From Australia’s tears to epic World Cup and Ryder Cup glory… the 2018 sporting year in pictures
2018 began with an Ashes defeat for England in Australia, but ended with Gareth Southgate and Alastair Cook among the New Year Honours and an Aussie side in disarray after 'Sandpaper Gate'
Sunni Upal
A LOT can happen in a year, especially in sport.
2018 began with England's cricketers on the wrong end of an Ashes defeat, but ended with Alastair Cook being knighted and an Aussie team in disarray after 'Sandpaper Gate'.
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Australia's cricketers began the year by completing a 4-0 Ashes drubbing of England. Steve Smith's side won the final Test in Sydney by an innings and 123 runs. But their year was soon about to turn sour...Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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David Warner cries tears of sorrow at a press conference after the sand paper scandal. In March 2018, Warner along with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were found to have tampered with the ball during a Test match in South Africa. All three were banned, leaving Australian cricket in disarrayCredit: AP:Associated Press
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Tom Brady saw another Super Bowl title slip through his fingers in Minneapolis in February. His New England Patriots lost 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles at US Bank Stadium, meaning a third defeat in 8 Super Bowl appearances for the quarterbackCredit: Getty Images
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Lizzy Yarnold retained her Olympic skeleton title in Pyeongchang. The Brit won her first gold medal in Sochi in 2014, and made it back-to-back wins in South KoreaCredit: AP:Associated Press
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Ireland celebrated their third ever Grand Slam, beating England at Twickenham to round off a perfect Six Nations campaignCredit: REUTERS
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Anthony Joshua beat Joseph Parker in front of over 80,000 fans in Cardiff in March. AJ added the WBO heavyweight title to his IBF and WBA straps in the unification clash between two undefeated championsCredit: REUTERS
And who would've thought the England football team would be so universally adored after a memorable World Cup campaign.
Here are some of the biggest moments in 2018 told in pictures.
Gabriel Jesus celebrates a late winner at Southampton that brought up 100 points for Premier League champions Manchester CityCredit: AFP or licensors
2018 Premier League: Best goals of the year including Andros Townsend's screamer at The Etihad
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Chelsea beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley. The victory proved to be a final farewell for Antonio Conte, and came on the same day as the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan MarkleCredit: REUTERS
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Liverpool's run to the Champions League final ended in tears and a shoulder injury for Mo Salah. Egypt were left sweating on their superstar's fitness after this challenge from Sergio Ramos in the Kiev showpiece threatened to ruin his World Cup dreamCredit: AFP or licensors
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Geraint Thomas celebrated a Tour de France victory that saw him become only the third Brit to win cycling's most prestigious race. Thomas won BBC Sport Personality of the Year and earned himself an OBE in the New Year Honours listCredit: AFP or licensors
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England ended their penalty-shootout hoodoo with a dramatic victory over Colombia in the World Cup quarter-finals in Russia. Gareth Southgate's men were eliminated in the semi-finals by Croatia, but won the hearts of the nation in an unforgettable summerCredit: Getty - Contributor
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Paul Pogba guided France to World Cup glory at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. France were one of the pre-tournament favourites, and Pogba showed why Manchester United smashed the world record to sign him from Juventus. As for the season ahead...Credit: EPA
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Novak Djokovic capped a return to form by winning his fourth Wimbledon title. The Serb lost his way after the French Open victory in 2016 - his last slam win - but was back on top of the world on the grass courts in south west London. Djokovic also won the US Open in New York later in the yearCredit: Jamie McPhilimey - The Sun
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Francesco Molinari won his first major at The Open in Carnoustie. The Italian hoisted the Claret Jug aloft, but his year would get even better in France in September...Credit: Dave Pinegar - The Sun
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Alastair Cook ended a stellar Test career with a century against India at The Oval. Cook hit 147 as England won the final Test by 118 runs to seal a 4-1 victory over Virat Kohli's sideCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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Dina Asher-Smith celebrates her 200m victory to add to 100m gold at the European Championships in Berlin. She went on the claim a hat-trick of golds as part of the British team that won the 4 x 100m relayCredit: Reuters
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Cristiano Ronaldo sent shockwaves through the football world when he left Real Madrid and joined Juventus this summerCredit: Getty - Contributor
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Tommy Fleetwood and Ian Poulter celebrate a dominant Ryder Cup win for Europe in France. Thomas Bjorn's team won 17.5 to 10.5 at Le Golf National against a dysfunctional American sideCredit: EPA
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Lewis Hamilton moved into motorsport folklore as he clinched his fifth world title this year. The Brit joined Juan Manuel Fangio on five titles with only Michael Schumacher on seven ahead of himCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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Tyson Fury somehow got up off the canvas to earn a draw against Deontay Wilder in a Los Angeles cracker. The British heavyweight was widely considered the better fighter having worked his way back to a world title shot after time away from the ring shifting 10 stone and overcoming mental health problemsCredit: Alamy Live News
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Paul Pogba got rather comfortable sitting on the Manchester United bench behind Jose Mourinho. Their relationship turned toxic and an uninspiring defeat at Anfield spelt the end of Jose's reign at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Press Association
