SportingSpeak Review of the Week

17.11.14

Top Four: 

• Rohit Sharma – 264. Need we say more? http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/nov/13/india-rohit-sharma-264-first-player-odi-250-sri-lanka
• Substitutes: the saving grace at the ATP World Tour Finals this week, as David Ferrer stepped in for Milos Raonic in the round robin stage, and Andy Murray made a last minute journey to Greenwich after Roger Federer withdrew from the finalhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/30074747
• Women’s cricket: we’ll be able to follow all the action from the Women’s Ashes live on Sky Sports and BBC TMS next year. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a609291/sky-to-broadcast-womens-test-match-cricket-for-the-first-time.html#~oVSlyNohnLO8Sg
• Crowd-funding, which is taking Caterham to the Abu Dhabi GP. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30055510 

In the relegation zone:

•  FIFA – the farce of Qatar’s allegedly corrupt World Cup bid continues as the chief investigator says the report did not reflect his findings: http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/368229.html
• Doors – Josh Hodgson is not a fan. And now Rugby League England are not a fan of him. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/video-england-player-josh-hodgson-smashes-through-door-at-student-flat-during-endoftour-party-following-four-nations-exit-9849703.html
• Twitter trolls – rape threats to Jess Ennis-Hill after she stated that she would want her name removed from a stand should Ched Evans be offered a contract at Sheffield United? Disgusting. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/14/jessica-ennis-hill-ched-evans_n_6159034.html

SportingSpeak Review of the Week

27.10.14

Top Four

• Turning the tables: at the WTA finals, Serena Williams suffered her heaviest ever defeat in 16 years at the hands of Simona Halep, only to avenge this 4 days later in the final to secure the title for the third consecutive year http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/sports/tennis/serena-williams-punishes-simona-halep-for-earlier-defeat.html?_r=0
• RWC 2015: with a record number of ticket applications for next year’s tournament, the stage looks set for a fantastic event. http://www.biznews.com/sport/2014/10/23/2015-rugby-world-cup-sets-ticket-record/
• Compromise: what to do if an NFL game clashes with Sunday morning church? Don’t worry, you can have both: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0297x5w
• History repeating itself: Andy Murray saved 5 match points in a final against Tommy Robredo for the second time in as many months to secure the Valencia Open title and all but guarantee a spot at the World Tour Finals in London next month. We enjoyed Robredo’s reaction too: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/26/andy-murray-valencia-open-title-tommy-robredo

 In the relegation zone

• Shirt swapping: Brendan Rodgers is not a fan. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29733915
• Closure, with the news that South African prosecutors are going to appeal against the conviction and sentence Oscar Pistorius received for killing Reeva Steenkamp: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-29786011
• Administration. Not a good week for F1 as Marussia follow Caterham into administration, with both teams confirming they will not race in the US Grand Prix next weekend. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/f1-marussia-placed-into-administration-as-backmarkers-continue-financial-struggles-9820389.html