John McAuley looks back on the best and worst moments in sport over the past week.
Best start to year – Ben Stokes double ton
What better way to begin the New Year Test by smashing a load of records? Ben Stokes’s masterful 258 against South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday was the fastest Test double hundred by an England player, the fastest double hundred by England player and the most sixes in an innings by an England player. And the second fastest double ton in history to boot.
Worst start to year – Benitez getting fired
It seemed a long time coming despite the brevity of his tenure, but that Rafael Benitez’s final match as Real Madrid came on Sunday against Valencia, the club with whom he is still revered, just added to the ignominy. The Spaniard was ousted the following day, with Madrid sitting third in the Primera Liga. He lasted 215 days.
Best quote – Naomi Broady
British tennis player Naomi Brady shocked Ana Ivanovic at the Auckland Classic on Wednesday, defeating the former world No 1 who just happens to be in a relationship with Manchester United’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, too. Brady texted friends back home, but didn’t get the desired response. “They are more bothered that I played Schweinsteiger’s girlfriend,” she said. “They don’t get tennis whatsoever.”
Worst quote – Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle’s pitchside interview with television presenter Mel McLaughlin after his match for the Melbourne Renegades in cricket’s Big Bash League on Monday was cringe-inducing and totally inappropriate, a poor attempt at humour from the West Indies all-rounder. The lowest point, however, was his “Don’t blush baby” after he had asked McLaughlin out for a drink.
Most dangerous spectacle – Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is one of motorsport’s most notorious races and it again hit the headlines on Saturday after 10 people were seriously injured when Guo Meiling, the first Chinese woman to participate in the competition, lost control of her Mini Cooper and ploughed into a group of spectators in Rosario, Argentina.
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