John Arlott

It might not be politically correct in a world where the Celts seem entitled to fly within their patriotic and my grandmother in Donegal surely excommunicate me if she ever reads this, but in all areas, and through the decades, there is not a sporting nation on this planet compared with England.

We are spoiled in this country, often without realizing or appreciating. If you do not agree with violence and want to give the status of dog on top of another nation, we must be heard by you, but first consider what the English sports and competitors have given - and continue to give.

England is a packed Twickenham and PIN whiskey cold afternoon and the song Stay with me to Wembley. This is a Piledriver Bobby Charlton, a blanket drive Wally Hammond and Lawrence Dallaglio tears as the national anthem plays.

England is the Grand National, Red Rum, Bob Champion and Aldaniti. It is Desert Orchid. He is Lester Piggott. Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and York Ebor meeting. The beer tent at Plumpton in January, the perfection of the Cotswolds Badminton in May

England is the mustache contractions Graham Hill, Dan Dare Jaw Fran Cotton, Gary Lineker ears, knees, Denis Compton, David Beckham's metatarsal, Jonny Wilkinson shaking hands and smiling Jessica Ennis.

England is the charming bad boy and the world against the talent of Barry Sheene, James Hunt and Jenson Button, the consummate skill in all directions from John Surtees, the aggression had a hard life and the instincts of race by Lewis Hamilton. Stirling Moss is insisting that Mike Hawthorn be returned to second place in the Portuguese Grand Prix in 1958, then losing the world championship from one point to his fellow Englishman. Class, style, substance.

England is the Peerless Coleman, Peter Allis, Harry Carpenter. . . Murray Walker and it goes well. It is the poety Arlott, the eloquent silence of Longhurst behind the microphone and James Alexander Gordon reading the football results on Saturday night.

England is the incomparable Ben Ainslie decision waves and Dame Ellen take on the world. It is Becky Adlington the final length off the massive talent diminutive Tom Daley, Daley Thompson made back flips of joy in heaven's pole vault, Dame Kelly Holmes watch, wonder and Mark Cavendish tear Fields Elysees and leave the pack for dead.

England is Mike Brearley to think of the opposition, Sir Ian outdrinking and foil the same. It is the English rose beauty breathtaking and advisory capacity and Lillian Mary Rand and the operation of another glorious frisky blonde. Richard Sharpe, as he dummied - not once, not twice but three times - for that try against Scotland famous.

England is Nick Faldo in the area, the timeless perfection Torvill and Dean, the courage to Gung-Ho Amy Williams. He is Jason Leonard shared post-match pints with the opposition. This effort freshness Modern Pentathlon Dr. Cooke Steph, the deceny "our Enry and bravery sustained by Michael Watson

England is golf in the snow on the putter presidents, Sunningdale in the fall, the World Championship snooker at the Crucible Theatre. And it is thought, near obsession, finally won the World Cup cricket, sailing to victory in the America's Cup, Lee Westwood to win a major and foremost to win a shootout that matters .

"This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England." Shakespeare was probably not thinking about the sport at the time, but his words still ring true.