The 26-year-old midfielder has been a permanent fixture in the England team since his debut in 2006 against the Netherlands. Able to deliver drag flicks at penalty corners, that reach 120km/h, Jackson, who has 157 international caps and has scored 86 international goals, will be a key-player in an England team that is hoping for glory in the Rabobank Hockey World Cup.
Hockey, cricket and ice hockey
Ashley plays his club hockey for East Grinstead, a side currently riding high at the top of the domestic league. This January he was a star player in Hockey India League, playing for the eventual third-placed team Ranchi Rhinos. In 2009, Ashley was voted FIH Young Player of the Year, the first English player to receive the accolade. Hockey nearly missed out on the talented player however, he was also a promising cricketer and ice hockey player, and plays for a professional cricket league side in Holland when his hockey commitments allow.