2015: Let the Battles Commence.
I don’t know whether we are growing a tad blasÌ© about the golden age of British sport, what with the London Olympics, the Glasgow Commonwealths and the Rugby League World Cup all passing by so effectively, but there is no danger of this momentum abating any time soon.
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2015 promises to be as good as 2012, possibly even better. Of course we have all the usual sporting trimmings, from the Six Nations rugby to the Open Golf championships, Wimbledon and the second half of the English football season. We have genuine hopes for an English club becoming European football champions and for Lewis Hamilton to successfully defend his Formula One world title.
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Ultimately, though, 2015 in Britain boils down to two major, global events: the Ashes in the summer, and the Rugby World Cup in the autumn.
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For once the Ashes serves as the hors d’oeuvres. Why? Because they do come around quite a lot, the last timeåÊin 2013. Not that it dilutes the importance of the event, nor the intensity. After a rare passage of English dominance the Australians, predictably, have bounced back. You beat us 3-0 in England, we’ll beat you 5-0 down under.
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Since then, while English cricket has stuttered somewhat, Australia have grown in confidence and, as theiråÊrecent series win over India proves, in performance. Right now, even taking into consideration English conditions, I’d say the Aussies are narrow favourites to defend the Ashes.
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It is for England to prove the critics wrong. World class players need to rediscover world class form.åÊCaptain Alastair Cook needs to return to his stubborn best, bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad need toåÊturn on the style one more time, and our new breed of stars, Jos Buttler, Moeen Khan, Gary Balance and others, need toåÊtransfer very promising starts into reality in the Ashes. Throw in Joe Root, who has probably been England’s best performer in all formats, and you have the makings of a very good side.
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Between now andåÊmid-summer England still require an opening partner with Cook, a definite back up quickie (I’måÊhoping this will be Steven Finn), and at least the option for a top quality spinner to ease the burden off Moeen’s capable shoulders.
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Right now I’d say the Ashes willåÊfinish 2-2, or maybe 2-1 Australia, but there is still time for England to nudge ahead in the betting. As soon as the fifth test is over we can all turn our attention to the Rugby World Cup. Again, this is a four year event, but the difference this time, of course, is that it is being staged in England.
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Although a few games took placeåÊin England during the 1999 Welsh World Cup, the laståÊand only other time England were the official hosts were back in 1991, when they lost the final to Australia and rugby was, well, a very different sport to what it has become today.
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If England were to win the world cup it would be a bigger event than even the first and only time they achieved this feat so memorably in 2003 because it will be staged on home soil. The ramifications for the sport and its legacy would be incalculable.
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Can they do it? Right now you’d say New Zealand are the favourites, but then again they always are but rarely become world champions. One narrow and fortunate cup final win four years’ ago does not change this. South Africa will be mighty tough opposition. Australia are always there or thereabouts, Wales will surely be challengers, as will the current Six Nations champions, Ireland. And can you ever rule out the French? åÊåÊåÊ
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But England are close. Very close. The forthcoming Six Nations will be a huge opportunity for Stuart Lancaster to work out the nucleus of his first choice team. Injuries have made this difficult up to now.åÊThere are options from 1-15, a good dilemma in one sense in terms of strength in depth, but one that has to be resolved sooner rather than later.
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Nonetheless, throw in the Twickenham factor, a furiously testing group including Wales and Australia which England should emerge from battle-hardened, and the bounce of the ball andåÊChris RobshawåÊmight, just might, be lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.
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Imagine that. The Ashes urn and the Webb Ellis Cup hoisted by Englishmen or, in the case of the latter, a Welshman or an Irishman!åÊWhat a prospect! What a year! Let battles commence.åÊ
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