Andy Murray, David Beckham, Andrew Flintoff, Tom Daley, Victoria Pendleton, Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Kelly Holmes, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, The whole England and Manchester United team to boot. Is there anyone that can’t escape the pudgy hands of James Corden?

Corden at work...

He even appeared on Football Focus, handily hanging around the reception to appear alongside ‘good mate’ Mark Lawrenson. Our larger than life friend seems to erupt like popped pustules into every television opportunity and then block out the sun. He brings with him an imitation of the working man’s comedy that lacks depth and endearment. His sketch show was a flop, which gives him no qualification to be cavorting with class A celebrities.

Admittedly he was good in The History Boys.  Gavin and Stacey reviews seem to be high and so his acting qualities are in no doubt. I would ask him to remain in that sphere and stop polluting other TV airtime with his inane trivialities. Oh and Sport Relief  is not an excuse for greasy comedy.

Steven Gerrard, Jonny Wilkinson, Alistair Cook, Barry Middleton. Sorry who? Who can actually claim they know who Barry Middleton is, or the Mantell brothers – Simon and Richard, Ashley Jackson, James Fair or Glen Kirkham. To most people these are just names, but to hockey players nationwide they are an inspiration. Just on Saturday England beat India 3-2 to progress to the semi-finals of the Hockey World Cup 2010, the first time that they have ever reached the world cup semi-finals away from home. They beat Australia last Saturday for the first time in 25 years and have also secured victories against South Africa and Pakistan so far in the competition; now only three games stand between England and the prestigious World Cup trophy, with one pool game remaining against Spain today. That is more than can be said for many other of England’s national sports. Football, rugby and cricket are most often considered to be England’s national sport, but we’re not actually terribly good at any of them! We have only reached the semi-finals of the football world cup twice, and yet every year the hype is that this year it’s our year, and football is coming home. We are marginally more successful at rugby, what with the results of the last two world cups, and the ashes win of last summer did us some favours in the cricket department – but since then things have been pretty much all downhill again.

Hockey however is another story. England men were crowned European Champions in August 2009 and the women were placed a notable 3rd, and this crucial victory in the group stages of the men’s World Cup has booked a place in the semi-finals of the second big tournament in just over 6 months for the men.
Hockey is the one of the fastest growing sports amongst youngsters in England today and surely this achievement that our boys have made, progressing into the final four of a tournament when they are ranked 6th in the world currently, having beaten the tournament favourites already, will only do more to encourage the young people of the nation to take up this emerging sport! All those who are in favour of replacing England’s national sport with hockey raise your right hands now, for hockey is the future, and it’s about time our boys went out and won something, and the nation actually heard about it!

England’s final group game vs. Spain can be viewed live at 11.05am 8/03/10 (Monday) at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/hockey/7300697/Hockey-World-Cup-2010-Watch-England-live.html.

“The most emphatic victory I have ever played in.” The words of proud captain Andrew Strauss after leading his lions to victory in the 2nd test match in Durban.

Swann had been in fighting form in South Africa.

The match provides the possibility of a much needed consecutive series victory in the follow up to the 2009 ashes. The team will have left behind memories of all night benders and pissing in the Prime Minister’s garden that were major contributing factors in test series losses in India and the sub-continent. After a more muted clebration this time around, thoughts of Andrew Flintoff were banished as Stuart Broad and most notably Graeme Swann have stepped up to the plate and delivered fine performances. Interestingly Swann becomes the first English spinner to take 50 (54 exactly) in a calender year – not bad for a player who started his main test match career at 29.

As in football, teams are most vulnerable after scoring a goal when the adrenaline is pumping, and the same dynamic applies in cricket. Strauss must lead his men and carry on the momentum to Cape Town on the 3rd January. If England are to reach the summit of world cricket as coach Andy Flower hopes, the climbing starts here.

Rugby pin-up Johnny Wilkinson kicked 16 points as Toulon became the first team to beat English Rich boys (on a rugby scale) Saracens, 31-23 in the challenge cup. No doubt new director of rugby Brendan Venter will be furious at the manner of the defeat , as am I: Once upon a time the same fly-half was promoting blighty in the Guniness Premiership. He has now switched allegiances along with a horde of highly sought after Englishmen to cross the channel.

Injury plagued Wilkinson says  ”Right now, I feel like I am making a big decision, and it is a big decision, which is getting easier and easier the more time I spend with these guys.” He feels the move has reignited his flagging career and now looks set to make his return to the national side alongside Shane Geraghty (strongly advocated by Northampton boss Jim Mallinder.) However in my opinion the move was money incentivised – how else can you explain it after England coach Martin Johnson said he was reluctant to pick these foreign based players?

Other players in the burgeoning league include Wasps pair James Haskell and Tom Palmer who have left behind their Wycombe roots for the more exotic shores of Paris and Stade Francais (pictured here in their questionable kit)…they claim to be rugby players?

To complete the set, Brive have captured the signing of Steve Thompson and Rickey Flutey to join Andy Goode. For what Thompson lacks in aesthetics he makes up in muscle while Flutey brings some New Zealand Flair to Europe.

All the while we miss out on this and have to settle for an ageing Steve Borthwick at an ageing Vicarage road on a sodden Wednesday night. Then again, maybe they’re on to something?