Is It My Imagination...or Are We Kicking Ass All Of A Sudden At Sport?

[sp1814]

I am infamous amongst my mates at being completely ignorant of most sporting events (except the Men's diving at the last Olympics obv)...

But am I right in thinking that all of a sudden, British sports is 'on the upswing'?

Apparently, a Brit has won the Tour De France, and then there was Andy Murray, then there was something with rugby a couple of weeks ago and if I'm not mistaken, for once, my cricket-loving colleagues aren't gnashing their teeth in anger.

Is it time for us to unfurl our flags?

Or would that just be jinxing whatever competition is up next?

[emmie]

not just recently, Bradley Wiggins former winner of the Tour de France, Olympics was a tremendous boost for British sport, we have been doing well in cricket for some time, tennis now Andy Murray winner of US Open and Wimbledon, plus lots more.

[douglas9401]

Sorry, no time for debate, some woman just had a baby, must celebrate wildly for no apparent reason.
Talk later

[Psybbo]

An American won the Open

[meglet]

....and don't forget a very decent showing at the Olympics. Which probably has a huge part to play as a lot of investment was made in sport prior to the Olympics to ensure we didn't show ourselves up.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Chris Froome is now the Tour de France winner Em. Also a Brit.

[emmie]

as i said it's not just recently, in many way for a small nation we punch above our weight in any number of sports. The cricket, we are bashing the Aussies, on the water with the likes of Ben Ainslie, supreme champion, he has shifted over i think to the Americas cup... Golf, Rory Mcilroy, there has been plenty to crow about, not that one should, not the done thing, don't you know....

[emmie]

i know, i was talking about some not quite so recent wins, this hasn't been happening just of late.

[Buenchico]

>>>Olympics was a tremendous boost for British sport

. . . but Brits have been winning at long-distance cycling, cricket and rugby. None of which are Olympic sports!

[sp1814]

But what was the cricket thing?

I know something happened, but I tuned out of the conversation in the pub last week...because it was about cricket.

Have we won something there too?

[jno]

to some extent, it's the Aussies falling apart in rugby and cricket. (You didn't mention it but the British and Irish Lions recently thrashed them at rugby.) Australian fans blame the AFL (Aussie rules), which has gone fully professional and is hiring any kid who looks remotely athletic, including promising young cricketers.

But the Olympics showed British sportsmen doing well, when properly funded, and two Tour de Frances in a row...

Shame about the football; also the lacrosse, if you've been following JoggerJayne's bulletins.

[Buenchico]

>>>Have we won something there too?

We're two thirds of the way to winning the most important event in world sport: The Ashes!

[jno]

cricket: five tests here followed by five in Australia over Christmas. England won the first narrowly, the second very convincingly.

I'm not sure that's a sufficient basis for the triumphalism I'm getting from England cricket fans.

[emmie]

its The Ashes, the most important cricketing event you can get.

[sp1814]

jno

So...there's three more 'tests' to go?

Seriously??!

[Buenchico]

>>>So...there's three more 'tests' to go?

I don't normally pick people up on their spelling but I feel compelled to point out that 'Test' requires a capital letter. After all, Test Matches are FAR more important than anything else in the world!
;-)

However I have to congratulate you upon your grasp of mathematics. Yes, England are two thirds of the way there because they need to win 3 Tests, out of 5, to be sure of retaining The Ashes.

[DaisyNonna]

Don't forget the recent Triathlon results.

[jno]

three more to go in England, sp1814. Then a repeat in Australia. So Australia might fail to regain them in the current series (England hold them by virtue of having won the previous series) but then regain them on home ground, and all the blowing of England trumpets will have been in vain.

I don't actually think this will happen; I think Australia are too weak to win for some time yet. But England have not been playing as well as they think they have been.

[ludwig]

// But England have not been playing as well as they think they have been. //

They think they've been playing better that Australia, and that's the key requirement for winning the ashes.

[sp1814]

Buenchico

I'm awarding you 'Best Answer' for the sheer cheekiness of your reply.

[TTG]

Shame about the football team.