Fighting Fit

England have a duty to India - and themselves

Players who represent their countries have an unwritten contract to inspire us and defy the terrorists, says Simon Barnes

England are exposed and get what they deserve

Martin Johnson's men show they are as far off the pace of elite international rugby as they are from Alpha Centauri

England steeled for All Blacks humiliation

Martin Johnson's team are set to follow in the bootsteps of their cricket and football counterparts at Twickenham

Smith to open new chapter after retiring

Former Middlesex captain and England batsman calls time on a career that has made him an expert on both good and bad luck

Buffon puts the cool into goalkeeping

Playground culture could change beyond all recognition if Manchester City decide to break the bank for Italy player

Cipriani's charge sheet growing

Fly half provides another gift for grateful South African opponents after scoring rugby union's equivalent of an own goal

Capello preaching to the newly converted

Simon Barnes says the Italian is benefitting from the habit of viewing the England manager as either a genius or a failure

Blowing the whistle on football's blame game

A fundamental flaw of the Respect campaign is that referees are made to look ridiculous when, in fact, the sport should

Why Johnson is the missing piece for England

Had the World Cup-winning captain been on the pitch instead of in the Twickenham stand, Australia may have been beaten

Is sport better than sex?

Simon Barnes finds an overlap between two kinds of scoring

England manager off to a good start

Martin Johnson made a good first impression at Twickenham but this is just the start of a journey with big bumps to come

Pursuit of excellence running on empty

Test series played out to an eerie silence raises questions about where the future of cricket should lie

From Owens to Obama, via Ali and Tiger

The road that led to the election of Obama has black athletes as its milestones, but sport was also a bulldozer that shaped it

Pietersen looking less than a million dollars

England's inept display in the Stanford Super Series will pose a nagging question over the captain's leadership skills

Playing it safe nearly ruined it all

Lewis Hamilton is exceptional. The idea of playing the percentages goes against every fibre of his being

Reform guide suggests Adams deserves respect

Portsmouth's new manager is a shining example of a sportsman who has reinvented himself for the better in the public eye

Money shot cheapens the appeal of cricket

England's $20million match against the Stanford Superstars is about as noble a spectacle as pornography, says Simon Barnes

Commentary: Simon Barnes

Simon Barnes compares the modern mountain marathon with slaying dragons, for some, life without risk is pretty dull fare

Sin when you're winning fight against racism

Football seems to think that just because it has conquered one prejudice, its fans can indulge in a host of others

To be silly or sensible: Hamilton's dilemma

The Formula One driver finally showed in China that he can put aside his impetuousness and act like a champion