Aussie Sport

Thorpe Quits


For some time now we had been hearing rumours that Ian Thorpe's heart was no longer in swimming. It's been suspected for some time that he might not be there to win in 2008. Now we find out it's true, he's retiring at the ripe young age of 24.

SUNDAY, November 19, 2006, 2.53pm - the moment the world's greatest swimmer decided he could swim no more. As the hands on his watch reached that time, Ian Thorpe declared to himself that his career was over.

2.53. A time now as significant when speaking of Thorpe as any figures he ever produced in the pool. It wasn't the time after a painful training session, or when he felt the pain of injury or illness, 2.53pm just happened to be the moment when Thorpe - having already made the decision - looked at his watch in need of closure.

After an illustrious career, one painted in gold and littered with accolades, world records and justified claims he was the best swimmer ever, Thorpe announced yesterday that he had retired from a sport which he had dominated since emerging internationally with success at the 1998 world championships in Perth.

According to Thorpe, the decision had been pending for some time. He admitted it was something he considered following the Athens Olympics, and the reason he took a year away from competing was in the hope of revitalising his desire.

And just like that, he's gone. I'm not much a of a swimming fan, but thanks for the memories.

Ashes Countdown
Just over a year after Australia copped it sweet in England, they're trying to win back the sacred little urn. England for all its glory in winning the Ashes last year, aren't looking as sharp.
English Vice-Captain Andrew Strauss thinks the Australians are desperate.

"Before the last series we felt we had something to prove. I don't think we feel that now," Strauss said.
"We go in there with our heads high and know that if we play the sort of cricket we can play, we can cause Australia problems. That's a fantastic level of confidence to have going into the series."

England finds itself in the unfamiliar position of having to defend cricket's most famous prize for the first time in 17 years.

However Strauss, the compact opener who should thrive on what promises to be a barer than usual Gabba pitch, dismissed suggestions the pressure of retaining the Ashes would be too much for his side.

"Australia are desperate to get their hands on the Ashes again," he said. "They have been the No. 1 team in the world. If anything, the pressure is on them to grab them off us.

"We have a hell of a lot of good memories from that last Ashes series to draw from.

"We came across a way of beating Australia in England and we know how to do it. We know we have to play very good cricket to do that. If we do it as well as we did last time, there is no reason why the result will be any different."

God, they sound like the Red Sox. The Aussies are looking a bit like the Yankees, what with their all-veteran squad. The selectors are still persisting with Langer, Hayden, McGrath and Warne. It's such a risk-averse kind of selection I wonder if there will ever be a changing of the guard.
I guess we'll find out tomorrow how effective this bunch of old codgers will be. It reminds me a bit of the English side in 1989, and that's not good.