Best of 2011: brain fades

Michael Rischitelli (Gold Coast)

As the fledgling Suns stumbled their way to a three-win debut season, the last thing they needed was one of their few experienced midfielders to start handing goals to the opposition. But that's exactly what Michael Rischitelli did against the Western Bulldogs. The former Brisbane club champion won a clearance from a ruck tap and sent a booming 60m kick the wrong way into the Dogs' forward line. Unsurprisingly, the Suns' novice backline reacted with the reflexes of orange-dyed sloths, allowing Justin Sherman to kick the easiest of goals.

Ian Bell (England)

Bell's maiden Test century against India was one of his most memorable days at the cricket, but for all the wrong reasons. Having passed three figures with aplomb, Bell was run out for 137 in farcical circumstances on the last ball before tea. He and partner Eoin Morgan completed three runs after a misfield before Bell sprinted from the field, no doubt eager for a cup of Twinings and a McVities. However, the umpires had not declared an end to the session and the Indians duly ran Bell out as the England batsman was halfway to the dressing room. A plea to India's English coach Duncan Fletcher on sporting grounds was successful and Bell was recalled after the interval, where he added 22 more runs before being dismissed a final time.

Ravichandran Ashwin (India)

At least Bell's disaster at Trent Bridge didn't cost England the game. Indian all-rounder Ashwin couldn't say the same after his mental implosion against the West Indies. With India on the verge of an unlikely victory (after making 590 in their first dig, the Windies collapsed from 2-81 to be all out for 134), Ashwin appeared to completely lose track of the score. His side needed two runs from two balls but he defended the second-last ball before clubbing the last delivery down the ground. Batting partner Varun Aaron scampered through for the required two but Ashwin inexplicably ambled the first before being run out by the length of the pitch, leaving scores tied as the match finished in a draw.

Ortis Deley (Channel Four, UK)

Deley is an articulate, experienced TV host with an easy smile and engaging manner. This explains why Channel Four chose him to anchor their coverage of the IAAF world athletics championships in South Korea. Unfortunately for athletics fans, for sprint legend Michael Johnson and for Deley himself, Deley had next to no experience hosting live broadcasts and even less knowledge of track and field. From asking Johnson if he had ever attempted the pole vault, to repeatedly fumbling over his co-commentators' names, Deley's three-day stint in the chair was an unmitigated disaster – and all the more glorious for it.

Yoav Ziv (Maccabi Tel Aviv)

You know when you do something and immediately wish you could take it back? Yoav Ziv knows that feeling better than you. He became so incensed at a linesman's decision in a Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Stoke City that he launched his boot at the assistant referee with a sweetly timed left-foot shot. Ziv thought better of his actions almost before his socked foot made contact with the boot, but it was too late. The shoe hit the linesman, the linesman alerted the referee and the ref produced a straight red card. Comedy gold for all except the hapless Tel Aviv defender, who watched from the sidelines as the Potters romped to a 3-0 win at the Britannia Stadium.

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