The weeks leading up to the end of a year are interesting ones. The cheeriness and hive of activity that is accompanied with the festivities are then shortly met with the sombreness of reflection as another year passes. The year of 2013 has brought sports fans some significant moments across the worlds of cricket, tennis and the AFL which are worthy of reflection. For this author, selecting a list of these various moments was a challenge. However once it was done, it was easy to explain each of them as they each contain more than just a measure of significance.
This article describes 10 moments each comprised of both retrospect and prospect. They signify accomplishments, disappointments, surprises and importantly trends which we can look forward to in 2014. So grab yourself a leftover festive snack or two and enjoy these sporting moments seen through the eyes of Pinpoint Sports Journal. A big thank you for your support this year and the best of wishes for the New Year.
GK
On top of the world (Cricket) | The rising stars (AFL) | The intriguing prospect (1) (Tennis) | The intriguing prospect (2) (Tennis) | The re-invigoration (Cricket) | Surprise destination (AFL) | The dynamic duo (Cricket) | Expectations rising (Cricket) | Expectations delivered (Tennis) | The unexpected (nearly) delivered (AFL)
In 2013, the South African Test cricket team continued its form from its undefeated 2012 season to consolidate its position as the best Test playing nation. The team had commenced the year in blistering fashion by winning five consecutive matches (including winning three of those matches by at least an innings). Recent performances have not lived up to this standard (the loss against Pakistan in October and the recent draw against India), yet there is little to admonish.
A team is a sum of its parts and the individuals which comprise this South African team fulfil their respective roles to the upmost. The top-order batsmen of Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen provide stability. The middle-order strikes the balance between steadiness and aggression with the class of Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB De Villiers, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis. Finally, the team has an incredibly potent bowling lineup with Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.
Team success contributes to enhanced individual performance and thus it is of little surprise to see South Africa possess the two top Test batsmen (De Villiers and Amla) and two top Test bowlers (Philander and Steyn), according to the ICC rankings.
Witnessing this team ply its trade with a clinical and focused attitude is one of the great pleasures of world sport. Will it continue in the New Year? The South Africans’ current dual with World No. 2 India shall be telling and how the young Indian team performs (see ‘The dynamic duo’ below) may very well answer this question.
Zero. Three. Eight.
It is no mathematical sequence but nonetheless is a clear upward trend indicating that the Gold Coast Suns are on the rise (excuse the pun). Eight victories in 2013 saw the Suns briefly in calculations for the Finals but eventually fading (apologies again) to finish 14th.
Despite this, the Suns showed a greater intent to apply tackling pressure to the opposition as defence and discipline were slowly instilled. Furthermore, it was encouraging to see the Suns feeding off their local support and to truly take advantage of their home games to establish momentum in key moments of matches. This is the starting point of establishing a fortress-like mentality at their stadium.
In 2014, expect this team to further develop as there is less reliance on 2013 Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett and more onus on the younger midfielders and half-back flankers. They will be the catalyst for the Suns pushing for a Finals berth.
The intriguing prospect (1) | Tennis
American tennis player Sloane Stephens is an intriguing prospect in that she had reached at least the fourth round of the four Grand Slams in 2013 (including the Australian Open semi-final) and yet was not able to make it further than the quarter-finals of the minor tournaments. Furthermore, she had lost to her fellow top-20 players 12 out of 14 times.
Nonetheless 2013 was another developing year for the young Stephens who entered into more tournaments, earned more ranking points and almost forced her way into the top-10.
Can the barrier be broken in 2014? As alluded to, her ability to defeat opponents ranked higher than her will very much answer that question. In order for her to do that, she must play with aggression not just at the baseline but at the net, indicating her intention to force her opposition to make a superior move. Stephens must dictate her higher-ranked opposition to create a top 10 vacancy.
The intriguing prospect (2) | Tennis
Statistics most often portray the story and in terms of Roger Federer, statistics show that his 2013 season was very similar to that of his 2002 season in that he failed to reach a single Grand Slam Final, he recorded a 73% win-loss record and his Grand Slam quarter-final streak ended at Wimbledon this year. As a result of recording just one title win, Federer had slipped to World No. 7 before recent form lifted him to No. 6.
It is the nature of a sports fan to yearn for a champion of the game to return in triumphant fashion following a disappointing season. More significantly, it is in the nature of the champion themselves to strive to do exactly that. Federer acknowledges that his 2013 results were increasingly due to his younger opponents being able to manoeuver him out of court-position and being able to chase down his winners. Thus success in 2014 will hinge on his ability to employ a more physical style to his game combined with his artistic shot making.
Following Federer’s 2013 season, there are more questions that answers however underlying them is a sense of hope that he can once again challenge the others.
On the one hand there is tinkering with a particular sport (e.g. rule changes, uniform colour alterations), and then on the other is genuine innovation in a sport. The latter basket contains the Women’s Cricket Ashes Series where a change of format was introduced in 2013.
The first Women’s Ashes series was played in 1934 and decided by three Test matches. Over the years the number of Test matches altered until in 2007-2011 we saw the “series” decided by a sole Test match. To recapture the public’s attention, the format was altered this year where both the Australian and English women’s teams played one Test match, three One Day Internationals and three Twenty20 matches with each format attracting different points (Test match = 6 points; ODI/T20 = 2 points). England had triumphed across all three formats winning 12 points to 4 points.
The significance of this is that the teams must display versatility across the different formats which adds a sense of validation in determining the winner. May this innovation pervade other aspects of the women’s game and the men’s game in the future.
“He’s staying. No he’s leaving for the Giants. Returning west? No he’s staying. Wait, he’s leaving for….the Swans??”
This hypothetical monologue perhaps best summarises the actual discussion concerning Lance Franklin’s career in 2013 and beyond. The champion Hawks forward had decided to leave the brown and gold heartland for the red and white army after helping his team secure the 2013 AFL Premiership.
On paper, the Sydney Swans now possess a potent forward line with the likes of Franklin, Kurt Tippett along with small forwards Ben McGlynn and Lewis Jetta combined with the ruck/utility options of Mike Pike and Adam Goodes. However the challenge will be for Coach John Longmire to instil balance in this forward line. Considering the game’s evolution to an all-ground defence mentality, teams which have multiple forward targets along with midfield options are the ones that succeed. This is the challenge for the Swans in 2014.
The aforementioned description could have been given to the South African pairings of Amla-De Villiers, and Steyn-Philander. It may have even been apt for the American tennis doubles players Bob and Mike Bryan who had won three Grand Slams this year and finished with a career best 70-13 win-loss record. However, this author has settled on the Indian batting sensations of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
Through their performances in 2013, Pujara and Kohli, both 25 years of age, have illustrated the Indian team’s present situation and its future. A team which over the past few years has seen its middle-order backbone retire (Laxman, Dravid and Tendulkar), has been given assurance by these two batsmen that it is well-placed for success in coming years.
Pujara (World No. 6 batsman) is the timely aggressor whose wristy shot making can produce cover drives on end. Before the opposition knows it, Pujara has established a start for himself. In contrast, Kohli (World No. 11 batsman) is the one which the opposition is concerned with, first, containing and then second, getting out. Together both have flourished on the pacey Wanderers wicket in Johannesburg, South Africa and displaying a desire for its team to make a stand against the Proteas. It is this attitude that fans have seen in 2013 and will continue to see in future years.
The Australian Test cricket team completed a remarkable turnaround in the space of a few months as they reclaimed the Ashes from England in December following a 3-0 series loss in mid-2013, a result few would have predicted including this author. The reality is though that the team did not significantly alter its personnel between series with bowler Mitchell Johnson and batsman George Bailey as the two new inclusions. The remaining team members have since performed at a consistent level which fans were always hoping they could reach.
The result of this performance is that fans will be hoping to see more of it from, initially the same group of players, and then eventually the younger generation (including James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Usman Khawaja and Phil Hughes). The sternest of tests will be in the form of an away series against South Africa in February 2014. A key to Australia succeeding will be for the pace battery of Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Johnson to take advantage of the bouncy wickets. It will prove to be the best opportunity for this team to show that it can take the well-earned Ashes victory and continue to develop.
Expectations delivered | Tennis
After falling gallantly to Roger Federer in the 2012 final, Andy Murray responded in the best way possible to win in straight sets against the then World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to secure the 2013 Wimbledon Championship. The result had ended Britain’s 77 year old wait for a male British champion at the All England Club.
In a year in which Murray struggled to establish momentum on account of back injury, his Wimbledon triumph was a terrific performance. The match itself was even with respect to first serve percentage (65% for Djokovic and 64% for Murray) and winners (31 for Djokovic and 36 for Murray). However it was Murray who was most able to capitalise on the key moments when engaging in a lengthy rally with Djokovic. He was able to create more break point opportunities and take them.
Murray’s win represented as the only significant disturbance to the dominance of Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this year. However if fit and if he can generate winning momentum, Murray may be of greater significance in 2014.
The unexpected (nearly) delivered | Tennis
The insatiable appetite of Richmond Tigers’ fans to see their team play in the Finals for the first time since 2001 was satisfied. However their team went beyond expectations to very nearly secure a Top 4 finish. One more win would have seen the Tigers leapfrog Sydney to obtain a double chance (ohh, the missed opportunities to finish Carlton off in Round 21!!). Nonetheless in a season where a number of teams began delivering on their potential, this author applauds the Tigers’ season for its surprising outcome and its significance for 2014.
The Tigers’ 15 wins were on the back of an efficient midfield which won the ball cleanly from the centre and found tall targets in the forward line. It was a Geelong-esque style seen from the Cats’ 2007-09 era. Such success has encouraged the core of this team to re-sign contracts during the year, including Captain Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Shaun Grigg and Jack Reiwoldt.
Now the Tigers will face a different form of expectation in the New Year: qualify for the Finals and aim for Top 4. This represents uncharted waters for the Tigers which one would suggest may force the team to baulk. However Coach Damien Hardwick’s desire to maintain his personnel and continue to develop the existing talent is an indication of building a unified team that is driven for a sole purpose, despite expectation.
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