Sportsvibe's 2011 Predictions

Well, as it's that time of year - i.e. the very start - here are the Sportsvibe sporting predictions for 2011.

In cricket England will wrap up the Ashes next week, most probably by winning in Sydney, to take the series 3-1. Then they will fare well in the World Cup in cricket, losing in the final in India in March, before beating India in the summer test home series 2-1.

In football Manchester United will win the Premier League, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea making up the remaining top four, Spurs will win the FA Cup, Arsenal the Carling Cup and Barcelona the Champions' League.

In rugby England will win the Six Nations, and possibly even the Grand Slam, providing they defeat Wales in the tournament opener in Cardiff on February 4th, and go on to feature strongly in the rugby World Cup. New Zealand will become world champions, though, in their own back yard.

Elsewhere it will be a shoot out between Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton for the F1 world title, with the Spaniard edging it in his Ferrari. Lee Westwood will finally win a golfing major this year, Rafa Nadal will win the Australian and the French Opens minimum, whilst Andy Murray may well fall just short again.

Jess Ennis and Phillips Idowu will retain their world athletics titles, Vicky Pendleton, Chris Hoy and Mark Cavendish, the latter finally winning that Tour de France green jersey, will have a good year in the saddle, and Rebecca Adlington, Liam Tancock and Francesca Halsall will enjoy a good world swimming championships.

All our 2012 Olympic medal hopefuls will raise another gear, for sure, and if 2011 should prove to be a cracker, then 2012 will be the best sporting year since 1966.

So that's that, then!