is all Raikkonen could manage on the tyres. However, his change to the soft tyres promised a nervous last 10 laps, as Kimi could now go a full second faster than his teammate and Vettel in front. Alonso too took that gamble, hoping to chase down the Lotuses for the podium.
The change in speed was instant. Both Raikkonen and Alonso began reeling in the front two very quickly, with Grosjean eventually moving out of his teammate's way to allow Kimi to chase down the race leader. Further down the field, Williams's 600th Grand Prix ended in disappointment, as an epically slow stop prevented Pastor Maldonado from claiming their first points of the season. An incredibly poor season so far from the veteran team, who need to improve in the second half if they are to challenge for the top 10. As we moved into the final lap, we were promised a showdown, with both the race win and the final podium spot up for grabs. It seemed it was destined to come down to the final DRS zones of the race. However, in both cases, they ran out of time. This meant that Sebastian Vettel took his first victory on home soil, and the 30th win of his career. Raikkonen maintained his incredible scoring run, and Grosjean took an encouraging podium, hoping to kickstart his Formula 1 career after a difficult first season. Alonso had to settle for 4th, pushing him even further behind the overall championship lead. After a promising qualifying, Hamilton and Mercedes faded, finishing 5th after a brief resurgence to overtake Jenson Button on the last lap. But the day belonged to hometown hero Vettel, who now takes an increasingly healthy lead into the second half of the season, knowing that the title is now his to lose.
Saturday 6 July 2013
The British and Irish Lions Win Series Down Under: End To 16 Years Of Pain
19-10. The scoreline at half time of today's game. I tweeted at the time that the game was perfectly poised for the second half, with any outcome possible. I certainly did not expect the response that occurred in Sydney! A second half demolition of the Wallabies, finishing with an unbelievable scoreline of 41-16 in favour of the Lions, giving them a 2-1 series victory. A first series win for the British and Irish Lions since 1997, and only the second victorious tour since the professionalisation of the sport of rugby union. As I mentioned in my Lions preview post, I still fail to understand how the Lions have historically been so unsuccessful, as all four of the prospective teams available for selection to the Lions are fully capable of beating the Aussies on their day. Therefore, a combination of the four of them should be favourites to win on every occasion.
However, as has been proven, this is rarely the case. That makes the events of the last two weeks even more momentous, as the 2013 Lions have had to overcome not just their Australian opponents, but the weight of the failure of multiple previous tours. The success of this set of Lions could perhaps lay the demons of the previous 16 years to rest, and allow the Lions to experience victory more in future tours. This post will examine where the test series was won, along with reviewing all three of the 2013 Lions test series.
Interviews I have heard that were held with Lions fans after the first test have said that there were tears shed after their victory. I cannot understand that. I get that the Lions tour is the most prestigious of all home nations rugby, but to cry after a single victory implies that the fans never expected the Lions to be successful this time. Either the fans have the typical British mentality that they never expect to win, or they do not trust the players' proven abilities on the rugby field to beat the Australians. The first is a stereotype, and the second is ridiculous, for the reason I state above. Nevertheless, the hard fought 23-21 victory in Brisbane on the 22nd of June set the Lions up for this historic series win. Full of quality and last minute drama, the match had everything. A breath-taking George North try, the celebration of which he had to later apologise for, put the Lions 13-12 up at half-time. A cat and mouse second half ensued, with the Australians closing the gap to just two points as the clock ticked onto 80 minutes. A silly penalty gifted the Aussies the chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But replacement Kurtley Beale sliced the kick wide, taking the tally of points missed to 14, and handing the Lions the first Test advantage.
It was always going to be the case that the Aussies would respond. And a week later, in Melbourne, the Aussies levelled the series after a pulsating and nervous 80 minutes. Similarly to the previous match, a final minute penalty was missed to decide the outcome. This time, however, the roles were reversed, with Leigh Halfpenny missing a distinctly more difficult kick from the halfway line. This allowed the Aussies to claim a 16-15 win, rekindling their hope of a series win and denying the Lions the redemption they craved. After a game in which the Lions had dominated, leading 15-9 until the final 5 minutes, and spurning several chances, Australia made them pay with the only try of the game, Adam Ashley-Cooper crashing over to win the game. This put the series on a knife's edge going into the decider in Sydney, where the Lions would have to use every ounce of their desire to secure that elusive tour win.
With the difference between the two sides over the last two matches being just 3 points, today's game seemed destined to be a tense and close affair. An early Corbisiero try handed the Lions the inertia, before four Leigh Halfpenny penalties handed the Lions that 9 point lead at half time. Whilst not quite as anxious as the previous two 80 minutes, the opening half roughly followed the pattern that we would expect. However, the second half saw a complete demolition of the Australians, a demolition that few saw coming. A masterclass from Lions kicker Halfpenny, landing 7 of 8 kicks, propelled the Lions to a superb 41-16 victory in the third test. In the process, the Welsh full-back ensured his own personal place in history, claiming the record for the highest points scorer on a Lions tour, surpassing Neil Jenkins' old record of 41. The Welshman finished on 49 points, valuable points for the Lions in securing their first series for 16 years. If there were tears after match one of the series, I shudder to think what was unfolding in the Lions end of the crowd at the final whistle.
Hopefully this starts an era of more successful British rugby. Whilst all four of our individual home nations pride themselves on an excellent national rugby squad, we have all too often failed to perform when we amalgamate. Praise must go to Warren Gatland, who can now add this Lions tour victory to his highly impressive CV. Now the floodgates have opened, will the Lions now go on to bigger and better things on future tours, using the strength of the 2013 Lions?
However, as has been proven, this is rarely the case. That makes the events of the last two weeks even more momentous, as the 2013 Lions have had to overcome not just their Australian opponents, but the weight of the failure of multiple previous tours. The success of this set of Lions could perhaps lay the demons of the previous 16 years to rest, and allow the Lions to experience victory more in future tours. This post will examine where the test series was won, along with reviewing all three of the 2013 Lions test series.
Interviews I have heard that were held with Lions fans after the first test have said that there were tears shed after their victory. I cannot understand that. I get that the Lions tour is the most prestigious of all home nations rugby, but to cry after a single victory implies that the fans never expected the Lions to be successful this time. Either the fans have the typical British mentality that they never expect to win, or they do not trust the players' proven abilities on the rugby field to beat the Australians. The first is a stereotype, and the second is ridiculous, for the reason I state above. Nevertheless, the hard fought 23-21 victory in Brisbane on the 22nd of June set the Lions up for this historic series win. Full of quality and last minute drama, the match had everything. A breath-taking George North try, the celebration of which he had to later apologise for, put the Lions 13-12 up at half-time. A cat and mouse second half ensued, with the Australians closing the gap to just two points as the clock ticked onto 80 minutes. A silly penalty gifted the Aussies the chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But replacement Kurtley Beale sliced the kick wide, taking the tally of points missed to 14, and handing the Lions the first Test advantage.
It was always going to be the case that the Aussies would respond. And a week later, in Melbourne, the Aussies levelled the series after a pulsating and nervous 80 minutes. Similarly to the previous match, a final minute penalty was missed to decide the outcome. This time, however, the roles were reversed, with Leigh Halfpenny missing a distinctly more difficult kick from the halfway line. This allowed the Aussies to claim a 16-15 win, rekindling their hope of a series win and denying the Lions the redemption they craved. After a game in which the Lions had dominated, leading 15-9 until the final 5 minutes, and spurning several chances, Australia made them pay with the only try of the game, Adam Ashley-Cooper crashing over to win the game. This put the series on a knife's edge going into the decider in Sydney, where the Lions would have to use every ounce of their desire to secure that elusive tour win.
With the difference between the two sides over the last two matches being just 3 points, today's game seemed destined to be a tense and close affair. An early Corbisiero try handed the Lions the inertia, before four Leigh Halfpenny penalties handed the Lions that 9 point lead at half time. Whilst not quite as anxious as the previous two 80 minutes, the opening half roughly followed the pattern that we would expect. However, the second half saw a complete demolition of the Australians, a demolition that few saw coming. A masterclass from Lions kicker Halfpenny, landing 7 of 8 kicks, propelled the Lions to a superb 41-16 victory in the third test. In the process, the Welsh full-back ensured his own personal place in history, claiming the record for the highest points scorer on a Lions tour, surpassing Neil Jenkins' old record of 41. The Welshman finished on 49 points, valuable points for the Lions in securing their first series for 16 years. If there were tears after match one of the series, I shudder to think what was unfolding in the Lions end of the crowd at the final whistle.
Hopefully this starts an era of more successful British rugby. Whilst all four of our individual home nations pride themselves on an excellent national rugby squad, we have all too often failed to perform when we amalgamate. Praise must go to Warren Gatland, who can now add this Lions tour victory to his highly impressive CV. Now the floodgates have opened, will the Lions now go on to bigger and better things on future tours, using the strength of the 2013 Lions?
2013 Wimbledon Finals: A Place In History Beckons?
As I mentioned in my Wimbledon preview post, I have been a tennis neutral for the entire Wimbledon fortnight, and as a result have been able to enjoy some truly outstanding tennis. From controversy, to shocks, to outrageous shots, this year's tournament has had it all. What would have rounded everything off perfectly, in my opinion, would have been to have a Goran Ivanisevic-esque fairytale victory at the end of it. A Murray-Djokovic final in the men's singles means that that dream will have to wait another year. Shame. However, the shocks in the women's draw means that a final between two unexpected names has come to fruition, with Sabine Lisicki seeing off favourite Serena Williams on her way to meet Marion Bartoli in today's showpiece.
One of the two women involved in the match today will take their place in history as a first-time Grand Slam winner. Whilst Bartoli has more experience of Grand Slam finals than her opponent, I do not believe that in any way makes her the strong favourite for the match. Lisicki has shown in the past two weeks that she is more than capable of upsetting the apple cart and rising to the big occasions. If this was something we hadn't seen in her exit in the Wimbledon semi-finals a couple of years ago, it is certainly something we saw against Serena just a matter of days ago. In this post, I will be reviewing the form of both the women, and the men's finalists, before deciding who I believe should be the favourite.
In terms of the title of this piece, however, it is not difficult to see what it is I am referring to. The presence of Andy Murray in a Wimbledon final for the second consecutive year means another chance to end Britain's incredible barren spell at Wimbledon. Whilst I explained in my opening post why I personally do not feel inclined to support him over any other athlete, he has certainly performed well over the past two weeks and deserves his place there. Whilst all will remember his emotional speech after defeat to Roger Federer in last year's final, many will be hoping for better fortunes this time around. A Murray victory tomorrow would certainly see an eminently forgettable page of British tennis history consigned to the memory banks, and a breakthrough of even greater proportions than that of his US Open victory last summer.
However, regardless of whether he takes that place in history tomorrow, there is one thing that will be forever untouchable, in my opinion, to the Scot. I have been saddened to hear the BBC commentators debating whether Wimbledon's iconic Henman Hill should be renamed in Murray's honour. I have issues with this. Firstly, Murray Mound sounds rubbish. Secondly, I believe that Tim Henman as a tennis player sums up not just the traditional British tennis player, but the entire British mindset in terms of sport. Starts with a vast overestimation of ability by the press and the crowd, who all proclaim that 'this will be the year', only to be eliminated at the quarters/semis. If tennis had penalties, this would sum up another sport incredibly accurately. I think, as a reminder of our typical British disappointment, Henman Hill is an essential part of Wimbledon, and should always remain as such.
Getting back to the matches over the next two days, it is worth looking at the run that each of the finalists have had, and therefore who should be considered the favourites. Starting with today's women's final, we see that both of the competitors went through their opening games in straight sets, with Lisicki particularly convincing in a 6-1, 6-2 victory over the usually strong Francesca Schiavone. Another pair of straight sets results followed in the second round, with the German once again being more emphatic in her victory. The third round saw a change in the pattern, as the Bartoli progressed in two close, but straight sets, whilst Lisicki was pushed all the way to three by the fiery Samantha Stosur, eventually winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. What happened in the fourth round made the tennis world sit up and take notice. Serena Williams, the shoo-in favourite for the title after the carnage of the 26th of June, was unceremoniously dumped out by Lisicki. After a strong first set, which the German won 6-2, the American world number 1 came storming back to take the second 6-1. This led analysts to assume that Serena would just steamroller her way through the third set. But it was not to be, with the German Lisicki picking up arguably the most memorable win of her career, and continuing her incredible record against French Open champions at Wimbledon.
Whilst Bartoli did win in straight sets on the same day, it was nowhere near as impressive as the Lisicki victory. This also started to shift fan support towards the German underdog, as the British crowd are always likely to get behind that! With another pair of straight sets victories in the quarter finals, Lisicki and Bartoli were only one game away from a place in the pinnacle of tennis. A stroll for Bartoli, who came through her semi-final 6-1, 6-2 against the novice Flipkens of Belgium. Lisicki on the other hand, had another tough game against number 4 seed Agnieska Radwanska. An enthralling semi-final, which swung first one way and then the other, ending with an incredible 6-4, 2-6, 9-7 to the German. After an energy sapping semi, along with the draining victory against Serena, I fear for Lisicki's energy levels. If they hold up, however, the tough tests she has endured should give her a fantastic platform to claim the first piece of silverware of her career.
Moving onto the men's final, we have to consider the advantage that the crowd gives the Scot in his quest for his first Wimbledon title. Whilst I have made my feelings about the crowd's hypocrisy clear, there can be no doubt that they will hold a key role in the outcome of the match tomorrow. The form may give an initial indicator, but the adrenaline and momentum shift that the crowd can give is another variable. In terms of the route, both were imperious in the first week, successfully avoiding the drama and progressing with ease to the quarter final stage. There, Djokovic claimed another straight sets victory over Thomas Berdych, but Murray, despite having the crowd on his side, toiled against Fernando Verdasco. Comprehensively outplayed by the Spaniard in the first two sets, the Scot fought back to level the match. The final set was a tough and edgy affair, with both players fortunate on several occasions to hold serve. But it was Murray who claimed the decisive break to take the match 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 and progress to the semi finals.
Yesterday saw arguably the most incredible semi-final in Wimbledon history, with Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro contested another memorable 5 set match. Played in fantastic spirits, with both players in fine form and sportsmanlike mood, we saw a number of incredible rallies and at times unbelievable passing shots. Nowhere was that more evident than in the fourth set tie-breaker. With Djokovic two sets to one up, and at 6-4 in the breaker, Del Potro had two match points to save. The first one was particularly memorable. After a number of excellent shots, two incredible gets from Djokovic made it look as if Del Potro was going home. But the Argentine pulled out an incredible forehand to force the Serb to stretch and put the ball long. This changed the momentum, with Del Potro eventually taking the fourth set. The fifth maintained the frenetic pace, with no sign of letting up. After more incredible rallies, Djokovic broke the Argentine, and, after four hours and 45 minutes, the Serb took the match to set the record for the longest Wimbledon semi-final. Murray's route was considerably easier, beating the inexperienced Jerzy Janowicz in four sets. After fighting back from a set down, the Scot took advantage of the 22 year old's unforced errors to lead by two sets to one. After a brief delay as the roof was closed, Murray closed the match out in fine form, eventually winning 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
In terms of the favourite for tomorrow's final, I slightly favour Djokovic. Murray will inevitably feel the pressure after the events of last year. However, I would not be in the least bit surprised if the crowd lifts Murray, or the nerves fade after the victory in Flushing Meadows. I personally think that Murray has more to prove, but equally has the greater support. I anticipate one of the great Wimbledon finals, with a five setter on the cards. Eventually, my choice comes down to experience, with the Serb having more experience of the victories in finals, especially against Murray. However, whatever the result, both the men's and women's tournaments have been fantastic viewing, and those that come out victorious have deserved the titles.
One of the two women involved in the match today will take their place in history as a first-time Grand Slam winner. Whilst Bartoli has more experience of Grand Slam finals than her opponent, I do not believe that in any way makes her the strong favourite for the match. Lisicki has shown in the past two weeks that she is more than capable of upsetting the apple cart and rising to the big occasions. If this was something we hadn't seen in her exit in the Wimbledon semi-finals a couple of years ago, it is certainly something we saw against Serena just a matter of days ago. In this post, I will be reviewing the form of both the women, and the men's finalists, before deciding who I believe should be the favourite.
In terms of the title of this piece, however, it is not difficult to see what it is I am referring to. The presence of Andy Murray in a Wimbledon final for the second consecutive year means another chance to end Britain's incredible barren spell at Wimbledon. Whilst I explained in my opening post why I personally do not feel inclined to support him over any other athlete, he has certainly performed well over the past two weeks and deserves his place there. Whilst all will remember his emotional speech after defeat to Roger Federer in last year's final, many will be hoping for better fortunes this time around. A Murray victory tomorrow would certainly see an eminently forgettable page of British tennis history consigned to the memory banks, and a breakthrough of even greater proportions than that of his US Open victory last summer.
However, regardless of whether he takes that place in history tomorrow, there is one thing that will be forever untouchable, in my opinion, to the Scot. I have been saddened to hear the BBC commentators debating whether Wimbledon's iconic Henman Hill should be renamed in Murray's honour. I have issues with this. Firstly, Murray Mound sounds rubbish. Secondly, I believe that Tim Henman as a tennis player sums up not just the traditional British tennis player, but the entire British mindset in terms of sport. Starts with a vast overestimation of ability by the press and the crowd, who all proclaim that 'this will be the year', only to be eliminated at the quarters/semis. If tennis had penalties, this would sum up another sport incredibly accurately. I think, as a reminder of our typical British disappointment, Henman Hill is an essential part of Wimbledon, and should always remain as such.
Getting back to the matches over the next two days, it is worth looking at the run that each of the finalists have had, and therefore who should be considered the favourites. Starting with today's women's final, we see that both of the competitors went through their opening games in straight sets, with Lisicki particularly convincing in a 6-1, 6-2 victory over the usually strong Francesca Schiavone. Another pair of straight sets results followed in the second round, with the German once again being more emphatic in her victory. The third round saw a change in the pattern, as the Bartoli progressed in two close, but straight sets, whilst Lisicki was pushed all the way to three by the fiery Samantha Stosur, eventually winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. What happened in the fourth round made the tennis world sit up and take notice. Serena Williams, the shoo-in favourite for the title after the carnage of the 26th of June, was unceremoniously dumped out by Lisicki. After a strong first set, which the German won 6-2, the American world number 1 came storming back to take the second 6-1. This led analysts to assume that Serena would just steamroller her way through the third set. But it was not to be, with the German Lisicki picking up arguably the most memorable win of her career, and continuing her incredible record against French Open champions at Wimbledon.
Whilst Bartoli did win in straight sets on the same day, it was nowhere near as impressive as the Lisicki victory. This also started to shift fan support towards the German underdog, as the British crowd are always likely to get behind that! With another pair of straight sets victories in the quarter finals, Lisicki and Bartoli were only one game away from a place in the pinnacle of tennis. A stroll for Bartoli, who came through her semi-final 6-1, 6-2 against the novice Flipkens of Belgium. Lisicki on the other hand, had another tough game against number 4 seed Agnieska Radwanska. An enthralling semi-final, which swung first one way and then the other, ending with an incredible 6-4, 2-6, 9-7 to the German. After an energy sapping semi, along with the draining victory against Serena, I fear for Lisicki's energy levels. If they hold up, however, the tough tests she has endured should give her a fantastic platform to claim the first piece of silverware of her career.
Moving onto the men's final, we have to consider the advantage that the crowd gives the Scot in his quest for his first Wimbledon title. Whilst I have made my feelings about the crowd's hypocrisy clear, there can be no doubt that they will hold a key role in the outcome of the match tomorrow. The form may give an initial indicator, but the adrenaline and momentum shift that the crowd can give is another variable. In terms of the route, both were imperious in the first week, successfully avoiding the drama and progressing with ease to the quarter final stage. There, Djokovic claimed another straight sets victory over Thomas Berdych, but Murray, despite having the crowd on his side, toiled against Fernando Verdasco. Comprehensively outplayed by the Spaniard in the first two sets, the Scot fought back to level the match. The final set was a tough and edgy affair, with both players fortunate on several occasions to hold serve. But it was Murray who claimed the decisive break to take the match 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 and progress to the semi finals.
Yesterday saw arguably the most incredible semi-final in Wimbledon history, with Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro contested another memorable 5 set match. Played in fantastic spirits, with both players in fine form and sportsmanlike mood, we saw a number of incredible rallies and at times unbelievable passing shots. Nowhere was that more evident than in the fourth set tie-breaker. With Djokovic two sets to one up, and at 6-4 in the breaker, Del Potro had two match points to save. The first one was particularly memorable. After a number of excellent shots, two incredible gets from Djokovic made it look as if Del Potro was going home. But the Argentine pulled out an incredible forehand to force the Serb to stretch and put the ball long. This changed the momentum, with Del Potro eventually taking the fourth set. The fifth maintained the frenetic pace, with no sign of letting up. After more incredible rallies, Djokovic broke the Argentine, and, after four hours and 45 minutes, the Serb took the match to set the record for the longest Wimbledon semi-final. Murray's route was considerably easier, beating the inexperienced Jerzy Janowicz in four sets. After fighting back from a set down, the Scot took advantage of the 22 year old's unforced errors to lead by two sets to one. After a brief delay as the roof was closed, Murray closed the match out in fine form, eventually winning 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
In terms of the favourite for tomorrow's final, I slightly favour Djokovic. Murray will inevitably feel the pressure after the events of last year. However, I would not be in the least bit surprised if the crowd lifts Murray, or the nerves fade after the victory in Flushing Meadows. I personally think that Murray has more to prove, but equally has the greater support. I anticipate one of the great Wimbledon finals, with a five setter on the cards. Eventually, my choice comes down to experience, with the Serb having more experience of the victories in finals, especially against Murray. However, whatever the result, both the men's and women's tournaments have been fantastic viewing, and those that come out victorious have deserved the titles.
Tuesday 2 July 2013
Confederations Cup 2013 Review: The King Is Dead, Long Live The King!
Spain have fallen in battle. A day most in football never foresaw. But a day that marks the beginning of a new period of uncertainty, with several sides battling it out for the right to be World Number 1. And there are plenty of contenders, all of whom believe that they have a genuine claim to be heir to the footballing throne. This blog post will briefly review the events of the last two weeks, before outlining the heirs apparent in international football. I feel that this is a war that will drag on for many tournaments to come, with dominance akin to Spain's unlikely to be seen again for many years.
If I compare the standard of this Confederations Cup to that of the 2009 edition in South Africa, it is a whitewash. For starters, the stadia and infrastructure were better prepared (although the fans outside the grounds in Brazil seemed intent on changing that!). As far as I can see it, there is a bit of a problem with the logic of many of the Brazilian protesters. Many were outside football grounds, protesting over the excessive spending on the 2014 World Cup, and the even greater waste of public money on the 2016 Olympics. Fair enough, as there were times when I felt like taking a similar tack against last year's shredding of billions of pounds in London (especially when sections of the competition actually took place away from the capital). However, the sensible, and indeed logical, way to protest against this offence is not, as many Brazilians did, to riot and smash stuff up. Do they not understand that this will only cost the taxpayer a greater amount, and will only damage their cause? Personally, I have always felt that protesting over a decision that has already been made and is irreversible is pretty pointless, and this case is no exception. I simply found the irony of the actions of many of the protestors highly amusing.
After that slight rant, I will get back on track. Other reasons why this Confederations Cup has been better than the last include: the lack of annoying buzzing sounds (also known as vuvuzelas), the quality of the football (by this I mean the ball they kick around), and the quality of the football (the competitiveness of the matches and the eyecatching goals). There have been many moments that have caught the eye over the last two weeks. Here are a few of my favourites. The hype surrounding Brazilian superstar Neymar after his reported £50 million move to Barcelona, and the subsequent pressure heaped upon his young shoulders. A real sink or swim moment in his fledgling career, and one he passed with flying colours. Three goals in Brazil's opening three games, and four overall, has led the home nation's talisman to be a shoo-in for the player of the tournament award. Secondly, the moment Johnathan Tehau scored for Tahiti against Nigeria in their opening group game. The scream from the BBC commentator said enough. As the underdog, we Brits are programmed to cheer for them, despite the world's derision over their inclusion. Before the tournament, I too thought the inclusion of the tiny Oceanic nation undermined the competitiveness of the tournament. However, once I saw their plucky (albeit, naive) style of defending and their emphasis on attack, I willed them on. And despite losing 6-1, 10-0 and 8-0, Tahiti can hold their heads high after their first international tournament.
My final highlight has been the numerous thrilling matches that have characterised this year's competition. Although a significant proportion of the goals have come against the Tahitians, there have been many high-scoring contests. Shockingly, the Italians have been involved in two of them. Traditionally low scorers and a tight defence, the Italians were involved in a breath-taking 4-3 game against the Japanese, before a 4-2 reverse against the Brazilians in their very next fixture! Other less high-scoring, but equally intriguing matches include: the 0-0 semi-final draw after 120 minutes between Spain and Italy, where the two sides provided a penalty-taking masterclass, the 2-2 draw after 120 minutes between Italy and Uruguay in the 3rd place playoff, before the all-conquering Spaniards were dismantled on the pitch for the first time in 5 years by the home nation Brazil. A comprehensive 3-0 victory, with two goals from Fred and one from the talismanic Neymar, effectively ended Spain's reign as undisputed world kings of football.
So if we can agree that the Spanish domination has ended, who is most likely to replace them? Though I would argue that the domination has ended, we would be stupid to discount the abilities of the Spanish to win future tournaments. Though they may no longer be the nailed on choice, I still believe they have a decent shot at retaining their crown in Brazil next year. We mustn't forget that the Spaniards suffered a shock defeat to the USA in South Africa in 2009, only to sweep all before them aside the following year. The fact that the Spanish have also won the recent Under 21 World Cup also bodes well for the future. I have already said that we are unlikely to see such a domination as the one Spain has enjoyed in recent years in the near future. However, there are two further clear contenders for the crown.
Spain's vanquishers in Rio, Brazil, are the first. Though it could be argued that home advantage played a significant part in the demolition of the world champions, the fact remains that the hosts thoroughly outplayed their illustrious opponents for the full 90 minutes, and could concievably have won by more. Their side is formidable, with the likes of Neymar, Thiago Silva and Hulk harking back to previous glories, and with the majority of the side currently in their early twenties, there is a great deal of time for future growth. Being on home soil once more next year will give the Brazilians the boost they may need to reclaim the great trophy. Whether they can turn that trophy into a period of dominance would be the real test, with challenges from Uruguay and Argentina on a continental level, and Spain and Germany on the global scale. This weekend's result has sent a warning shot across the bows of many of the big nations worldwide, foretelling of a potential shift in power.
Though not involved in the last two weeks' competition, I still count Germany as one of the strong favourites to get their hands on the World Cup next summer. After the dominance of the German league in Europe this year, I must confess, I was ready to hand the trophy to them then. As the majority of the superstars in many of the big German clubs are home grown, they threaten to become the next Spain, building their national side around the squads of a few domestic clubs. After this weekend, I would very much like to see a Germany vs Brazil match, preferably on neutral ground, in an attempt to discover how far the Germans have come before embarking on what could be a glorious tour of South America next summer. Like Brazil, I doubt their ability to dominate global football, even if they do manage to beat the Spanish, however, a trophy would very much re-announce themselves on the world stage.
Other than the big three, there is a small chasing pack that will be eager to punish any slip-ups (sorry England fans, we are not even close!). I consider that group to include nations such as: Italy, Argentina, Holland, Portugal, Uruguay to name a few. Whilst none of these show the potential of the three superpowers, all have the potential on their day to win a tournament. The next few years will prove to be a tussle for power around the globe (let us hope we are simply talking in footballing terms). I for one am very much looking forward to seeing who claims the crown.
So the King is dead. Long live the King. But who is the King?
If I compare the standard of this Confederations Cup to that of the 2009 edition in South Africa, it is a whitewash. For starters, the stadia and infrastructure were better prepared (although the fans outside the grounds in Brazil seemed intent on changing that!). As far as I can see it, there is a bit of a problem with the logic of many of the Brazilian protesters. Many were outside football grounds, protesting over the excessive spending on the 2014 World Cup, and the even greater waste of public money on the 2016 Olympics. Fair enough, as there were times when I felt like taking a similar tack against last year's shredding of billions of pounds in London (especially when sections of the competition actually took place away from the capital). However, the sensible, and indeed logical, way to protest against this offence is not, as many Brazilians did, to riot and smash stuff up. Do they not understand that this will only cost the taxpayer a greater amount, and will only damage their cause? Personally, I have always felt that protesting over a decision that has already been made and is irreversible is pretty pointless, and this case is no exception. I simply found the irony of the actions of many of the protestors highly amusing.
After that slight rant, I will get back on track. Other reasons why this Confederations Cup has been better than the last include: the lack of annoying buzzing sounds (also known as vuvuzelas), the quality of the football (by this I mean the ball they kick around), and the quality of the football (the competitiveness of the matches and the eyecatching goals). There have been many moments that have caught the eye over the last two weeks. Here are a few of my favourites. The hype surrounding Brazilian superstar Neymar after his reported £50 million move to Barcelona, and the subsequent pressure heaped upon his young shoulders. A real sink or swim moment in his fledgling career, and one he passed with flying colours. Three goals in Brazil's opening three games, and four overall, has led the home nation's talisman to be a shoo-in for the player of the tournament award. Secondly, the moment Johnathan Tehau scored for Tahiti against Nigeria in their opening group game. The scream from the BBC commentator said enough. As the underdog, we Brits are programmed to cheer for them, despite the world's derision over their inclusion. Before the tournament, I too thought the inclusion of the tiny Oceanic nation undermined the competitiveness of the tournament. However, once I saw their plucky (albeit, naive) style of defending and their emphasis on attack, I willed them on. And despite losing 6-1, 10-0 and 8-0, Tahiti can hold their heads high after their first international tournament.
My final highlight has been the numerous thrilling matches that have characterised this year's competition. Although a significant proportion of the goals have come against the Tahitians, there have been many high-scoring contests. Shockingly, the Italians have been involved in two of them. Traditionally low scorers and a tight defence, the Italians were involved in a breath-taking 4-3 game against the Japanese, before a 4-2 reverse against the Brazilians in their very next fixture! Other less high-scoring, but equally intriguing matches include: the 0-0 semi-final draw after 120 minutes between Spain and Italy, where the two sides provided a penalty-taking masterclass, the 2-2 draw after 120 minutes between Italy and Uruguay in the 3rd place playoff, before the all-conquering Spaniards were dismantled on the pitch for the first time in 5 years by the home nation Brazil. A comprehensive 3-0 victory, with two goals from Fred and one from the talismanic Neymar, effectively ended Spain's reign as undisputed world kings of football.
So if we can agree that the Spanish domination has ended, who is most likely to replace them? Though I would argue that the domination has ended, we would be stupid to discount the abilities of the Spanish to win future tournaments. Though they may no longer be the nailed on choice, I still believe they have a decent shot at retaining their crown in Brazil next year. We mustn't forget that the Spaniards suffered a shock defeat to the USA in South Africa in 2009, only to sweep all before them aside the following year. The fact that the Spanish have also won the recent Under 21 World Cup also bodes well for the future. I have already said that we are unlikely to see such a domination as the one Spain has enjoyed in recent years in the near future. However, there are two further clear contenders for the crown.
Spain's vanquishers in Rio, Brazil, are the first. Though it could be argued that home advantage played a significant part in the demolition of the world champions, the fact remains that the hosts thoroughly outplayed their illustrious opponents for the full 90 minutes, and could concievably have won by more. Their side is formidable, with the likes of Neymar, Thiago Silva and Hulk harking back to previous glories, and with the majority of the side currently in their early twenties, there is a great deal of time for future growth. Being on home soil once more next year will give the Brazilians the boost they may need to reclaim the great trophy. Whether they can turn that trophy into a period of dominance would be the real test, with challenges from Uruguay and Argentina on a continental level, and Spain and Germany on the global scale. This weekend's result has sent a warning shot across the bows of many of the big nations worldwide, foretelling of a potential shift in power.
Though not involved in the last two weeks' competition, I still count Germany as one of the strong favourites to get their hands on the World Cup next summer. After the dominance of the German league in Europe this year, I must confess, I was ready to hand the trophy to them then. As the majority of the superstars in many of the big German clubs are home grown, they threaten to become the next Spain, building their national side around the squads of a few domestic clubs. After this weekend, I would very much like to see a Germany vs Brazil match, preferably on neutral ground, in an attempt to discover how far the Germans have come before embarking on what could be a glorious tour of South America next summer. Like Brazil, I doubt their ability to dominate global football, even if they do manage to beat the Spanish, however, a trophy would very much re-announce themselves on the world stage.
Other than the big three, there is a small chasing pack that will be eager to punish any slip-ups (sorry England fans, we are not even close!). I consider that group to include nations such as: Italy, Argentina, Holland, Portugal, Uruguay to name a few. Whilst none of these show the potential of the three superpowers, all have the potential on their day to win a tournament. The next few years will prove to be a tussle for power around the globe (let us hope we are simply talking in footballing terms). I for one am very much looking forward to seeing who claims the crown.
So the King is dead. Long live the King. But who is the King?
Monday 1 July 2013
2013 British Grand Prix: When Will The Tyres Get Sorted?
The 2013 Formula 1 season is in full flow, as the roadshow moves onto British soil. The home grand prix of 4 drivers in the field, and home to the owner of the entire franchise. After years of turbulence between the governing body and Silverstone, racing fans will be pleased to see the grand old track claim its rightful place on the Grand Prix calendar. In contrast, a name we will soon see disappearing from Formula 1 is, sadly, Red Bull driver Mark Webber, who announced his retirement from the end of the season before one of his favourite races. The feisty but likeable Aussie will be sorely missed from the paddock, but conspiracy theories have begun emerging that this was a case of 'jump before he was pushed', as his relationship with the World Champion Sebastian Vettel has deteriorated in recent months. With Red Bull inevitably plumping for their three-time World Champion, Webber has arguably been cast out into the cold by Christian Horner after 7 years of loyal service.
With this news initially detracting from the build-up to the British Grand Prix, thoughts were transferred back onto the job in hand for qualifying. With the early favourites in practice being the traditional one-lap specialist Mercedes cars, it was Ferrari who found themselves lacking in pace in the early stages, with Felipe Massa nearly failing to make it out of Q1. As it finished, it was the usual suspects who ended the first session at the bottom, with home debutant Max Chilton finishing at the back, a full 1.7 seconds behind his teammate. Q2 saw further woe for the usually big teams, as Felipe Massa could only manage 12th. McLaren also struggled, with neither of their cars able to make the top 10 shootout. This time, Britain's Jenson Button outqualified his Mexican counterpart, with 11th the best he could manage. Q3 was all about the battle between the Red Bulls and the Mercedes, with the resurgent Austrian team fighting back against the Silver Arrows' dominance in Q2. However, the Germans were not to be denied, completing a lock-out of the front row. To the home support's delight, it was Stevenage-born Lewis Hamilton who took pole, with a scintillating lap. The question now, though, was could Mercedes translate their qualifying pace into race pace?
Even before the start of the race, there was further controversy and heartbreak, with Britain's Paul di Resta being disqualified from his all-time highest qualifying position of 5th, for performing in an underweight car. This meant that he cascaded to the back of the grid. A silly mistake from the Force India team, and one that threatened the Scot's chances of a good points haul on the Sunday. The race itself began equally eventfully. A first corner incident between Webber and Lotus driver Romain Grosjean forced the Red Bull driver off track and way down the field. Back up front, Lewis Hamilton and Vettel began trading fastest laps, with the Mercedes man eventually breaking free of the vital DRS activation point of 1 second. With Hamilton's lap times comparable with Vettel's, the question began to be asked whether the Mercedes had developed a race winning car. Unfortunately for the British driver, disaster then struck. He suffered a left rear tyre failure mid way through lap 8, forcing him to limp back to the pits, costing him bags of time, and any chance of winning the race.
With Hamilton's demise, Force India's disappointment the previous day was beginning to be recified by the achievements of Adrian Sutil, who moved into the final podium position. The racing was brought to a shuddering halt just two laps after Hamilton's incident, as Felipe Massa also exited the track courtesy of a left rear tyre failure. Just 5 laps later, in almost exactly the same part of the track, John-Eric Vergne suffered a left rear tyre failure. With three such similar incidents in quick succession, concerns were once again raised over the condition of the Pirelli tyres. With the recent controversy over the Italian manufacturers, they can ill-afford this type of debacle. Whilst spokesmen for the tyre supplier claimed it was more to do with the kerbs at Silverstone than the tyres, these claims fell on deaf ears, with a full inquiry to be held in the future days. After these incidents, the safety car was deployed as sweepers were used in an attempt to clear the track of any debris. When racing eventually resumed on lap 21, Vettel scampered away at the front, eventually taking a lead of 3.2 seconds before his second, and final, pit stop of the afternoon.
Further down the field, the action was coming thick and fast. Brits Lewis Hamilton and Paul di Resta found themselves locked in an enthralling battle for the 7th place, with the Mercedes driver beginning to make his way back through the field. With both Alonso, and Raikkonen, coming through after their second pit-stops, Hamilton attacked the Force India, only to fall back behind the chasing pair in successive corners. Back up front, Nico Rosberg made his second pit stop before Vettel, in an attempt to undercut his rival. Advantage Mercedes? The Red Bull mechanics instantly recalculated, bringing their man in the following lap to cover off the Rosberg threat. Vettel rejoined 3 seconds ahead of the Mercedes, with the race now his to lose.
Then lap 42 threw the race, and arguably the championship, back into the balance. After a few laps of Rosberg gaining on the triple World Champion, Vettel's Red Bull coasted to a halt, with a gearbox problem ending the leader's Grand Prix, and opening the door for his title contenders. The fact that this was the first time the championship leader had failed to finish anything lower than 4th this year, and the fact that this was the German's first retirement since Italy of the previous year says a lot for the consistency of the Red Bull, clearly illustrating the bedrock upon which Vettel's success has been built. With the safety car once again being deployed, race leader Rosberg used his 13 second advantage to make a precautionary pit-stop, leaving him on fresher tyres to complete the final few laps. Once Vettel's stricken car was removed from the racing line, the contest could begin again. However, after nearly 50 laps without tyre controversy, Sergio Perez's left rear also let go on lap 46, causing further worries of another safety car period. Fortunately, the carcass was cleared quickly, and racing could continue.
Immediately after the restart, it was clear that Mark Webber had not given up on his chances of, at least, a podium finish. He began cutting through the field, dispatching Ricciardo and Sutil, before a stunning pass on Kimi Raikkonen secured the Aussie 2nd place. Could he now catch Rosberg for the most unlikely of wins? Similar movements were going on behind, with Alonso and Hamilton also making late dashes through the field. From 8th and 9th places at the race restart, the pair finished in a remarkable 3rd and 4th place respectively, overtaking 5 cars each in 6 laps. Just up the road, Webber was closing in on Rosberg, getting the gap down as low as 0.7 of a second. This was going to come down to a final corner finish. Unfortunately for the Aussie, he had perhaps one lap too few, running out of time, and having to settle for 2nd place. Whilst the fairytale send-off from Silverstone will not happen, he can nevertheless be extremely proud of a tremendous drive, on a day where, for once, he got the better of Sebastian Vettel.
The events of yesterday has heaped further doubt onto the reliability of the Pirelli tyres, with many in the FIA undoubtedly questioning whether it they are more trouble than they are worth. I would not at all be surprised if we saw a switch back to the Bridgestones or Michelins of yesteryear in the very near future, as Pirelli have demonstrated they cannot be trusted. As for the title race, whether yesterday was a blip or the beginnings of a collapse or reliability issue cannot be decided in one race. The next few races will certainly be interesting, as it now gives those around Red Bull hope that they can push their cars into failure.
With this news initially detracting from the build-up to the British Grand Prix, thoughts were transferred back onto the job in hand for qualifying. With the early favourites in practice being the traditional one-lap specialist Mercedes cars, it was Ferrari who found themselves lacking in pace in the early stages, with Felipe Massa nearly failing to make it out of Q1. As it finished, it was the usual suspects who ended the first session at the bottom, with home debutant Max Chilton finishing at the back, a full 1.7 seconds behind his teammate. Q2 saw further woe for the usually big teams, as Felipe Massa could only manage 12th. McLaren also struggled, with neither of their cars able to make the top 10 shootout. This time, Britain's Jenson Button outqualified his Mexican counterpart, with 11th the best he could manage. Q3 was all about the battle between the Red Bulls and the Mercedes, with the resurgent Austrian team fighting back against the Silver Arrows' dominance in Q2. However, the Germans were not to be denied, completing a lock-out of the front row. To the home support's delight, it was Stevenage-born Lewis Hamilton who took pole, with a scintillating lap. The question now, though, was could Mercedes translate their qualifying pace into race pace?
Even before the start of the race, there was further controversy and heartbreak, with Britain's Paul di Resta being disqualified from his all-time highest qualifying position of 5th, for performing in an underweight car. This meant that he cascaded to the back of the grid. A silly mistake from the Force India team, and one that threatened the Scot's chances of a good points haul on the Sunday. The race itself began equally eventfully. A first corner incident between Webber and Lotus driver Romain Grosjean forced the Red Bull driver off track and way down the field. Back up front, Lewis Hamilton and Vettel began trading fastest laps, with the Mercedes man eventually breaking free of the vital DRS activation point of 1 second. With Hamilton's lap times comparable with Vettel's, the question began to be asked whether the Mercedes had developed a race winning car. Unfortunately for the British driver, disaster then struck. He suffered a left rear tyre failure mid way through lap 8, forcing him to limp back to the pits, costing him bags of time, and any chance of winning the race.
With Hamilton's demise, Force India's disappointment the previous day was beginning to be recified by the achievements of Adrian Sutil, who moved into the final podium position. The racing was brought to a shuddering halt just two laps after Hamilton's incident, as Felipe Massa also exited the track courtesy of a left rear tyre failure. Just 5 laps later, in almost exactly the same part of the track, John-Eric Vergne suffered a left rear tyre failure. With three such similar incidents in quick succession, concerns were once again raised over the condition of the Pirelli tyres. With the recent controversy over the Italian manufacturers, they can ill-afford this type of debacle. Whilst spokesmen for the tyre supplier claimed it was more to do with the kerbs at Silverstone than the tyres, these claims fell on deaf ears, with a full inquiry to be held in the future days. After these incidents, the safety car was deployed as sweepers were used in an attempt to clear the track of any debris. When racing eventually resumed on lap 21, Vettel scampered away at the front, eventually taking a lead of 3.2 seconds before his second, and final, pit stop of the afternoon.
Further down the field, the action was coming thick and fast. Brits Lewis Hamilton and Paul di Resta found themselves locked in an enthralling battle for the 7th place, with the Mercedes driver beginning to make his way back through the field. With both Alonso, and Raikkonen, coming through after their second pit-stops, Hamilton attacked the Force India, only to fall back behind the chasing pair in successive corners. Back up front, Nico Rosberg made his second pit stop before Vettel, in an attempt to undercut his rival. Advantage Mercedes? The Red Bull mechanics instantly recalculated, bringing their man in the following lap to cover off the Rosberg threat. Vettel rejoined 3 seconds ahead of the Mercedes, with the race now his to lose.
Then lap 42 threw the race, and arguably the championship, back into the balance. After a few laps of Rosberg gaining on the triple World Champion, Vettel's Red Bull coasted to a halt, with a gearbox problem ending the leader's Grand Prix, and opening the door for his title contenders. The fact that this was the first time the championship leader had failed to finish anything lower than 4th this year, and the fact that this was the German's first retirement since Italy of the previous year says a lot for the consistency of the Red Bull, clearly illustrating the bedrock upon which Vettel's success has been built. With the safety car once again being deployed, race leader Rosberg used his 13 second advantage to make a precautionary pit-stop, leaving him on fresher tyres to complete the final few laps. Once Vettel's stricken car was removed from the racing line, the contest could begin again. However, after nearly 50 laps without tyre controversy, Sergio Perez's left rear also let go on lap 46, causing further worries of another safety car period. Fortunately, the carcass was cleared quickly, and racing could continue.
Immediately after the restart, it was clear that Mark Webber had not given up on his chances of, at least, a podium finish. He began cutting through the field, dispatching Ricciardo and Sutil, before a stunning pass on Kimi Raikkonen secured the Aussie 2nd place. Could he now catch Rosberg for the most unlikely of wins? Similar movements were going on behind, with Alonso and Hamilton also making late dashes through the field. From 8th and 9th places at the race restart, the pair finished in a remarkable 3rd and 4th place respectively, overtaking 5 cars each in 6 laps. Just up the road, Webber was closing in on Rosberg, getting the gap down as low as 0.7 of a second. This was going to come down to a final corner finish. Unfortunately for the Aussie, he had perhaps one lap too few, running out of time, and having to settle for 2nd place. Whilst the fairytale send-off from Silverstone will not happen, he can nevertheless be extremely proud of a tremendous drive, on a day where, for once, he got the better of Sebastian Vettel.
The events of yesterday has heaped further doubt onto the reliability of the Pirelli tyres, with many in the FIA undoubtedly questioning whether it they are more trouble than they are worth. I would not at all be surprised if we saw a switch back to the Bridgestones or Michelins of yesteryear in the very near future, as Pirelli have demonstrated they cannot be trusted. As for the title race, whether yesterday was a blip or the beginnings of a collapse or reliability issue cannot be decided in one race. The next few races will certainly be interesting, as it now gives those around Red Bull hope that they can push their cars into failure.
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