How Accurate was MoreThanBalls Twelve Months Ago?

Twelve months ago I made some comments about what I would like to see happen in the sporting calendar of 2009. Looking back some of the results are quite interesting and some more accurate than others.

Although the original post was to be less of a prediction but more of a wish list, I thought I would look back and see if my wishes came true...

The Lions in South Africa:

Wish – 2-1 Lions victory with the pack being the key.

Reality – Saying the pack is going to be key in a rugby Test Series is rather obvious in retrospect, though it was crucial in the 2009 tour to South Africa.

Phil Vickery was embarrassed in the First Test by Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira, which gave the Boks the penalties and the platform to take a crucial lead.

The second Test was one of the most exciting and brutal in recent memory, and for a rush of blood to the head of Ronan O’Gara, the Lions would have had the opportunity to draw the three match series against the World Champions.

Accuracy – 3/10 (but who cares, it was a fantastic series)

The Ashes:

Wish – A repeat of 2005 with the emergence of Stuart Broad to win the urn.

Reality – Fairly spot on. Australia did lack the personalities and world class ability of 2005, though Ricky Pointing and Michael Clarke did fill these boots and Ben Hilfenhaus in particular shone. With Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff bowing out for England in Test cricket, they managed to scrap a series win with equal drama to the last instalment.

Stuart Broad did come of age in the series, and with Flintoff’s retirement will need to continue.

I think the next series in 2013 being broadcast on terrestrial television speaks volumes as 2009 did not grab the public’s hearts as much as 2005, despite the drama of Monty Panesar holding on with the bat at Cardiff.

Accuracy – 9/10

British Boxing:

Wish – Calzaghe to retire, Hatton to fight Oscar de La Hoya, Carl Froch to slowly grow and Haye to fight the Klitscho’s.

Reality – Calzaghe retired while Hatton has (perhaps) been forced to retire after he was humiliatingly dismantled by Manny Pacquiao.

Froch however, has become a much bigger name on the world stage this year. He went to American and defeated the previously unanimous world middleweight champion, Jermaine Taylor, and won his first fight in the exciting Super Six Series against American prospect Andre Dirrel.

David Haye has had the most successful year though. It seemed to be all doom and gloom after his fight with Wladimir Klitschko was cancelled after Haye injured himself at his training camp in Cyprus. However, he came back and defeated Nickolai Valuev on points to become world heavyweight champion.

A fight against one of the brothers he has been shouting about should come about next year.

Accuracy – 5/10

I also asked for the England football team to become less like pre-madonnas. I was feeling a larger sense of pride in the side, but after the revelations about John Terry earning money from giving businessmen tours of Stamford Bridge, it is obvious their desire for money is omnipresent.

2009 was a great year for sport and ended a fantastic decade. I cannot wait to see what transpires over the next 12 months, but it should be exciting!

Total: 17/30