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Is there an Indian summer left in these golden oldies?

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The BBC's David Croft wonders whether Colin Montgomerie, Stephen Hendry, Phil Taylor and David Beckham can have one last stand in the sports they have excelled at in the past

At the start of this year's Darts Premier League I made a comment in my column that Phil Taylor's 100% record would come to an end in the near future. It wasn't the first time I'd predicted a defeat for The Power, in fact I'm still hurting after opposing him at the Grand Slam of Darts - very costly mistake.

I've also written about how Stephen Hendry isn't the force he once was. At the time the former world champion had dropped out of the Top 10 rankings although I'm pleased to see him move up to number 7 after reaching the semis at the recent Welsh Open.

Neither player of course are completely finished, their talent will keep them going for a few years yet but it seems that even in darts and snooker, the youngsters are starting to take over. Taylor by the way is now [5.5] with Betfair to win this year's Premier League - a massive price given his dominance of the competition throughout it's three years in existence. Hendry is way out at [28.0] to win an eigth world title at the Crucible this year.

I thought though it was worth revisiting this theme though given the experiences of a couple of British sport's other greats at the moment.

First up is David Beckham. For god's sake will someone put this man out of his misery? No I don't mean put him down, he's 32, he's not an old dog yet! No, that someone is Fabio Capello who can, and should, give David his 100th England cap when England play France next month. I know the former captain says he's not match fit and publicly has accepted his omission from Capello's first squad, but tell me a better crosser of the ball in the England side or dead ball specialist and I'll agree that they should get the nod instead. Capello knows the heart and desire are still there, we all witnessed the way he fought his way back into the Real Madrid side and although he's not getting any younger, 32 is not ancient in football terms.

Then there's Colin Montgomerie, who at the age of 44 admits the competition is getting tougher and tougher. The man who bar a wayward 7 iron just a couple of years ago would have finally achieved his goal of winning a major is in India this week to play in the Johnnie Walker Classic. It's one of three tournaments that the Scot needs to pick up some prize money from in a bid to play in the Masters. Yes Colin Montgomerie, the man who won a record 8 Order of Merit titles is on the verge of not making the Masters for only the second time in 17 years. Is this because he no longer cares as much about sport? I can't see it otherwise or else why would he be in India this week trying to make the world's top 50 and qualify for Augusta? Why else would he still be insisting that he can make the Ryder Cup team on merit rather than through a wild card pick? I see it very simply as a natural progression. No sporting star can keep a winning run going forever, eventually the chasing pack raise their game to level when they can take over, or a youngster inspired by the achievements of their hero comes through the ranks to take a sport to the next level.

Either way, you've got to hand it to Monty who shows no sign of losing his belief, even if his putting does seem to have deserted him. He moved up 8 places after the World Matchplay Tournament and a good showing this week might just nudge him into contention. Betfair punters can take him on at [140] for the Masters or a best price [1.6] to make the European Ryder Cup team, on that score they clearly believe there's life in the old boy yet