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We are blessed in Australia to have so many world-class sportsmen and women to watch. These are my current top 10:
10. Cate Campbell (23)
Powerful poetry freestyle motion in the pool, her titanic battles with little sister Bronte (21) make fascinating viewing.
With Melanie Schlanger and Emma McKeon, the talented twosome are half the world record 4×100 Australian relay team of 3.30.98 set in Glasgow last year.
9. Nick Kyrgios (20)
A huge talent who will be even better when he stops behaving like a spoiled brat and playing musical chairs with his coaches.
With victories over world number one Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon last year and world two Roger Federer this year at Madrid, Kyrgios has rocketed up the rankings from 144 last year to 29, but is very capable of top 10 once he gives away brain explosions.
8. Daniel Ricciardo (25)
Boasts the world’s best smile whether he’s winning a Formula One grand prix or struggling. One of the sport’s biggest mysteries is how he had a sniff at winning last year’s driver’s championship as number two driver with Red Bull behind world champion Sebastian Vettel and regularly beating him, while this year as the Red Bull number one, his car is more like a peddle-engine version.
But he’s still smiling.
7. Cameron Smith (32)
A born leader as rugby league captain of the Storm, Queensland, and the Kangaroos. At all times his generalship around the park is right off the top shelf, supplemented by his accurate line and goal-kicking.
6. Jason Day (27)
Will be a major golf champion sooner than later. He showed enormous courage last week at the US Open, despite suffering from the debilitating after effects of second-round vertigo. Long off the tee for a little bloke, Day has a top iron game, and is a reliable putter.
5. Sally Pearson (28)
When Sally crashed heavily in Rome to severely break her wrist, it was as big a shock as Don Bradman’s last Test innings duck in 1948. Olympic and world champion Sally is such a hurdling perfectionist, if she ran in the same lane every meet her spike marks would be in the same holes. Hopefully she will be back on track as soon as possible.
4. David Pocock (27)
Missed the 2013 and 2014 seasons with knee reconstructions, but he’s back to his brilliant best this year to monster the opposition in attack and defence as one of the world’s best openside flankers.
3. Johnathan Thurston (32)
A two-time Golden Boot winner in 2011 and 2013, with three Dally Ms in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and he’s Origin’s highest points scorer with 174 and rising. He’s been at his superb best leading the Cowboys to 11 successive wins this season to be a genuine NRL threat. The complete footballer and a privilege to watch play.
2. Israel Folau (25)
If the Waratahs are to win back-to-back Super titles, and the Wallabies are to capture a record third Rugby World Cup, both teams must give this excitement machine the room to move so he can cut the opposition to ribbons as only he can.
Folau is a one-off player who constantly has big crowds on their feet in anticipation when he has ball in hand.
1. Steve Smith (25)
The new world number one Test batsman, averaging 56.23 with nine tons in 28 Tests, five of them in his last six. He’s not the purist’s batting example, but his superb footwork, ball-striking, and placement is as good as any batsman who ever played the game. He’s also a brilliant fieldsman in the cordon or the country.
Importantly, as Australia’s next Test, ODI, and T20 captain, he’s humble, articulate, and has a sharp cricket brain. Long may he reign.