Ashes 2013: Jimmy Anderson torments the Australians – and then delivers the final thrust

It would have, he said, “The Prado looking like some big American college building with sprinklers watering the grass in the bright Madrid summer morning...

“It would have had the change when you leave the green country behind at Alsasua; it would have had Burgos far across the plain and eating the cheese later up in the room; it would have had the boy taking the wicker-bound jugs of wine on the train as samples; his first trip to Madrid and opening them in enthusiasm and they all got drunk, including the pair of Guardia Civil; it should make clear the change in the country as you come down out of the mountains and into Valencia in the dusk on the train... It should have the smell of burnt powder and the smoke and the flash and the noise of the traca going off through the green leaves of the trees... and the mounted head of the bull Gitanillo had killed.”

That was Hemingway after watching a few bullfights. Heaven knows his exhilaration had he seen the English matador James Anderson deliver the moment of truth to Brad Haddin in the old Plaza de Toros otherwise known as Trent Bridge. That would surely have been grounds for a number of wicker-bound jugs of the good wine.

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Most of us just sat about eating Cornettos before that final session

I owed the team those runs. I’ve felt in good form all year, but I haven’t had the scores to show for it and I had a relatively disappointing year in 2012. I was flying in 2010 and 2011, but then I had a long lay-off ahead of going to the UAE and struggled against Saeed Ajmal, who is right up there among the toughest bowlers I’ve faced. Maybe I lost a bit of confidence as a result and it has taken a while to rediscover my best form.

It’s not as if I felt I had anything to prove. Maybe, if I had not enjoyed a good series in Australia in 2010-11, I might have felt that way. But I’ve had good innings before. I scored a century against India at Trent Bridge a couple of years ago that helped set up a victory and I’ve helped us fight for draws in Cape Town and Auckland. But, whatever the merits of other series, for anyone in England or Australia, the Ashes is always the biggest series you play so to contribute to a victory is a special feeling. It’s definitely the most important innings I’ve played in an Ashes match.

As a game it was up there with Edgbaston 2005 for drama. There were so many momentum swings; so much drama. From a personal perspective, it’s more satisfying to have played a large part in this result. When you look back on your career, you want to know you’ve scored your runs in the biggest games, under the most pressure. I did that at Trent Bridge.

I was at the other end when Stuart Broad survived ‘that’ appeal. I honestly didn’t know he had hit it and I’ve always thought Aleem Dar is an exceptional umpire. At the time I put the Australian reaction down to frustration. Broad didn’t mention the edge and I didn’t know about it until I saw a replay back in the dressing room. The fact is that almost no batsmen in world cricket ‘walk.’ It’s within everyone’s right to wait for the umpire’s decision and we have seen the batsmen of both sides do that in this game. I can’t see it causing any lingering problem between the teams.

You honestly don’t always know when you’ve edged it. I didn’t feel anything when I was out. I heard a nick, but I didn’t feel anything, and it was the same for Joe Root when he was caught down the legside. He heard something, but didn’t feel it and, had he reviewed, he may well have been successful. There was no sign of an edge on Hot Spot.

The Australian bowlers all like to have a chat - that’s a polite way of putting it - but, at this stage of my career, I barely even notice. Maybe, when I was younger, I wasn’t prepared for it, but now it just washes over me. I never respond. The whole purpose is to make you lose concentration so if you allow yourself to become distracted by it, you’re letting it affect your game.

We have a great bowler of our own these days. Jimmy Anderson’s career record might not show it - that can happen if you start your career early and learn your trade at the highest level - but he is well on his way to establishing himself as a great bowler. We’ve known for a few years that he was a match-winner in typical green, English conditions, but he has proved he is on dry, sub-continent style pitches where he gains reverse swing, too. I really can’t remember the last time he bowled badly with a red ball. He instils a sense of calm among the other bowlers and with his skill and fitness is a huge asset to us. I’m glad he’s on my team; I wouldn’t want to be facing him at this stage of his career.

It was pleasing to see how well he was supported in the field. Even in those last few minutes, Jonny Bairstow and I pulled off a couple of diving saves in the field that ensured we kept the batsmen under pressure. We made them fight for every run and in the end the pressure told.

We were amazingly calm. It can get very tense in those situations but, after lunch on the final day, most of us sat around eating Cornettos before going out for that final session.

Teams tend to work on remaining calm on the pitch and, in a way, that is easier as you have your job to do and you can lose yourself by concentrating on that. But it’s in the dressing room where things can become tense and, if that environment is wrong, other things fall apart. We were excellent in that respect at Trent Bridge. That bodes very well for us for the rest of the series. We know we’re going to be tested again and again, but we’re proved we can withstand that and come through it as the winning side.

To read Ian Bell’s columns in full thoughout the Ashes series, visit the leading cricket website espncricinfo.com

 

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James Lawton on the Ashes 2013: James Anderson torments the Australians – then delivers the final thrust

It would have, he said, “The Prado looking like some big American college building with sprinklers watering the grass in the bright Madrid summer morning...

“It would have had the change when you leave the green country behind at Alsasua; it would have had Burgos far across the plain and eating the cheese later up in the room; it would have had the boy taking the wicker-bound jugs of wine on the train as samples; his first trip to Madrid and opening them in enthusiasm and they all got drunk, including the pair of Guardia Civil; it should make clear the change in the country as you come down out of the mountains and into Valencia in the dusk on the train... It should have the smell of burnt powder and the smoke and the flash and the noise of the traca going off through the green leaves of the trees... and the mounted head of the bull Gitanillo had killed.”

That was Hemingway after watching a few bullfights. Heaven knows his exhilaration had he seen the English matador James Anderson deliver the moment of truth to Brad Haddin in the old Plaza de Toros otherwise known as Trent Bridge. That would surely have been grounds for a number of wicker-bound jugs of the good wine.

View the original article here

Ashes 2013: Jimmy Anderson torments the Australians – then delivers the final thrust

It would have, he said, “The Prado looking like some big American college building with sprinklers watering the grass in the bright Madrid summer morning...

“It would have had the change when you leave the green country behind at Alsasua; it would have had Burgos far across the plain and eating the cheese later up in the room; it would have had the boy taking the wicker-bound jugs of wine on the train as samples; his first trip to Madrid and opening them in enthusiasm and they all got drunk, including the pair of Guardia Civil; it should make clear the change in the country as you come down out of the mountains and into Valencia in the dusk on the train... It should have the smell of burnt powder and the smoke and the flash and the noise of the traca going off through the green leaves of the trees... and the mounted head of the bull Gitanillo had killed.”

That was Hemingway after watching a few bullfights. Heaven knows his exhilaration had he seen the English matador James Anderson deliver the moment of truth to Brad Haddin in the old Plaza de Toros otherwise known as Trent Bridge. That would surely have been grounds for a number of wicker-bound jugs of the good wine.

View the original article here

Ian Bell on the Ashes 2013: Most of us just sat about eating Cornettos before that final session

I owed the team those runs. I’ve felt in good form all year, but I haven’t had the scores to show for it and I had a relatively disappointing year in 2012. I was flying in 2010 and 2011, but then I had a long lay-off ahead of going to the UAE and struggled against Saeed Ajmal, who is right up there among the toughest bowlers I’ve faced. Maybe I lost a bit of confidence as a result and it has taken a while to rediscover my best form.

It’s not as if I felt I had anything to prove. Maybe, if I had not enjoyed a good series in Australia in 2010-11, I might have felt that way. But I’ve had good innings before. I scored a century against India at Trent Bridge a couple of years ago that helped set up a victory and I’ve helped us fight for draws in Cape Town and Auckland. But, whatever the merits of other series, for anyone in England or Australia, the Ashes is always the biggest series you play so to contribute to a victory is a special feeling. It’s definitely the most important innings I’ve played in an Ashes match.

As a game it was up there with Edgbaston 2005 for drama. There were so many momentum swings; so much drama. From a personal perspective, it’s more satisfying to have played a large part in this result. When you look back on your career, you want to know you’ve scored your runs in the biggest games, under the most pressure. I did that at Trent Bridge.

I was at the other end when Stuart Broad survived ‘that’ appeal. I honestly didn’t know he had hit it and I’ve always thought Aleem Dar is an exceptional umpire. At the time I put the Australian reaction down to frustration. Broad didn’t mention the edge and I didn’t know about it until I saw a replay back in the dressing room. The fact is that almost no batsmen in world cricket ‘walk.’ It’s within everyone’s right to wait for the umpire’s decision and we have seen the batsmen of both sides do that in this game. I can’t see it causing any lingering problem between the teams.

You honestly don’t always know when you’ve edged it. I didn’t feel anything when I was out. I heard a nick, but I didn’t feel anything, and it was the same for Joe Root when he was caught down the legside. He heard something, but didn’t feel it and, had he reviewed, he may well have been successful. There was no sign of an edge on Hot Spot.

The Australian bowlers all like to have a chat - that’s a polite way of putting it - but, at this stage of my career, I barely even notice. Maybe, when I was younger, I wasn’t prepared for it, but now it just washes over me. I never respond. The whole purpose is to make you lose concentration so if you allow yourself to become distracted by it, you’re letting it affect your game.

We have a great bowler of our own these days. Jimmy Anderson’s career record might not show it - that can happen if you start your career early and learn your trade at the highest level - but he is well on his way to establishing himself as a great bowler. We’ve known for a few years that he was a match-winner in typical green, English conditions, but he has proved he is on dry, sub-continent style pitches where he gains reverse swing, too. I really can’t remember the last time he bowled badly with a red ball. He instils a sense of calm among the other bowlers and with his skill and fitness is a huge asset to us. I’m glad he’s on my team; I wouldn’t want to be facing him at this stage of his career.

It was pleasing to see how well he was supported in the field. Even in those last few minutes, Jonny Bairstow and I pulled off a couple of diving saves in the field that ensured we kept the batsmen under pressure. We made them fight for every run and in the end the pressure told.

We were amazingly calm. It can get very tense in those situations but, after lunch on the final day, most of us sat around eating Cornettos before going out for that final session.

Teams tend to work on remaining calm on the pitch and, in a way, that is easier as you have your job to do and you can lose yourself by concentrating on that. But it’s in the dressing room where things can become tense and, if that environment is wrong, other things fall apart. We were excellent in that respect at Trent Bridge. That bodes very well for us for the rest of the series. We know we’re going to be tested again and again, but we’re proved we can withstand that and come through it as the winning side.

To read Ian Bell’s columns in full thoughout the Ashes series, visit the leading cricket website espncricinfo.com

 

View the original article here

Kershaw Seleced To 3rd Consecutive All-Star Game, Puig Among 5 Candidates For Final NL Spot

  NEW YORK (AP) — Baltimore slugger Chris Davis powered past Detroit Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera in the final week to claim the most fan votes in All-Star game balloting, and Washington outfielder Bryce Harper used a final surge to win a spot in the National League’s starting lineup.

Right-hander Max Scherzer was one of a major league-best six Tigers chosen for the All-Star game July 16 at Citi Field in New York. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina led the NL fan vote announced Saturday night. He is one of the Cardinals’ five All-Stars, tops in the NL.

“I think any time you are getting that recognition not only from your fan base but from everybody across the nation I think it feels good to know that people are watching,” Davis said.

Mets young ace Matt Harvey and third baseman David Wright will represent the host team in the 84th All-Star game. Harvey received the most votes among NL pitchers in the player balloting, outpacing the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw.

Cuban defector Yasiel Puig wasn’t picked — not yet, at least. The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder with just one breathless month in the big leagues is among five candidates for the final NL spot, with fans able to vote online through Thursday.

Puig is joined in the final NL five by shortstop Ian Desmond of Washington, first basemen Freddie Freeman of Atlanta, Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and outfielder Hunter Pence of San Francisco.

The American League’s five are all relievers: Detroit’s Joaquin Benoit, Toronto’s Steve Delabar, the Yankees’ David Robertson, Texas’ Tanner Scheppers, and Boston’s Koji Uehara.

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was one of the 68 players selected. The 43-year-old career saves leader will hop across town as part of his retirement tour for a 13th All-Star appearance, second most by a pitcher behind Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, who made 17 teams.

“The fact that I went through all the adversity and I’m standing here talking about the All-Star game … it’s a privilege,” said Rivera, who has 29 saves this year after missing nearly all of last season with a torn knee ligament.

Davis finished with 8,272,243 fan votes to edge Cabrera, who had 8,013,874, for his first All-Star selection. Davis has 33 homers, seventh best before the break in big league history.

Davis is the second first-time All-Star to lead the voting, joining Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (2001).

The first baseman with the cool nickname of “Crush” is one of three Orioles to be selected by fans, the first time that has happened since Cal Ripken Jr. was one of the picks in 1997.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy and center fielder Adam Jones will take the field with Davis. Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado was picked as a reserve.

Scherzer is the first pitcher to start a season 13-0 since Rgoer Clemens in 1986. He was joined from Detroit by first baseman Prince Fielder, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, and outfielder Torii Hunter. Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who will run the AL squad after leading Detroit to the World Series, picked his ace Justin Verlander for the team.

“This is not a simple thing, but I’m proud of it,” Leyland said. “We worked hard on it. We’re not going to be perfect. I put a lot of time and thought into it. I had a lot of help. It’s still not going to make everybody happy. There’s going to be guys who should be All-Stars who are left off. That happens every year.”

Third base was a talent-laden position, and one player to be left off the AL roster was Oakland’s Josh Donaldson. The Athletics’ one selection was 40-year-old pitcher Bartolo Colon.

Colon is an All-Star for the first time since 2005, when he won the AL Cy Young Award with the Angels. At 11-3 with a 2.73 ERA, Colon is making his third All-Star team. This one comes, though, after he began the season finishing a 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

The 20-year-old Harper trailed Justin Upton by several thousand votes, but he homered in his return from the disabled list this week and moved into the lead. Fellow rookie of the year Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels was voted to his first All-Star start, too.

Overall, 30 players will be making their first All-Star appearance.

In the NL, where the preseason favorites are trailing their divisions, no players from the three first-place teams were selected by fans as starters. But the Central-leading Pittsburgh Pirates, with baseball’s best record at 53-32, landed four players on the squad for the first time since 1981: closer Jason Grilli, right-hander Jeff Locke, third baseman Pedro Alvarez, and outfielder Andrew McCutchen

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Puig Among 5 All-Star Candidates For Final Spot Of NL Team

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lost in all the commotion about Yasiel Puig are the trickiest predicaments when it comes to the All-Star game.

Look at that logjam at third base in the American League!

The National League is overloaded with pitchers.

And who in the name of old Jack Murphy Stadium is going to represent the San Diego Padres?

So while the polarizing debate over whether Puig should be selected Saturday is certainly a juicy one, when all is said and done he’ll either have a backup role in the NL outfield or he won’t. The most difficult decisions involve other positions.

Buster Posey or Yadier Molina behind the plate for the NL? Robinson Cano or Dustin Pedroia at second base in the AL?

At the hot corner, Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera is having another monster season. OK, he’s the starter for the junior circuit.

But then there’s an overabundance of deserving backups: Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria, Oakland’s Josh Donaldson, Texas’ Adrian Beltre and Baltimore’s Manny Machado.

“I’m not going to take five third basemen to the All-Star game,” said Detroit’s Jim Leyland, who will manage the American League team July 16 at Citi Field in New York.

So somebody gets left out. Let’s just say it’s Longoria. Then who makes it from the Rays?

Every club must have an All-Star, and rosters are limited to 34 spots — with at least 13 going to pitchers.

So maybe it’s left-hander Matt Moore from Tampa Bay. Pretty good choice. But then a more worthy arm from some other squad gets snubbed.

And on and on.

That’s the maddening part of putting together the puzzle — and the beauty of it all, too. Sizzling baseball arguments in the heat of summer.

“This hardest part is leaving guys off. That’s by far the hardest thing. It goes with the territory when you pick a team. There is more written about the snubs than the guys that make it,” said San Francisco’s Bruce Bochy, the NL manager.

“The toughest positions to pick are on the pitching side. That’s a tough position because there are a lot of guys who’ve had a really good half, both starters and relievers. Maybe outfield is tough, too.”

Several big names were on their way to this All-Star game before injuries derailed them: Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Braun, Clay Buchholz.

Bryce Harper could fall into that category, though he wasn’t far behind in fan balloting for a starting outfield spot.

For the first time in eight years, Derek Jeter won’t be an All-Star. He’s been sidelined all season following ankle surgery. Yankees teammate Alex Rodriguez (hip) is out, too, but Mariano Rivera figures to make one last appearance.

Other stars are likely to be absent due to disappointing seasons: David Price, Albert Pujols and Matt Kemp, to name a few. But that makes room for impressive newcomers like Chris Davis, Domonic Brown and Paul Goldschmidt.

As for Puig, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rookie sensation, the uproar over whether he should be included after only one spectacular month in the majors is nothing new.

The same thing happened with Stephen Strasburg three years ago and then Harper last season — although the Washington Nationals’ outfielder had at least had two months under his belt after getting called up in late April.

Harper got in, Strasburg was left out. And both times, the sun came up the next day.

Strasburg pitched his way onto the 2012 team, and that’s how it should happen. Puig is extremely exciting to watch and has all the makings of a perennial All-Star, but let him earn his trip with a legitimate body of work.

Otherwise, he’s taking someone else’s place.

For what it’s worth, here’s a prediction: Puig winds up on the Internet ballot for the final NL roster spot and gets voted in by fans.

And you know what? That’d be just fine.

So without regard to fan or player balloting — or Leyland’s self-imposed limit on third basemen — here are our selections for the 84th All-Star game at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets since 2009. Rosters will be announced Saturday evening.

The league that wins gets home-field advantage in the World Series again, which has helped the NL secure three straight championships.

——

Starting with the AL:

First Base — Davis is putting up incredible power numbers during a breakout season for Baltimore. His backup is another heavy hitter, Prince Fielder of the Tigers.

Second Base — Cano, in the final year of his contract with the Yankees, gets the nod over Red Sox rival Pedroia. Also in the mix is Jason Kipnis, quietly having a tremendous season for Cleveland.

Shortstop — Detroit’s Jhonny Peralta edges J.J. Hardy of the Orioles. An underrated Jed Lowrie warrants a look in Oakland but gets left off in the end.

Third Base — Cabrera gets the start for Detroit, and all four boppers mentioned above make it as reserves: Longoria, Donaldson, Beltre and Machado, who turns 21 on Saturday. They’ve all been too good to leave anyone out.

Catcher — Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins earns his fourth start, with Cleveland’s Carlos Santana behind him.

Outfield — Mike Trout of the Angels starts in center field, with Toronto’s Jose Bautista in right and Texas’ Nelson Cruz in left. On the bench are Baltimore’s Adam Jones and Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury.

Designated Hitter — Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is still a fearsome presence in the middle of the lineup. Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays would be a nice right-handed complement.

Starting Pitchers — Max Scherzer’s 13-0 record makes him an easy choice to start. Joining him on the staff are Tigers teammate Justin Verlander, Seattle right-handers Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma, Texas ace Yu Darvish, Oakland veteran Bartolo Colon, Chicago lefty Chris Sale, Kansas City newcomer Ervin Santana, Cleveland’s Justin Masterson and Houston representative Bud Norris.

Relievers — A save in his final All-Star game would be a nice farewell for Rivera, who plans to retire after the season. Rangers closer Joe Nathan and Oakland’s Grant Balfour round out the bullpen.

——

And in the NL:

First Base — Goldschmidt, a blossoming star in Arizona, gets the surprise start in a tight race with Cincinnati’s Joey Votto. Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles’ Adrian Gonzalez and St. Louis’ Allen Craig get the call as well at another power-packed position. Craig can also play the outfield.

Second Base — Cardinals leadoff man Matt Carpenter has emerged as the unexpected starter. Brandon Phillips of the Reds, a Gold Glove defender and reliable RBI guy, is the backup.

Shortstop — Milwaukee youngster Jean Segura beats out Washington’s Ian Desmond.

Third Base — Hometown star and fan favorite David Wright of the Mets is the clear choice. Only fitting. Backing him up is Pittsburgh bopper Pedro Alvarez, who went to high school in New York City. Nice story.

Catcher — Can’t get much closer than the race between Posey, the NL MVP from San Francisco, and Molina, the defensive standout from St. Louis who leads the league in hitting. Fan balloting has reflected that, too. The nod here goes to Molina, but you really can’t go wrong either way.

Outfield — The starters are Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez in left, Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen in center and ex-Met Carlos Beltran of the Cardinals in right. Reserves include Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez, Colorado’s Michael Cuddyer, Cincinnati teammates Jay Bruce and Shin-Soo Choo, and Brown from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Starting Pitchers — Much has been made in New York about whether Mets ace Matt Harvey should start the All-Star game on his home mound. He’s certainly worthy of the honor, but the pick here is Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. Either way, that’s a pretty nasty left-right combination in the early innings. Also making the cut from a deep pool of deserving candidates are St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright, Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann, Chicago’s Jeff Samardzija, 20-year-old Miami rookie Jose Fernandez and San Diego veteran Jason Marquis, who gets rewarded with a trip back home. Besides Kershaw, the left-handers are Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee, Arizona’s Patrick Corbin and Pittsburgh’s Jeff Locke.

Relievers — In his initial season as a closer, 36-year-old Jason Grilli of the Pirates has been practically untouchable, earning him his first All-Star selection with the game just minutes from home. Another nice story. The bullpen also features a pair of fireballers in Braves right-hander Craig Kimbrel and Reds lefty Aroldis Chapman. Somehow, there’s no room for St. Louis savior Edward Mujica, which is a shame.

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Barty and Dellacqua lose in Wimbledon women's doubles final

Ashleigh Barty, left, and Casey Dellacqua pose with their trophies after the women's doubles final. Photograph: Anja Niedringhaus/AP

Australians Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua missed another chance to secure a first grand slam women's doubles title, losing in the final at Wimbledon.

The 13th seeds fell 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 to the eighth-seeded combination of Taiwan's Su-Wei Hsieh and China's Shuai Peng on Saturday.

Barty and Dellacqua, in just their fourth WTA tournament together, were bidding to become the first all-Australian duo in 35 years to win the women's doubles at the All England Club.

The pair also lost the final at the Australian Open in January.

The Australians started brightly on Centre Court and had a set point on serve up 5-4.

However Hsieh and Peng fought back to claim the first set in a tiebreaker.

The Asian duo carried the momentum into the second set and raced to a first grand slam doubles title.

It was Barty and Dellacqua first defeat on grass in 10 matches, having claimed their maiden WTA doubles title in Birmingham earlier this month.

Both players failed to secure spots in the singles draw at Wimbledon, with 17-year-old Barty a surprise first-round loser in qualifying after winning her first grand slam singles match at the French Open last month.

However she bounced back strongly from the disappointment, also reaching the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles event alongside compatriot John Peers.

The last all-Australian women's duo to win the Wimbledon title was Wendy Turnbull and Kerry Melville Reid in 1978.

Promising Australian juniors Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis reached Sunday's boys doubles final and will face Enzo Couacaud and Stefano Napolitano.

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Wimbledon Women's Final: As one smile fades, the crowd hails an eccentric new champion

Marion Bartoli hoists the championship trophy as she celebrates her victory over Sabine Lisicki. Photograph: Kerim Okten/EPA

One of the defining features of Wimbledon 2013 had been Sabine Lisicki's smile. But the final of the women's singles on Saturday will be remembered for her tears. They started during the second set, temporarily abated during a brief comeback, and then flowed unstoppably at the end as she was overwhelmed 6-1, 6-4 by France's Marion Bartoli.

On a brutally hot afternoon at Wimbledon – not a sentence one has to write too often – it was a strange, anticlimactic end to two weeks of a women's competition that has thrown up surprises, controversy and consistently excellent tennis. The 28-year-old Bartoli won her first major title in her 47th grand slam appearance, breaking the record for late development.

Lisicki may have been the crowd favourite, but Bartoli is an eccentric and popular champion. Her family hails from Corsica, and she looks like a tennis player created by Asterix's Goscinny and Uderzo. She is a frenzy of compulsive tics on the court and an endearing oddball off it. She has an IQ score of 175, higher than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

The match-up against Lisicki, a grass-court specialist who is mildly allergic to grass, appeared to be an intriguing one. But the 23-year-old German – known as "Boom Boom Bina" for her aggressive, uncompromising playing style – appeared to melt under the heat and the pressure. "Boom" rather quickly turned to "Bust". Nevertheless, the presence of two wild outsiders in the Wimbledon final – Bartoli was seeded 15, Lisicki 23 – is a welcome reminder of the depth of talent in women's tennis. In the previous 15 months, all the major prizes in the sport had been claimed by three players: Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka. Williams, in particular, had been so dominant that opponents were said to start matches against her aiming not to lose 6-0, 6-0: a game-within-a-game called "bagel avoidance".

Wimbledon turned all the form on its head. Sharapova lost to a 5ft 5in, 20-year-old Portuguese qualifier called Michelle Larcher de Brito. Azarenka pulled out minutes before the start of the second round with an injury. Williams was brought crashing down by Lisicki in three electric sets.

Bartoli collected prize money of £1.6m, the same as Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are playing for on Sunday. Today's female stars clearly owe a debt to Billie Jean King, who brought the top female players together and founded the Women's Tennis Association in 1973. At that time, women received a fraction of the rewards of their male counterparts: in 1968, for example, King won £750 for winning Wimbledon, while Rod Laver received £2,000. Full parity was not achieved until 2007.

Last Sunday, to celebrate 40 years of the WTA, 17 former world number ones came together for an event at Wimbledon called 40 Love. Several of them – including King, Martina Navratilova, Martina Hingis – returned to the royal box on Saturday.

It is a testament to the quality of the tennis that equal pay has not been an issue during the Wimbledon fortnight. The match between Lisicki and Williams was an instant classic, while Lisicki's semi-final against Agnieszka Radwanska, which ended 9-7 in the third set, was even better. It was a crushing disappointment that she could not summon any of that form in the final. "I think I was overwhelmed by the whole situation," said Lisicki afterwards.

A further sign of the health of the women's game is that the debate has shifted on to whether men should play the best of three sets, instead of women playing five. "It's really becoming so taxing that I believe one day we will have two out of three sets in the grand slams," said Navratilova recently. "Otherwise they're going to be taking people out on stretchers."

Early on in the tournament, there was a minor kerfuffle when Andy Murray challenged Serena Williams to a match in Las Vegas – a throwback to King's "Battle of the Sexes" contest against Bobby Riggs in 1973. Williams seemed hesitant when the subject was brought up: "I doubt I'd win a point, but that would be fun," she replied unconvincingly.

No one was in any doubt that this match was unlikely to happen any time soon. Women's tennis does not need the publicity or the validation these days.

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