THE
ULTIMATE 62
DIVING
M .S DHONI - CRICKET
HALFPENNY CAREER S TATIS TICS
294 penalty kicks Successful
Successful
conversions
88.5% Career points
KICKING
LEIGH HALFPENNY - RUGBY
This was a tough one. Throughout international rugby there is a high quality of goal-kickers. The likes of South Africa’s Morne Steyn, Ireland’s Jonny Sexton and England’s Owen Farrell can all stake a claim, but Halfpenny just edges it. The Welshman has amazing kicking abililty and is a deadeye when booting for the posts. A constant stream of points from penalties and conversions means Halfpenny is already Wales’ third highest points scorer of all time. And at just 26 years old he has plenty of room left to break that record for a rugby-crazed nation. The full-back played in his home country at Cardiff Blues for six years before making the move to French side Toulon last season. The fact that these European giants were so determined to get Halfpenny on board just shows his value to a team. Injury may have hampered his first season in France but in his second the kicking maestro has been as deadly as ever. In football, Halfpenny would surely be extremely accurate with his distribution. From his own box the Welshman should be able to pick out his teammates with pinpoint accuracy, hitting the intended target with every boot upfield.
123
Career kicking
1333
HANDLING
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been as solid as a rock for India over the last decade and hasnt’t lost any of his diving prowess as he has got older. Now 33, Dhoni is the captain of his nation’s one day international and Twenty20 cricket sides. He was also the test match captain before retiring from the format in December. Never too spectacular, Dhoni is as dependable as they come. He’s quick on his feet and has taken 879 catches throughout his international career. His hands are rapid too, with 191 stumpings on the world stage showing his quick thinking and reactions. He has no problem flinging himself about and would be sure to pull off a few top-drawer diving saves.
Like most in this list he is an impres-
ODELL BECKHAM JR . - sive athlete as well, so Beckham’s speed and strength come in handy to AME RICAN FOOTBALL create one hell of a specimen.
It has been all over the internet for a while now, and anyone who’s seen the NFL knows about that catch Beckham pulled off which gets him into this list. Beckham was in his rookie season with the New York Giants and had already gained plenty of acclaim in the American Football world but one of his touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys gave the man known as OBJ international fame. The wide receiver was backpedalling furiously towards the end-zone but somehow arched his back to catch the ball and drop over the line for a touchdown. Not only did Odell stun everyone by making the catch, replays showed he had pulled the move off with just three of his super-outstretched fingers, shocking fans. It wasn’t just a flash in the pan as Beckham continued impressive perfomances to pick up the 2014 Rookie of the Year award in the NFL. At just 22 he definitely has lots of developing to do and many believe his talent could join the league’s greatest ever wide receivers in the Hall of Fame. As far as goalkeeping goes, you’d know Odell would give you a safe pair of hands, if nothing else at the back.
The New York Giants are looking forward to a bright future with this young star on board and it doesn’t look like their number 13 is going anywhere for a couple more seasons at least. He has 12 touchdowns in his career and 91 receptions, making quite a bond with quarterback Eli Manning. If only he was born in Europe or South America. With touch and skill like that he could have certainly been among the best keepers in any league and even in world football. A shame he’s from across the pond really but what can you do?
GOALKEEPER 63
REFLEXES
MA LONG - TABLE TENNI S
ATHLETICISM
This Chinese ping-pong superstar has reactions that are beyond belief and has won titles galore. World Champion in 2006 aged just 18, Long has plenty of years on the circuit and after reclaiming the number one ranking this year he is playing the best table tennis of his whole career. His supremely aggressive play style relies on his famous reflexes and devastating power to turn defence into attack instantly and shock the opponent. If any goalkeeper had reactions like these the would be sure to make some great saves, simply by moving with such inhuman speed. Ma Long would certainly be king of point-blank stops, and stop plenty of strikes that should be certain goals. Add the speed, flexibility and winning mentalilty and he makes a great addition to the epic attributes of this dream goalkeeper.
RUSSE LL WESTBROOK - BASKETBALL
Described by Golden State coach Steve Kerr as 'the best athlete in a league of athletes', Westbrook really is amazing to watch. At 6ft 3in the he is just a speck in the land of basketball giants, but tall enough for a keeper. Not that height makes much of a difference with Russell. The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard has such a leap that he can slam-dunk the ball into the 10ft high basket with ease. The 26-year-old is a four-time NBA AllStar and in 2015, despite starting from the bench, he racked up 41 points - including 27 in just 11 minutes - in the showpiece, for a first All-Star game MVP. Westbrook was also named Defensive Player of the Year back in 2008, with his superb lateral movement and rapid reflexes giving opposition no way through. He would definitely be speedy across his goal and the quickest off his line.
OKC partner-in-crime Kevin Durant is often the Yin to Russell's Yang, but with KD out of action recently, Westbrook has posted some remarkable figures. The American has not just clocked four consecutive triple-doubles (double figures in points, assists and rebounds) - the first since Michael Jordan in ‘89 to do so. He also finished the month of February nearly averaging a triple-double, the first to post such ridiculous numbers since NBA legend Oscar Robertson. These insane perfomances have also catapulted Westbrook into this year’s MVP race alongside heavyweights like James Harden and LeBron James. With his jumping, speed, lateral movement, he is the perfect athlete. And with plenty of baskets to his name it’s a bonus that the distribution wouldn’t be a problem, especially with the assists he is racking up this 2014/15 season.
WES TBROOK 2014/15 S TATIS TICS SO FAR
Points/game
8.4
27.5
Assists/game
Rebounds/game
2.1
7.3
33
Steals/game
Minutes/ game