Tweet
LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Highlights of the 2011 sporting year.
Fifth Ashes test, Sydney, Jan. 3-7
Victory for England would put Andrew Strauss in the record books alongside Len Hutton as the only two captains to win an Ashes series both home and away in a five-test series against a full-strength Australian side.
Meanwhile, India, the world number one side, are playing second-ranked South Africa in the third and deciding test in Cape Town. India will retain the top spot even if they lose.
- - - -
ICC anti-corruption inquiry, Doha, Jan. 6-11
Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif face an International Cricket Council inquiry into alleged corruption in the fourth test against England last year.
The trio were suspended after a newspaper report alleged they had taken bribes in exchange for arranging for premeditated no-balls to be delivered.
- - - -
Australian Open tennis, Melbourne, Jan. 17-30
For once, Roger Federer may not be badgered by reporters seeking his thoughts on a possible grand slam. Instead media attention will likely focus on Rafa Nadal, winner of the 2010 French, Wimbledon and U.S. titles.
No man has won all four major titles in a calendar year since Rod Laver completed his second grand slam in 1969 and, if Nadal's fragile knees stand up to the strain, he could emulate the great Australian.
- - - -
Cricket World Cup, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Feb. 19-April 2
Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest modern batsman, would love to crown his career by taking India to the 50-overs World Cup in his native Mumbai.
The pressure on India and Tendulkar will be enormous in a country who fervently embraced the one-day game after their team unexpectedly defeated West Indies in the 1983 World Cup final at Lord's.
However, the versatile and experienced Sri Lanka side, who won the tournament in 1996 in the last time the Cup was staged on the Indian sub-continent, may again be the better bet.
- - - -
FIFA congress, Zurich, June 1
Sepp Blatter seeks a fourth four-year term as president of the world governing soccer body. No other candidate has openly announced he will stand against the 74-year-old Swiss, who will stress his intention to spread the sport further throughout the
world after FIFA voted last year to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the following tournament to Qatar.
- - - -
World swimming championships, Shanghai, July 16-31
American Ryan Lochte showed he could possibly match Michael Phelps and win eight Olympic gold medals at next year's London Olympics following his performances at the world short-course championships in Dubai last year.
Lochte won each of his individual five races and picked up a gold and a silver in three relays.
Phelps, who did not complete in Dubai, has said he will not try to replicate his 2008 Beijing feat in London.
- - - -
World athletics championships, Daegu, South Korea, Aug. 27-Sept. 4
Jamaican triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt limbers up in a dress rehearsal for the London Games.
Kenyan David Rudisha, who broke the men's 800 metres world record twice in 2010, also has his sights set on London.
Rudisha bettered the long-standing mark of Wilson Kipketer set in 1997. The previous record, which had stood since 1981, was set by Sebastian Coe, now head of the London organising committee.
- - - -
Rugby union World Cup, New Zealand, Sept. 9-Oct. 23
If possible, the weight of expectation is even greater for the New Zealand All Blacks than it is for the India one-day cricket side.
Yet again, the All Blacks are the world number one team by some margin, setting new standards of excellence in 2010.
But their passionate supporters fear that yet again the men in black will stumble in pursuit of the trophy they have not won since the inaugural 1987 tournament which they also hosted.
(Compiled by John Mehaffey; Editing by Dave Thompson; To
query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Online Business Consulting | Internet Business Consulting
Fifth Ashes test, Sydney, Jan. 3-7
Victory for England would put Andrew Strauss in the record books alongside Len Hutton as the only two captains to win an Ashes series both home and away in a five-test series against a full-strength Australian side.
Meanwhile, India, the world number one side, are playing second-ranked South Africa in the third and deciding test in Cape Town. India will retain the top spot even if they lose.
- - - -
ICC anti-corruption inquiry, Doha, Jan. 6-11
Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif face an International Cricket Council inquiry into alleged corruption in the fourth test against England last year.
The trio were suspended after a newspaper report alleged they had taken bribes in exchange for arranging for premeditated no-balls to be delivered.
- - - -
Australian Open tennis, Melbourne, Jan. 17-30
For once, Roger Federer may not be badgered by reporters seeking his thoughts on a possible grand slam. Instead media attention will likely focus on Rafa Nadal, winner of the 2010 French, Wimbledon and U.S. titles.
No man has won all four major titles in a calendar year since Rod Laver completed his second grand slam in 1969 and, if Nadal's fragile knees stand up to the strain, he could emulate the great Australian.
- - - -
Cricket World Cup, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Feb. 19-April 2
Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest modern batsman, would love to crown his career by taking India to the 50-overs World Cup in his native Mumbai.
The pressure on India and Tendulkar will be enormous in a country who fervently embraced the one-day game after their team unexpectedly defeated West Indies in the 1983 World Cup final at Lord's.
However, the versatile and experienced Sri Lanka side, who won the tournament in 1996 in the last time the Cup was staged on the Indian sub-continent, may again be the better bet.
- - - -
FIFA congress, Zurich, June 1
Sepp Blatter seeks a fourth four-year term as president of the world governing soccer body. No other candidate has openly announced he will stand against the 74-year-old Swiss, who will stress his intention to spread the sport further throughout the
world after FIFA voted last year to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the following tournament to Qatar.
- - - -
World swimming championships, Shanghai, July 16-31
American Ryan Lochte showed he could possibly match Michael Phelps and win eight Olympic gold medals at next year's London Olympics following his performances at the world short-course championships in Dubai last year.
Lochte won each of his individual five races and picked up a gold and a silver in three relays.
Phelps, who did not complete in Dubai, has said he will not try to replicate his 2008 Beijing feat in London.
- - - -
World athletics championships, Daegu, South Korea, Aug. 27-Sept. 4
Jamaican triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt limbers up in a dress rehearsal for the London Games.
Kenyan David Rudisha, who broke the men's 800 metres world record twice in 2010, also has his sights set on London.
Rudisha bettered the long-standing mark of Wilson Kipketer set in 1997. The previous record, which had stood since 1981, was set by Sebastian Coe, now head of the London organising committee.
- - - -
Rugby union World Cup, New Zealand, Sept. 9-Oct. 23
If possible, the weight of expectation is even greater for the New Zealand All Blacks than it is for the India one-day cricket side.
Yet again, the All Blacks are the world number one team by some margin, setting new standards of excellence in 2010.
But their passionate supporters fear that yet again the men in black will stumble in pursuit of the trophy they have not won since the inaugural 1987 tournament which they also hosted.
(Compiled by John Mehaffey; Editing by Dave Thompson; To
query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Online Business Consulting | Internet Business Consulting
