Bloody Hell - What a Year

Leading up to last years CWC, being held in Australia and New Zealand, there was a growing sense that this team would go far.  Results were there for the perusal and players were staking a claim, across the team, as worthy of the challenge.  Many pundits since have alluded to the 1992 team, but I refused to do that.  That 1992 team was a complete surprise - 2015 not so. 1992 was anchored largely by three players, MD Crowe, Greatbatch, and strangely Dipak Patel.  Seriously too, I can only recall those three in that team moving forward.  I'm sure for the next 100 years or until we win a Cup, all the players in the 2015 team will live long in memory. So what of that Cricket World Cup?  Guptill's 237*, The Hairy Javelin's 84* and six to win versus South Africa, Kane's 6 to win versus Australia.  Boutly's wickettaking was sublime as well but supplanted in Tim's 7/37.  But I tend now to rue a missed opportunity.  Playing that final I suspect our boys had already played their final and failed to play to their ability.  Sadly I think they missed their opportunity.  Next CWC will be different.

And what of cricket for the past year.  A dearth of ODI's pre and post CWC seemed the norm but not the saviour of Cricket to say the least.  Crowd numbers outside CWC have been down, largely robbed of viewership of T20.  Why does T20 have such high acclaim?  It is a terrible bastardisation of cricket.  I suppose if ICC and moneyed associations continue to push the barrow and try and get Americans seeing it alongside Baseball they might get market share in other countries.  I tend to think not and money wasted in the game.

The glory of the game for me is Test Cricket followed by ODI's.  T20 simply put, is not cricket.  Test cricket has made a resurgence this year, lead masterfully by England winning the Ashes and thereby giving Australia a fright. There have been a few surprises but largely the pecking order survived, with rankings staying fairly static.  What was great was the number of tests each country played. The following is the playing list:

13  Eng
10  WI, SL, Aus
9   NZ, SA
8   Ind, Pak,
5  Bang.
0   Zim

Maybe this is a result of ICC's Future Tours programme coming to fruition.  Whatever is happening, I like it.  My biggest moments from the willow and leather?  Have to be Guptill's 237* versus WI during CWC2015.  Then Taylor's 290 in Aussie, setting a new best mark for all touring batsmen.  Sad he missed out on his much deserved 300.  Tim's 7 - 37 also a mark of great bowling. Kane and BJ - another great moment But I think the biggest mark for me, and the best thing of 2015 was Brendon's captaincy.  Long may he retire well.  And welcome Kane.  May you have learned well under Brendon.


Motorsport

Gee so early.  But what a great year.  Probably not the BEST year but one that holds a lot of promise for years to come.  Fabian Coulthard, "The Jandal" Scott McLaughlin and Shane Van Guisbergen made huge inroads in the V8 Supercars, sharing the spoils and regularly top ten.  2016 will see them continue to impress surely.

Hayden Paddon stepped it up this year and starred for NZ in WRC2015.  Making top tens were the plan with a somewhat under powered Hyundai keeping a promise of better to come towards years end and into 2016 resigning with Hyundai.  Hayden has surpassed his idol, Possom Bourne, by racing in WRC and the motor racing public of NZ now has something really special to follow.  Be great if WRC returned to Rally NZ??

Also to feature was Scott Dixon, his fourth Indy Car title.  His consistency and ability to be there when the points were on offer lead his subdued charge to a series title.  Three wins during the season helped him get that title on count-back.

Earl Bamber, Brendon Hartley, and Mitch Evans all also featured through various stages of the year and are certainly set to feature in 2016.

RWC WWE

Rugby started the year off with Super Rugby and a competition that was very much in the mix right to the end. The two finals teams were quite out of the blue as finalists.  And that both had never won a final, a lot was riding on that match. I had no reason to follow either, but secretly I was barracking for Highlanders, just because.

Can anyone remember Quad Nations? (Damn it, Argies next year play Super18 then Quad?? - same teams?)

And sadly my beloved Manawatu Turbos were blown away after one year in ITM Premiership competition.

That would have been the end of rugby for the year but someone slotted in a Rugby World cup.  Where 3 things happened.  England didn't make knockout phase, Japan minced South Africa, and Australia did better than expected.  Oh and apparently a Man with an ONZ lifted the cup for the second time in a row.

7's - not good going into Olympics year.


Rowing

The year was another good one throughout and we continued to show dominance in many disciplines.  But sadly, with the Olympics beckoning, shit hits the fan.  One of Two Master coaches (the other Tietjens) struggling at the wrong time of year is not what New Zealand sports require.  At this stage of the programme NZ Rowing doesn't need any trouble going forward.  Whoever is at fault, sort it out and get rowing again.

And here is NZ Rowings latest - better they tell it like it is.

Who's gunna stop Lisa Carrington (ok so it's technically not rowing)

Cycling

Seems all those Lycra clad cyclists dodging cow pats on those Waikato roads ( and slipstreaming Fonterra Tankers) have been succeeding given their training regime.  Actually I err in the locations.  A lot are from Manawatu, Christchurch and Southland.  

Three events of note.

1.  Tour of Southland - so when is it going to become an elite event?  Can you imagine a Tour De Anywhere in Europe type event in the backblocks of rolling RRRR country?  Yep, maybe the money the government gives in wasted dollars to Yachting and a Flag, then surely cycling (and golf) should show they have merit as a key sport here.

2.  The Tour de France

Pictured is Greg Henderson and I think he gets my NZ Gutsiest Bastard of the Year award.  Crashed in Stage 3, broke some ribs, picked himself up, dusted off french gravel, and rode for another 3 stages. He had to reluctantly bow out.

And in the same event fellow New Zealander Jack Bauer also crashed breaking his femur.

3.  UCI World Champs - Cambridge

A stunning success as far as organisation goes.  New Zealand Cycling produced a great venue and the championships mirrored that with the number of kiwi cyclists in contention and succeeding.  Races with bizarre names as posted below.
                                                                                                                                                                       TVone Sports presenter Andrew Saville seems                                                   amazed when presenting News on results from                                                 UCI Worlds at Cambridge

Main Sprint Events

• Sprint
• Team sprint
• Keirin
• Track time trial

Main Endurance Events

• Individual pursuit
• Team pursuit
• Scratch race
• Points race
• Madison
• Omnium

I think next year could very well be a watershed year at the Olympics for our cyclists.  Competitive in quite a few events, with a few just sitting below the podium finish.

Golf

Funny  sort of year really.  Lydia Ko continued to inspire and impress and ended the year as World Number 1. The nickname has yet to be mentioned with her game and demeanour.  It's probably not kosher to call her the BabyFaced Assassin but you get my drift. I fail to recall any other talent in any sport that is like that, baby faced and a killer on the courses.

Next cab in my street and taking me for a ride is the Father/Son pairing of Grant and Ryan Fox. Still too early for fireworks from Ryan but I'm guessing things will move quickly and soon.

Which leaves someone that started some time ago as a possible success at golf, disappeared for a spell and then has reborn himself on the USA PGA tour.  Danny Lee is now becoming hot news and this year won on the tour, and featured, due to that success, in an invite to The Open.  I suspect we will see something special hopefully next year.

Athletics

It's been quite strange this year.  Well very quiet.  Valerie, where were you?? Then Tom Walsh moved into the top ten, Nick Willis made some inroads and Eliza McCartney soared, broke a world record in the process and managed to qualify for Rio.  Just 8 months away now, all eyes are on those Rio games.

And just to float someones boat, here's a possible stare of the future, James Guthrie-Croft.

Swimming

According to Swim NZ, there will be 8 - 10 swimmers going to Rio.  Final numbers to be found at the Nationals in March.  How they, Swim NZ, go after the Sparc debacle this past year will be worth a watch too.

Basketball

America had The Addams Family, a gothic spoof of the horror comedy genre.  New Zealand have their own family, the Adams Family.

While Valerie has terrorised sporting venues the world over, "little" brother Steven has been making a very veritable name for himself on the courts of USA.  Now into his second year in the big time, Steve finds himself now the starting centre for the Oklahoma Thunder.  

For many years I followed Boston Celtics, I think Larry Bird was my psuedo idol.  But since Steve started at Oklahoma, I have been an avid Thunder fan.  And I haven't been let down in that fanship.

But it looks like the riches of NZ Basketball is to be further nurtured with Tai Wynyard moving to University of Kentucky and hopefully onto NBA aspirations.  He's already a New Zealand Basketball player, something Steve Adams isn't (yet) and with Breakers in top three again of ANBL, NZ basketball is in good fettle.

Sailing

Blair Tuke (pictured) leads New Zealand's charge for medals at Rio. Meet the NZ Sailing Team.  Press here

New Zealand sailing always, like rowing, comes to the party.  And results at regattas around the world have brought about varying yet heartening results. this year.  And it seems too that Team NZ have jumped their hurdles and things will materialise in the near future.


Sports Broadcasting/Media

Twitter starred this year, in all sports.  It's got to such a stage in media presentation where major Dailies now tweet their news and provide better and faster news presentation.

It's noticeable too that main news stations given their 10 minute presentation time restraint are not reporting lesser sports news.  AND still all three news channels fail to provide coverage of domestic cricket.

Bowls

A lot of old people have passed on and a lot of junior bowlers are featuring.

Darts 

Our Current champion, only put this in as he's from Palmy.  Mark McGrath 2016.

And that's it for me this year. 2016 is a great year ahead.  Blackcaps without Brendon, and Richie, Dan, Ma'a, Conrad and Kevvie leaving for a new AB's team to struggle through.

Joseph Parker - World champion by July.

All Whites might play a friendly or seven (get up from 159 ranking)

Peter Williams will score a Hole in One at Titirangi and tell the whole world on TV One news and make a dick of himself in so doing. (Sorry Mr Williams)

Another Williams, Sonny Bill, will stand for parliament.

Good night all, see you all well and happy in the New Year, may you imbibe well tonight to your tolerable level.

AND!!  If you are going to drink, take a taxi, even if you have a sober driver don't take any risk.