A sporting weekend to remember

With an overload of sport this weekend there was bound to be some good and bad performances from the British competitors involved.

An impressive opening half from England’s footballers was enough to secure a 2-0 win at the Millenium stadium, ensuring there would be no embarrassment against the world’s 116^th ranked side, Wales.

It was a different story in the cricket where England were taken apart by Sri Lanka’s opening batsmen, Dilshan and Tharanga, losing by 10 wickets.

Lewis Hamilton began his season off with a superb second place in Australia, fending off Mark Webber on the opening corner and battling a broken undertray. Jenson Button had a less successful race in fifth and Scot Paul Di Resta claimed 10^th on his F1 debut.

With World Superbikes returning to Donington Park eyes were on the four British riders to perform. However, only Leon Camier could manage a podium finish over the two races as Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri took race victories.

Finally, Mike Conway returned to Indy Car following a huge accident forced an early end to his 2010 season. He failed to complete even one corner as he was caught up in a six-car crash. Scot Dario Franchitti had a better race, finishing in first place as he hopes to add to his three championship wins this season.

All-in-all, a good weekend for the English and Scots – not so much for the Welsh.

Conway lucky to survive a hair-raising crash in 2010

Now for the serious cricket

With the ‘minnows’ now deposited of, the Cricket World Cup begins for real. No more totals of 58 and no more 10 wicket wins – it’s now a fight between the best teams in the world: Australia, Sri Lanka, India, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan and England.

Here are my predictions of what could be an exciting and unpredictable round of matches.

Pakistan v West Indies: Both teams define the word inconsistent. They will be unbeatable on their day but who will fire on Wednesday. It’s a case of Gayle vs Afridi and I think the latter will come out on top.

Pakistan to win by 5 wickets.

India v Australia: Following the events of last year this match has become eagerly anticipated by all cricket fans. On their own turf India will be tough to beat and Tendulkar would love to hit his 100th century to win the game. I wouldn’t bet against him doing so.

India to win by 27 runs.

South Africa v New Zealand: Having started the tournament in good form, neither team has been able to cement themselves as top candidates. It’ll be a battle of the batsmen in Mirpur, and South Africa are my tip to make the semi’s.

South Africa to win by 3 wickets.

Sri Lanka v England: A tough one to call. England have won their tough games but made a hash of the easier match-ups. Sri Lanka have been solid all tournament, and in Colombo they’ll be difficult to beat.

Sri Lanka to win by 31 runs.

The trophy they're all fighting for

'Not so super' Mario

If someone had said to me a year ago “Mario Balotelli would come to English football and turn out to be the biggest waste of money since the likes of Andriy Shevchenko and Alberto Aquilani” I would have laughed in their face.

However, my opinion has now changed somewhat, having had to put up with his tantrums and moments of sheer idiocy for the majority of what has been a brilliant season.

At first I welcomed Balotelli’s arrival, with memories of his stunning free kick in the Champions League match between Inter Milan and Rubin Kazan fresh in my mind. A storm down the touchline and a karate kick later and Balotelli has started to show his true colours.

He can be one of the best young players in the world, with strength, good footwork and the occasional moment of brilliance, but the negatives are too overpowering.

Whether Manchester City succeed in their aim to win silverware this year or not, Balotelli could well be on his way back to Italy come the summer.

Mario out in the cold with the Man City faithful

There's confident sportsmen and then there's boxers.

It was announced last week that David Haye would finally get his chance to face Wladimir Klitschko this summer after the Ukranian heavyweight agreed to the bout on 25 June or 2 July.

Haye had previously stated that he wanted to fight both Wladimir and Vitali before his impending retirement – intended for his 31^st birthday in October – but it looked unlikely with Wladimir still set to face Britain’s Dereck Chisora.

However, a persisting abdominal injury caused a second cancellation paving the way for Haye, something that will have angered the unbeaten Brit further.

There is no doubt Haye has the ability to beat both Klitschko brothers but cockiness could be his downfall against, arguably, the best heavyweight boxers in the world.

He has already announced that he aims to retire as undisputed champion of the world and claims that “Wladimir Klitschko is getting violently knocked out.” Now there’s confidence and then there’s utter madness.

I still think Haye has an excellent chance of beating both Klitschko’s, I merely suggest that it may not be the fairytale ending Haye, and the nation, are hoping for.

Haye vs Wladimir will be the fight of the year

Another Twitter rant? What a surprise.

Twitter is the latest in a long line of internet ‘phenomena’s’, but is it really a good idea for sportsmen and women to vent their opinions with the world watching? Over the past year several high profile sportsmen have been caught out ranting over decisions that have gone against them.

Cricket stars in particular have landed themselves in hot water with comments over national selectors. Dimitri Mascarenhas’ drunken rant at chief selector Geoff Miller effectively ended his England career, whilst Kevin Pietersen escaped punishment following his disgust at being dropped last summer.

Meanwhile, footballer Jack Wilshire has used Twitter to hit out at referees and opponents whilst Ryan Babel was fined having posted an image of referee Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt following their FA Cup loss in January.

Despite this, I don’t think teams should start banning their players from having a Twitter account. The players need their freedom of speech, and if they’re stupid enough to do it, let them face the consequences.

Then again, Twitter may come in handy this summer if I get dropped by my cricket captain...

Webb sports his true colours (FA, please don't fine me)