It is my place to fill-in for sport writer Wes Tronson as the EPL is on their off-season. So therefore, I have noticed this month has seen an amazing amount of international sports on show both overseas and in Australia.
Three EPL (English Soccer) clubs were on display in exhibition matches in Australia.
The Netball World Cup has been on exhibition - a hallmark of Australian women’s sport. Anywhere in Australia or New Zealand on a Saturday morning try and find a car park anywhere near the netball courts. The Silver Ferns beat the Diamonds by 1 point in the final.
The Cricket World Cup was on in England – Australia lost the semi-final. It was the television and discussed endlessly. The final saw a count back of boundaries after an extra over was played after a tie – England given the win, but then it was illustrated that the rules were not followed in an over where England should have only been allocated 5 runs, not 6. The hapless New Zealand Black Caps can be well disappointed.
The Australian women’s cricket team played in their World Cup in England and then started a Test series in August along with One Day’ers. The Australian men’s cricket team the same against England for the Ashes after their One Day series.
The World Cup of Women’s soccer was also played and this time the Australians (Matildas) failed to even make the semi-finals. There was much to say in the media about this for all sorts of reasons. Enough said the better.
The world swimming championships as well. Then the tennis in July, French and Wimbledon Championships.
The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos were also on display – once again it is astonishing that these national teams with so many international honours get so little publicity. The media approach – another hockey victory – ho-hum. The women’s soccer team don’t make it the world cup semi-final, oh woe is me, drama drama drama.
The Australian Institute of Sport have a facility in Italy where there are hundreds of our young super stars encamp in the European summer (our winter) – think rowers, canoers, basketballers, softballers, divers, track and field and the rest of them based at the AIS in Canberra and the decentralised State based centres.
July has been a wonderful display of international sport for us Australians. And what remarkable commentators we are. My wife Delma, a tennis enthusiast, while late at night watching Wimbledon finished crocket a lap rug.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
