Like a pair of prize fighters slugging it out for supremacy, going toe to toe, blow for blow, England and Australia are battling it out for the honour of being top of the medals board at the Commonwealth Games of 2014. The lead (based on total gold medals) alternates day by day between the two, with England just leading at the end of yesterday's action on golds but one medal behind overall. Bragging rights between the two will be established based on the outcome at the end of the weekend. Team GB came out on top of Australia at London 2012 and Team England seem to be shaping up nicely as the green and gold's closest adversaries here.
Australia are renowned for their love of sport in general and they strive to win at whatever they compete in. Being an island surrounded by water, then going to the beach and diving into the surf forms part of their psyche from an early age, so it is hardly surprising that they excel in the swimming pool. Glasgow's Games has witnessed their undoubted overall strength at those events, although England have produced stars of their own to compete with them this time in Fran Halsall, Ben Proud, Adam Peaty and Chris Walker-Hebborn (among others). A cursory glance at the swimming medals table illustrates Australia's overall dominance though, 19 golds to England's 10 and a whopping 57 overall to their rivals' 28.
In the track cycling, the two nations have continued their great rivalry of recent major competitions. No Vicky Pendleton this time for Team England, but Anna Meares returned for further silverware and even the great Sir Bradley Wiggins' appearance as part of the team pursuit team couldn't hold on to Australia' coattails.
He will have his work cut out to overturn that result by Rio. Again Australia dominated the events in the velodrome with 23 overall (just edging New Zealand for golds), winning more than twice as many medals as England. England have pegged them back across many of the other sports with dominance in the triathlon events, headed by the magnificent Brownlee brothers and Jodie Stimpson and a hatful of medals in the shooting.
Australia will look for further success to come in the netball and hockey, whilst England have several opportunities to increase their haul especially in the individual gymnastic events and squash doubles. Diving could also prove to be rich in medals for both nations and the Athletics promises an interesting clash in the women's 100m hurdles where Sally Pearson may have the edge over her English opponent, Tiffany Porter. The result is far from over!
