Sports Personality of the Year 2005 - Vol 2
Having paid tribute to Freddie Flintoff's triumph earlier in the week, it would be churlish not to honour another deserving winner, that of International Sports Personality of the Year - the great (how many times have I said that?) Shane Warne.
Today seems especially fitting to do so, as earlier this morning, on the other side of the world, he broke the record for the number of wickets taken in a calendar year. Warne has now taken 87 wickets this year, overtaking the record set by another legend, Dennis Lillee, in another famous Ashes year, 1981.
Warne was, along with Flintoff, one of two superstars who brought joy and entertainment to many in the Ashes series. It was just a shame he was on the losing side. Having said that, had these two been playing for the same side, it is highly unlikely the series would have been as close and exciting!
A few weeks ago I met up with my good friend Roger for a (long overdue) day out in London. A main talking point was of course, the Ashes series, and we both agreed he had risen considerably in our estimation throughout the summer.
His performances speak for themselves - Flintoff may have been the difference between the sides, but most all-rounders would settle for Warne's end-of-series averages: 40 wickets at less than 20 a-piece, and 249 runs at more than 27 per innings.
More importantly was the spirit in which he played - I'll always remember him applauding Flintoff on his way to the pavilion after another outstanding knock and how he congratulated Kevin Pietersen on his wonderful 158 on the last day which put the Ashes out of Australia's reach. It is well known that Warne and KP are friends, but I still maintain Warne would have done that to any of the other England batsmen had they played so well - maybe not to the established ones (Vaughan, Trescothick) but certainly to any of the other men playing in their first Ashes series, of which there were a few.
As an aspiring writer, I have enjoyed Warne's column in The Times for several years. Recently he talked about whether his dropped catch when Pietersen was on 15. He was suitably philosophical about it: "It just wasn't meant to be,” he wrote. Great, great attitude. There's no point getting hung up about these things - what's done is done.
What is not so well documented is the huge courage of the man. His performances were phenomenal, no two ways about that - but when you consider his problems off the field that only makes his efforts even more remarkable. No matter his talent, or his passion for the game, it must have been so, so hard for him to turn up and play the way he did when part of him must surely have been with his estranged wife and children in Australia.
In 2006 I plan to compete in the Abingdon marathon in October. I'm still not sure if I have the mental toughness, but my trainer Anthony thinks I have it in me (something I take as a massive compliment). I know that the training alone will be hell. To help me get through it, I plan to bear in mind Warne's motto "Never give up. Absolutely, never give up".
There are a lot worse places to look for inspiration than the truly great Shane Warne.
Copyright © Jonathan Weedon, 17th December 2005
Today seems especially fitting to do so, as earlier this morning, on the other side of the world, he broke the record for the number of wickets taken in a calendar year. Warne has now taken 87 wickets this year, overtaking the record set by another legend, Dennis Lillee, in another famous Ashes year, 1981.
Warne was, along with Flintoff, one of two superstars who brought joy and entertainment to many in the Ashes series. It was just a shame he was on the losing side. Having said that, had these two been playing for the same side, it is highly unlikely the series would have been as close and exciting!
A few weeks ago I met up with my good friend Roger for a (long overdue) day out in London. A main talking point was of course, the Ashes series, and we both agreed he had risen considerably in our estimation throughout the summer.
His performances speak for themselves - Flintoff may have been the difference between the sides, but most all-rounders would settle for Warne's end-of-series averages: 40 wickets at less than 20 a-piece, and 249 runs at more than 27 per innings.
More importantly was the spirit in which he played - I'll always remember him applauding Flintoff on his way to the pavilion after another outstanding knock and how he congratulated Kevin Pietersen on his wonderful 158 on the last day which put the Ashes out of Australia's reach. It is well known that Warne and KP are friends, but I still maintain Warne would have done that to any of the other England batsmen had they played so well - maybe not to the established ones (Vaughan, Trescothick) but certainly to any of the other men playing in their first Ashes series, of which there were a few.
As an aspiring writer, I have enjoyed Warne's column in The Times for several years. Recently he talked about whether his dropped catch when Pietersen was on 15. He was suitably philosophical about it: "It just wasn't meant to be,” he wrote. Great, great attitude. There's no point getting hung up about these things - what's done is done.
What is not so well documented is the huge courage of the man. His performances were phenomenal, no two ways about that - but when you consider his problems off the field that only makes his efforts even more remarkable. No matter his talent, or his passion for the game, it must have been so, so hard for him to turn up and play the way he did when part of him must surely have been with his estranged wife and children in Australia.
In 2006 I plan to compete in the Abingdon marathon in October. I'm still not sure if I have the mental toughness, but my trainer Anthony thinks I have it in me (something I take as a massive compliment). I know that the training alone will be hell. To help me get through it, I plan to bear in mind Warne's motto "Never give up. Absolutely, never give up".
There are a lot worse places to look for inspiration than the truly great Shane Warne.
Copyright © Jonathan Weedon, 17th December 2005
posted by Jon | 4:28 pm
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