The Socceroos are into the Asian Cup final, Steve Smith picked up three gongs at the annual Allan Border Medal night, but Nick Kyrgios’ Australian Open campaign came to a straight-sets halt, thanks to the wily Scot Andy Murray.
All three events were on at the same time last night, a couch potato’s heaven, with the remote in overdrive.
Three was one too many, so I chose to concentrate on Smith’s domination, and the tennis, and was kept up-to-date with the Socceroos’ efforts by my long-time colleague and co-Roarer Tim Prentice via text messages, with the 2-0 win over the UAE catapulting the men in gold into the final of the Asian Cup against South Korea next Saturday at ANZ Stadium.
The result was a big boost for Australian football, coach Ange Postecoglou, and the expected 80,000-plus crowd for the decider.
Steve Smith was the tearaway winner at the 16th Allan Border Medal presentation night, taking out the coveted medal, as well as the best Test and ODI player of the year. Only Ricky Ponting in 2007, and Shane Watson in 2011 have won the trifecta in the same year.
Smith was well clear for the medal with 273 votes, from David Warner’s 145, and Mitchell Johnson’s 126.
For the Test medal, Smith polled 27 votes, Warner 23, and Johnson 15. Smith just held off Aaron Finch for the ODI honours by 27 votes to 25.
What a night for the humble 25-year-old, who thoroughly deserved the triple recognition.
There’s a growing number of cricket lovers, including myself, who want the selectors to retain Steve Smith as the Test and ODI captain, even if Michael Clarke returns from his on-going injuries. At best, Clark will be a game-by-game proposition in the future with his chronic back issue, and both hamstrings under a cloud.
But Smith is super fit, he’s the premier batsman, the best fieldsman, and a visionary skipper. There was obvious delight among his peers as he repeatedly mounted the steps to the presentation stage. Smith is clearly a very popular skipper, who has constantly proved he leads from the front.
So selectors, ink in Steve Smith to toss the coin irrespective if Clarke plays or not.
The gala night saw Glenn Maxwell as the T20 player of the year, Meg Lanning the Belinda Clark Medal as the best women’s cricketer for the second time in a row, Sean Abbott the Bradman young cricketer of the year, and Jason Berendorff the domestic cricketer of year.
And that leaves Nick Kyrgios, now a spectator at Melbourne Park.
His golden run hit the wall, with Andy Murray changing his normal game plan to defuse the 19-year-old’s power.
Murray concentrated on Kyrgios’ backhand with softly sliced backhands of his own that skidded low, under Kyrgios’ radar.
Brilliant tactics.
Murray won 6-3 7-6 6-3 to book a semi-final berth with Czech Tomas Berdych who demolished Rafael Nadal in straight sets 6-2 6-0 7-6, ending a 17-match losing streak to the Spaniard.
Kyrgios however was far from disgraced, competing all the way through until the fat lady sang her farewell.
He would have learned a lot from last night, including keeping his cool, even through the frustration of not being allowed to play his own game was damning.
He did receive a code violation in the second set for racquet abuse, and when he smashed his racquet a second time on set point to Murray, that should have been an automatic point loss, and the set. But for some unknown reason, the central umpire didn’t enforce the penalty. It mattered not, Murray won the set anyway.
Kyrgios’ frustration was evident in his serving. In the previous four rounds he blasted 97 aces compared to Murray’s 37. Last night Kyrgios served just 9 aces to Murray’s 13, and to compound the loss of fire-power, Kyrgios’ return serve stat was well below par – just 21 points won out of 87, or 24 per cent.
Throw in Murray’s 48 winners to 36, and his 28 unforced errors to 38, and that’s why Andy Murray is in the semis to meet Berdych, and Nick Kyrgios will be watching the rest of the tournament on television.
Ben
Guest
Just a bit of banter Tin, I hope David takes it for the good naturred ribbing it was intended as. Keep the articles coming David - I don't always agree with your conclusions and at times find your worldview anachronistic but I otherwise enjoy your writing.
c
Guest
tim i have no doubt mr lord is a professional but i think you have missed the mark regarding his passion for soccer
Tim Prentice
Expert
Roarers, please allow me to say this: David Lord is passionate about all sports involving Australians - and otherwise. We spoke on the morning of The AB Medal, Asian Cup semi and the Kyrgios-Murray match and he agreed that there was too much of a good thing coming up that night. I told him I'd be watching the soccer and promised to swap notes. That happened all night and hopefully you, the Roarers finished as the ultimate winners. If everyone watched the soccer/football, there may not have been a considered opinion here on the (combined) tennis and cricket awards night. Lordy harbours a passion for sports that I have rarely seen in any scribe. He's no spring chicken but he will watch right through the night to bring you a viewpoint backed by many, many decades of experience. He also spends countless hours on research as opposed to many who contribute here with merely the first thought that comes to mind. I would like to see more respect for David Lord on this website as 2015 gets into top gear. You do not have to agree with him but I say you are missing out on a strong opinion, his professional belief, if you don't read what he has to say. And, in closing, it's a fair bet that the only WAG he's ever been interested in writing about is the 'wag' in the Australian cricket team's tail.
Bill
Guest
Why couldn't they have put the soccer on a different night from the medal count? Why should the ACB pander to a minority sport like soccer?
c
Guest
you missed the intent of my post basically the less fuel that you add to this fire the better as you are hitting your head against a brick wall with this author :)
Fadida
Guest
Funny, I thought it was a general sports topic C?
Ben
Guest
Absolutely not. I, for one, love bird watching as much as the next man - but I would never confuse it with sport. And as a sports lover, when forced to choose between the two I will watch significant live sporting events in preference to ogling the WAGS on the box (sorry, keeping up with the latest in women's fashion). Which, let's face it, is the primary selling point of televised medal count nights. But these are personal choices and I would never begrudge any person's right to settle down in front of the tele with a cold beer and bottle of hand lotion to relieve the pressures of the day. In fact, more power to em - certainly would beat the trash served up on most of the other channels on any given night.
Another Pom in Oz
Guest
I'd have thought CA could have used a little foresight and had the AB Medal ceremony on a different night to the Asian Cup SF...
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Now you've switched to if they can post or not? ;) (And he did say he watched the tennis).
Rocco75
Guest
I'm not telling people what to watch but for someone like David who it says on his profile "David Lord spends his waking hours keeping abreast of what’s happening in the world of sport around the world and is one of the pre-eminent voices on sport in Australia." yet he watched a medal count when he had the option of watching a tennis match or football match (both with something at stake) involving an Australian/Australians, well that shows he either isn't serious about the world of sport OR that his world of sport is much smaller and narrower than others. Each to their own I guess. No further comment required.
Anth
Guest
Six games ago smith wasn't good enough to be selected in the one dy side. Abbott as best youngster has to be tied in to Hughes...
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
So we're telling people what the have to watch now are we?
Rocco75
Guest
"There was one too many, so I chose to concentrate on Smith’s domination, and the tennis" David, that is an embarrassing admission. You watched a medal count for an award which was basically a fait accompli?? Steve Smith was always going to win it with his brilliant form over the last 6 months. Maybe you were watching the cricketers WAG's in the audience?? I had very little respect for you as a sports journalist and it's been vindicated. A leopard never changes its spots......
Ben
Guest
On one of the biggest sporting nights of the year you watched a black tie awards ceremony where the pool was shallow and the outcome a certainty (re: Steven Smith)?! You know you have reached the pinnacle of couch potatodem when you can't find the energy to get up to change the channel.
c
Guest
the less comments the better on this forum fadida
Fadida
Guest
Chose a medal count, essentially a club best and fairest, over an Asian Cup semi, involving Australia? You really aren't a football fan are you? :)