paul collingwood

England T20 captain Paul Collingwood has his sights firmly on creating a new international World record of eight consecutive wins when he leads the T20 team out in Adelaide on Wednesday in the first of two matches against Australia.

The England team started their brilliant run in the T20World Cup in the Caribbean last year, culminating in a seven wicket victory over the Australian’s in the final.

Having retained the Ashes last week with a 3-1 series win, England are on top of their game and will feel that anything is possible in any format of the game, it has after all been a sensational year for our cricketers with the Ashes and World Cup victories.

Selecting the eleven to play in Adelaide may present more of an headache for Collingwood than he would like, but in their current mood everyone in the squad will fancy their chances with bat and ball as well as in the field.

Collingwood has suggested that Ian Bell may well be recalled for the T20 matches having found his form once again in Australia, despite last having played in the short game three years ago.

It is a luxury that the captain can easily live with and he said “It’s going to be interesting in the next couple of days what side we go in with. It’s good to see guys that are waiting in the wings are in great form.”

Australia meanwhile will be captained by Cameron White with only Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson retaining their places for the T20 games.

Brett Lee and Shaun Tait will spearhead the bowling attack for the Aussies with fast bowler James Pattinson likely to make his debut.

Retiring Paul Collingwood was given the honour of leading England out on the final day of his test career and was given a day to remember by his team mates as they made short work of the remaining Australian batsmen in a rain interrupted session.

However it is captain Andrew Strauss who must be given credit for his leadership qualities at test level and it is his name that will be added to those of Sir Len Hutton and Mike Brearley as only the third England captain to win Ashes series both home and away.

Alistair Cook picked up both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards for his contribution in amassing 766 runs over the five matches.

It is difficult however to single out one player from the England camp as everyone concerned with the team has given their all in a spectacular performance over the series in which team work and excellent leadership qualities have been key to the team comfortably retaining the Ashes.

A lot has been said about the poor quality of the Australian selection, but it is a team in transition and one that needs to build a rapport within the group of players in the squad, which they will surely manage if they hope to regain their place at the top of international cricket.

England however have been in stupendous form for sometime now at all levels and are performing more as a team than at anytime I can remember, they have deserved the win in Australia and will represent tough opposition during their heavy schedule heading into the World Cup.

Fifth Ashes Test, Sydney (day five):
England 644 beat Australia 280 & 281 by an innings and 83 runs

paul collingwood

Having struggled to make his presence felt with the bat in the current Ashes series, it is no real surprise that Paul Collingwood has mad the announcement that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of the final days play in Australia.

The 34 year old Durham player will continue to represent England in limited overs cricket where he captained the team to their first limited overs tournament success at last years World T20 in the West Indies.

As one of the finest fielders of his generation Collingwood still has plenty to offer at international level and will be a key player in England’s World Cup campaign which gets under way next month.

His recent form with the bat has been disappointing by his own standards and Collingwood will retire from Test cricket having helped England to their first Ashes win on Australian soil in 24 years.

Having already secured the Ashes series England have put themselves in a perfect position to end the series in style, at close of play on day four the visitors led by an innings and 151 runs – well on course for a crushing 3-1 victory in Sydney.

Matt Prior had earlier surpassed Ian Bell’s score of 115, taking 118 runs from just 130 balls to become the third England player in that innings to make a century. England ended the innings on 644 all out, giving the Australians a mountain to climb, a job that became progressively harder as the day went on with England’s bowlers decimating Australia and closing on victory.

Fifth Ashes Test: (day four)

Australia 280 & 213-7 v England 644

The 11 cricketers that played in the final Test Match against Pakistan at Lords are named, along with Sussex spin bowler Monty Panesar, Surrey fast bowler Chris Tremlett and wicket-keeper Steven Davies.

After returning from injury, the other two places are given to Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell and Yorkshire seam bowler Tim Bresnan.

Upcoming Yorkshire fast bowler, Ajmal Shahzad, was probably one of the most disappointed hopefuls after a good Test debut at Old Trafford earlier this year against Bangladesh.

Kent’s James Tredwell is included, along with Ajmal hahzad in a 16 man ‘Performance Squad’ who will also go to Australia during the winter as a back-up.

England Ashes Squad 2010

Andrew Strauss (captain, Middlesex), Alastair Cook (vice-captain, Essex), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Steven Davies (wk, Surrey), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Monty Panesar (Sussex), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Matt Prior (wk, Sussex), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Chris Tremlett (Surrey), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire).

england T20 world cup captain

England T20 captain Paul Collingwood told BBC Radio 5 that his team went to the Caribbean to win the World Cup and achieved just that, adding “It’s a massive achievement. We’ve had a monkey on our backs having not won an ICC trophy and put that right.”

Collingwood, who’s England team crushed Australia by seven wickets to land the T20 World Cup said that the win was ‘up there with last years Ashes win’.

“Of course it’s different to Ashes. But in the last five years we’ve done well against them, it’s a different form of game but beating them is always sweet.”

Consistency was the key to England winning the trophy for the first time and Collingwood praised his players for building the momentum that took them all the way to the final.

“It’s a different form of the game to the Ashes – it only takes three hours and the tournament only went for a couple of weeks – but there’s still all that preparation work you’ve got to do. When you do something for the first time – winning the World Cup for us as the England cricket team – it’s definitely something very special. You’re playing against world-class outfits, there’s always challenges that come along at different stages throughout the tournament. The way that the guys have overcome all them and come out on top, a lot of credit goes to the boys. The euphoria of winning it is very, very similar to the Ashes.”

There was also good news for some of England’s young guns from team director Andy Flower, who suggested that the names of Eoin Morgan and Craig Kieswetter would be on the agenda when the selectors meet ahead of next week’s  first Test against Bangladesh.

He said: “We have a selection meeting later this week. They look like very fine players and handled the pressure of the World Cup very well. They have great skills for Twenty20 cricket and they have a lot of time on their side as they are very young.”

T20 World Cup 2010

England will be praying for a rain free game against Ireland tonight following the disappointment of losing out to the West Indies on the Duckworth-Lewis calculation after rain disturbed Monday’s match.

England had appeared to do everything right after being being asked to bat first by West Indies captain Chris Gayle. The England batsmen set an impressive 191 – 5, with an excellent stand of 95 from Eoin Morgan (55) and Luke Wright (45 not out).

In return the West Indies managed a quickfire 30 runs before rain stopped play, and on resumption of the game they were set a meagre target of 60 from 6 overs, managing that with a ball to spare.

West Indies were awarded the game on the Duckworth- Lewis rule, something that captain Chris Gayle had gambled on when winning the toss and putting England into bat.

“We knew that the weather was going to play a part -so the first five overs, obviously, can determine the game,” he said, “So we decided to go out and see what we could get out of the first five overs. The target was actually 43, I think, at one stage – and the updated calculation went in our favour. After the rain, we knew we were most likely to win the game from there on.”

The win means West Indies are through to the Super Eight stage, having seen off the challenge of Ireland on the opening day of the tournament and leaves England also needing a win against Ireland tonight to ensure they progress.

The result has left a bitter taste in the mouth for Paul Collingwood and the England team and the captain has called for a change in the D-L Formula in 20 over cricket, saying;

“We played a near perfect game, and lost. The only thing we are frustrated about is the Duckworth-Lewis equation. There’s a major problem with this Duckworth-Lewis in this form of the game.
I’ve got no problems with it in the 50-over form. But I know it’s made us very frustrated here. It certainly has to be revised for this form of the game. I’m no mathematician; I really don’t know what the equation should be. But you’re certainly backs against the wall when it works out like that.”

Collingwood added that they are praying for a 20 over game with no rain on Tuesday night, believing that if they get that they are capable of joining the West Indies in the Super Eights.

T20 World Cup 2010

The much anticipated T20 World Cup starts today in Guyana with Sri Lanka opening the tournament with their game against New Zealand. Ireland will face the West Indies in the second match of the opening day.

The ICC President David Morgan has promised a festival atmosphere in the Caribbean, expecting a celebration of all that is good about West indies cricket.

Morgan has urged the people of the Caribbean to bring their enthusiasm and passion for cricket to the matches and make it a memorable event for everyone involved.

“Bring your musical instruments, your songs and cheers, your flags, banners and colourful costumes. And, above all, bring that party spirit for which cricket matches in the West Indies are famous.”

Australia start as narrow favourites to win the tournament, but England’s T20 underachievers are getting former captain Michael Vaughan excited.

Having secured warm up wins against Bangladesh and South Africa, confidence in the England camp is bound to be high. Despite the top order pairing of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter yet to prove themselves, Vaughan is hopeful for Paul Collingwood’s team and says;

“This is the first time I have got excited about the England squad coming into the T20 World Cup. For the first time we have guys in the batting with power from one to seven. Maybe we’re a little bit inexperienced in the bowling department, but I think it’s the batting which has let us down in the past. We have had guys who have played in the Indian Premier League – which is a big plus to a team going into a tournament like this. I would be disappointed if we don’t put up some kind of fight.”

Meanwhile Ireland will be action on day one of the tournament having lost their warm ups against New Zealand and Afghanistan. They face the West Indies today in their opening game and coach Phil Simmons is confident that Ireland will come good, suggesting that his team still have the desire to perform in the competition.

The tournament is split into four groups of three with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the Super Eights.

The semi-finals take place in St Lucia on 13 and 14 May and the final in Barbados on 16 May.

england cap record holder

Paul Collingwood was instrumental in England’s win over South Africa on Sunday in the second of five One Day Internationals. Leading with the bat to earn an unbeaten 105, taking a superb catch off AB de Villiers and taking two wickets for 24 of six overs.

A superb all round performance from Collingwood on his record beating 171st England appearance in which he scored his fifth ODI century and helping England to a 1-0 advantage in the series following the the first game wash out.

Having eclipsed the record of 170 England appearances held by Alec Stewart, 33 year old Collingwood has emerged as the country’s most potent threat in one day cricket, even though his form at Test level remains indifferent.

Collingwood has undoubtedly worked hard on his game since making his first international appearance in 2001, not gifted with the natural ability of the likes of crowd pleasers Andrew Flintoff or Ian Botham, he has worked on his weaknesses throughout the years and developed his one day game not just with the bat but as a genuine all rounder.

His bowling has improved beyond compare, starting as a medium pace bowler, Collingwood has mastered variations in his bowling style and is able to mix it with some of the best, while his fielding as an England player is second to none.

Collingwood said that he was proud to have broken the record of England caps and added, ” To go out there and put a performance in like that, it makes it a very special day.”

In typical fashion Collingwood chose to deflect the spotlight from his own achievments and pointed to England opener Jonathan Trott’s 87 runs, saying;

“He played a lovely anchor role and put us into a really strong position. When someone comes into international cricket, it’s easy to tell them to keep doing what they do in county cricket, be he’s just focussed on what he does well for Warwickshire. Today was a prime example of that.”

Meanwhile with over 4,000 runs, 99 wickets and 98 catches in his England career, Collingwood is on the threshold of  becoming the first Englishman, and only the ninth overall, to reach the unique ‘treble’ of 1,ooo runs, 100 wickets and 100 catches.

Indeed the memories of the 6-1 drubbing by Australia seem to have been put firmly behind England as Strauss and Denly set the foundations but it was man of the match, Owais Shah(98)  who shone brilliantly particularly in the partnership with Paul Collingwood(82) and Eoin Morgan(67) who set up the victory as England hit twelve sixes in scoring 323 for 8.

South Africa’s larger than life captain Graeme Smith then put on a superb display of batting himself to keep his team’s chances alive, he finally fell to Stuart Broad for 141, with South Africa on 274 for 9.

After the fifty overs South Africa trailed by 22 runs with 301 for 9.

An angry Smith then launched into Strauss for refusing to allow him to bring on a runner with just six overs remaining – his request quite rightly ignored by Strauss and umpires Steve Davis and Tony Hill.

“He asked me for a runner because he was cramping, the umpires were not particularly keen to give him one, and I felt at the end of a long game when you have had a long innings you are going to be tired,” said Strauss.

“That is one of the things that happens and cramping to a certain extent is a preparation thing and to a certain extent a conditioning thing. I didn’t feel he merited having a runner at that stage. My personal view is you shouldn’t get a runner for cramps full stop.”

Bitter in defeat Smith made the following noise;

“From my perspective it seemed a little bit inconsistent, players have got runners for cramp in the past and there needs to be a level of consistency there. The thing I have learned from this game is that the world is round and it is going to come back somewhere in his captaincy.It will be interesting to see how he handles it if it happens again. It was a crucial part of the game, I had been on the field for 95 overs and had cramped up.”

England’s final group game is against New Zealand on Tuesday.

James Anderson, meanwhile is rested for two matches and will join up with the squad again for the second of back-to-back day-nighters at Trent Bridge.

Both players have been ever present in the England squad and neither have missed a game for their country since February. Despite England trailing 3-0 to Australia in the series and the importance of the upcoming game at Lord’s, the selectors have decided to rest the players because of the heavy schedule of the International game.