With the Tokyo Olympics, the T20 Cricket World Cup and Champions League football all on the cards, 2020 is set to be another massive year for sports.
While we wait for the action to get underway, we thought it would be a good time to reflect on all of the magical sporting moments of 2019.
England win their first Cricket World Cup title
Image source: economist.com
When it comes to Cricket World Cup finals, the contest between England and New Zealand in the 2019 final is as good as you’re ever likely to get.
There was drama from ball one and it continued all the way through to the final ball of the Super Over.
The hero of the day – along with a bit of fortune – was all-rounder Ben Stokes. In an innings in which he thrashed 84 runs to keep England on track, a throw to the keeper’s end late in the innings hit Stokes’ bat and crossed the boundary, effectively keeping the hosts in the contest and forcing a Super Over.
In the Super Over, Stokes smashed another 8 runs off three balls to leave the Black Caps with 16 needed to win. Despite his best efforts, which included 13 runs off five balls, Jimmy Neesham was unable to lead his side to victory but rather
another tie.
In somewhat of an anti-climax, England would go on to win the World Cup because of the number of boundaries they hit.
South Africa win their third Rugby World Cup
Image source: keo.co.za
After the South African cricket side put in a sub-par performance at the Cricket World Cup earlier in the year, it was up to the Springboks to restore some pride for the South African fans.
And they didn’t disappoint.
After narrowly losing their opening game against New Zealand, the Springboks would go undefeated for the rest of the tournament and find themselves in the final at the Yokohama International Stadium, ready to take on a fierce England side that had made short work of New Zealand in the semi-finals.
What followed was a clinical display of traditional South African rugby. It was physical, fast and deadly and, ultimately, more than enough to hand the side a third World Cup title with a 32-12 victory over the Roses.
Siya Kolisi would make history as the first black captain to lift the Rugby World Cup trophy.
Tiger completes an inspirational comeback
Image source: golfweek.com
It will be seen as the greatest comeback in sports history. At the age of 43, and after scandals and injuries threatened to end his career, Tiger Woods would go on to triumph at the Masters in Augusta.
With his last victory in a Major coming more than 11 years prior, the greatest golfer of our generation beat the odds to lift his fifth Masters title.
It was a 15th major for Woods, who is now three behind the record held by Jack Nicklaus and came after years of struggling with knee and back problems as well as headline-making issues in his personal life.
Andy Ruiz defeats Anthony Joshua
Image source: bleacherreport.com
If you’re an occasional watcher of boxing, you would be forgiven for looking at Andy Ruiz and thinking that he had got lost on his way to the local fast food restaurant and accidentally found himself in the ring with one of the most powerful boxers of all time.
Heading into his fight with an undefeated Anthony Joshua, Ruiz was a massive underdog and many pegged him to put up a fight, but ultimately find himself on the canvas somewhere between the sixth and 12
th round.
The opposite, however, was true. Ruiz would go on to drop Joshua (and our jaws) no less than four times, before finally winning via TKO in the seventh round and becoming the first Mexican heavyweight world champion.
His reign wouldn’t last long though. The rematch in December saw Joshua dominate Ruiz from the first to the final bell and ultimately reclaim his title on a unanimous points decision.
Liverpool win the Champions League
Image source: foxsportsasia.com
A year after losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid, Liverpool looked set to fall at the hands of yet another Spanish side – this time Barcelona.
After losing the first leg of their semi-final against the Catalans 3-0, many expected the Reds to put up a fight at Anfield but never in a million years did anyone think they could net four unanswered goals. Spoiler: they did.
They would go onto to face Tottenham in an all-English final where they looked unstoppable and overcame the Londoners 2-0 in Madrid, simultaneously adding their sixth Champions League title to the trophy cabinet.
Renewed rivalry at Wimbledon
Image source: thesouthafrican.com
Then-world number one Novak Djokovic and eternal Roger Federer renewed their rivalry at the All England Club in what became the longest Wimbledon final at 4 hours 57 minutes, and one of the most gripping, decided by the new tiebreak rule at 12-12 in the fifth set.
Djokovic saved two match points on Federer's serve at 8-7 as he prevailed 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6 and 13-12 (7-3). Federer fell short of a 21st grand slam title again, while Djokovic was just relieved to have won the "most mentally demanding match" of his career.
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