#OnTheUp: Football, tennis, and good ol' cricket
There is just one place to start – the Fifa World Cup 2018. The final of the grand event took place on Sunday, 15 July, with France seeing off Croatia 4-2.
Cricketers, for once, set aside their love for the sport of bat and ball, and allowed space for another.
And they seemed to enjoy it, as evidenced by Harbhajan Singh’s all-caps display of excitement.
FRANCE 🇫🇷 CHAMPION 2018 WORLD CUP ⚽️ @FIFAWorldCup GREAT TOURNAMENT👏👏
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 15, 2018
Others found subtler ways to congratulate France on winning their second World Cup.
This was surely a World Cup final, which the World will never forget.🏆
— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) July 15, 2018
Brilliant effort showed by both the teams throughout the tournament.
Well played #CRO
Congratulations #Fra on the win.#FraCro #WorldCupFinals @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/3Kvmwk3Xp4
Proper enjoyed that World Cup like 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Congrats to the French 🇫🇷 tries bien
— Danielle Wyatt (@Danni_Wyatt) July 15, 2018
And while France were deserving champions, there were plenty of plaudits for Croatia too. Theirs has been a wonderful underdog story, and we cricket folk like nothing better than one of those.
Croatia you guys are awesome....Lost the world cup finals but won lots of Hearts......Congratz team France for winning @FIFAWorldCup See You Next Time Guys.....
— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth) July 15, 2018
Got to love the way Croatia played. Won everybody's heart.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 15, 2018
Well done France 🇫🇷, Croatia hold your heads up high. What a World Cup it was.
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) July 15, 2018
There was admittance that one of sport’s great spectacles had lived up to the hype …
Whatever happens ... This World Cup has been the best sporting tournament I have seen in my lifetime ... absolutely brilliant ... covered magnificently by @bbc5live @BBCOne @ITVSport .. Have loved every minute .. #WorldCup2018
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 15, 2018
… but there were also some little moments of ‘my game is better than yours’.
Quite fitting that the World Cup ends with some footballers diving! #NeymarChallenge
— Chris Morris (@Tipo_Morris) July 15, 2018
We also had a new entrant to the MRF Tyres ICC Rankings for Test Batsmen, and this player, remarkably, shot straight up to the top of the list.
Look at the name, and see that forward defence, and you won’t have questions as to why.
Ratings for @rogerfederer's forward defence, @ICC?#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/VVAt2wHPa4
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2018
*sigh* ok... 👇 pic.twitter.com/KXnhaznxL8
— ICC (@ICC) July 9, 2018
Of course, cricket’s own GOAT, and a certified tennis fan, weighed in with his analysis.
As always, great hand-eye co-ordination. @rogerfederer, let’s exchange notes on cricket and tennis after you win your 9th @Wimbledon title 😜👍 https://t.co/2TNUHGn1zK
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 10, 2018
And so … Mutual Admiration Society.
When greatness recognises greatness 👌 pic.twitter.com/UB2hJli5gw
— ICC (@ICC) July 9, 2018
That’s all well and good, but how will this Federer chap fare against Stuart Broad?
US: Is there anything that guy can't do? 🤷♂️
— ICC (@ICC) July 9, 2018
ALSO US: But we'd love to see how he fares in the nets facing up to @StuartBroad8 😆 https://t.co/1MCtakhzjz
Especially with Broad already setting sights on the top of his off stump?
What would the bowlers meeting be? Bowl Top of off stump with occasional bouncer?! 🎾 🏏 https://t.co/B4HrJtA8sL
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) July 10, 2018
Unfortunately, we might never know.
Elsewhere, Mahendra Singh Dhoni put behind a tough afternoon on the field to bring up his 10,000th run in one-day internationals – a mind-boggling feat for a batsman who has featured in the lower middle-order for most of his career.
Other greats recognised the achievement.
Fantastic achievement!! @msdhoni, congratulations on scoring 10,000 runs in ODIs! Well done, my friend.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 15, 2018
10000 runs well done @msdhoni superb effort. @SpartanSportsAU pic.twitter.com/ys4vJJC3fu
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) July 15, 2018
Congrats @msdhoni on the 10,000. The batting position, the strike rate, the impact and the average make it phenomenal.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) July 14, 2018
India won the T20I series against England 2-1, and there was the distinct smell of ‘team’ spirit.
Such a great feeling to have played with such talented team mates and win the series in a great style. Time to celebrate now! 😀#EngvInd #Champions 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/nfDL7qiPkj
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 8, 2018
This team knows only two things:
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) July 9, 2018
1️⃣ Win 🏆
2️⃣ Learn 👊
So proud 🇮🇳 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/XhPuVGrtbS
What an Unbelievable team be a part of #greatskills🌟 #teamindia #bleedblue #bcci #toplads👌 #t20series @ Bristol UK https://t.co/fYX5evGTOy
— DK (@DineshKarthik) July 9, 2018
Morne Morkel surprised many by retiring from international cricket a few months ago, and he is still full of surprises.
I don’t believe it?! 🏏 https://t.co/ngM5zqS156
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) July 9, 2018
And Dean Jones’s sumptuous breakfast was ruined by the antics of a bunch of sweaty people working out.
Is there a worst feeling in the world as I chomp my way through my Sunday eggs and bacon and enjoying a lovely cup of latte.. and watching a gym session across the way ? #conscience #runninghavoc 😩
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) July 15, 2018