As a big music fan I want to see the best singers do well in the long run, rather than the ones who can’t stop making me laughing because their awful.

That’s why I went to see Pink at the Nottingham Arena last week and she was absolutely amazing – a notch up from Swanny’s band you might say!

Still, that dig won’t keep him quiet in the dressing room. You can hear him singing or talking wherever you are.

He isn’t the only one into his music at Notts. For a start, there is the bowlers union of Andre Adams, Charlie Shreck and myself who love our RnB and a bit of classic hip hop.

Shrecky always brings the lap top in and gets the songs on – he knows what he’s doing, so there’s always some good tunes.

We always stick together and make sure the young lads, Luke Fletcher and Andy Carter, know their place.

They are always trying to sneak Westlife and Steps on when they get the opportunity and think we won’t notice.

But that’s when us senior lads pull rank. Listening to them sing, I don’t think they’ll be on X Factor anytime soon either!
 
THIS week has seen me finish a punishing three-week fitness schedule at Loughborough, which should stand me in good stead for the action to come over the winter.

With the talented young players coming through into the England set-up now, I know I have to be in good shape to give myself the best possible chance of getting selected.

I have been training six days a week with just Wednesdays off, doing four to four-and-a-half hours every day on weights and aerobic fitness.

I think that has been pretty intensive, but I’m not sure some of the athletes down there are particularly impressed.

You have got people like 400m runner Martin Rooney, 4x100m relay runner Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and even World Champion Jessica Ennis.

I don’t think they think much of me with my titchy bars and two kilogram weights - they probably laugh!

They might not rate what I have been doing, but I certainly appreciate the kind of huge weights they are lifting.

It is always interesting to see how other sportsman train and I could sit there for hours watching how they go about it.

One thing that really caught my eye came from pole vaulter Kate Dennison, who; like myself, is represented by Macesport.

She climbed to the top of a 20-foot rope just using her hands – no feet whatsoever.

It was an incredible show of strength. Needless to say I won’t be trying to match her feat anytime soon!
 
IT frustrating missing the start of the England tour, but I have obviously got a very good reason for not being out in South Africa just yet with our first child on the way at any time.

Twenty20 cricket – getting the ball to swing in opening up and bowling at the death – is something I really enjoy and my record speaks for itself.

The good thing is that England have played well in some of their tour games – which should mean they have the respect of South Africa when things get under way for real.

I don’t think I will be watching until I get out there – I’m a terrible watcher on television. In that respect, I don’t think I’m on my own.

In the meantime, I have been to see the RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Shelter Trust, who are the charity I am supporting in my benefit year, to see the great work they are doing.

They have just built a new cattery, which gives a welcome home to many cats and kittens. What a lot of people don’t realise, though is that, despite its connection with the RSPCA, it is entirely self-funded. Every week they are in need of money to keep things going.

Apparently the Trust get a lot of families coming through their doors looking to take animals as pets. What is disappointing, upsetting even, is that a lot of those people don’t make a donation. People are working really hard to make a difference and all they need is a few pence to help their cause. So please, people, give generously.
 
You won’t be able to get me off the sofa come Saturday tea-time – just like last weekend. I was glued to the England v New Zealand rugby league Four Nations match, which meant I didn’t really speak to the wife much. To be honest, I think she was glad of the peace and quiet!

England played brilliantly and their team spirit really shone through, which has got better and better as the tournament has gone on.When you are playing for your individual clubs it can be difficult to come together at short notice for international duty.

Like in cricket, and probably any other team sport, it helps if you have time to bond with your team-mates.England seem to have that now and they will be massively up for it in Saturday’s final against Australia. Yes, the Wallabies will go in as favourites and have already beaten England once. But our lads have a big strong pack and if we can get it out wide early on, especially with a passionate Leeds crowd, I’m sure we can cause the Aussies some problems.

Wouldn’t a win be a fantastic double to go with the Ashes victory the cricketers achieved this summer?