Buzzin Cricket

Despite being the one day international captain, there is no doubt whatsoever that Paul Collingwood is the most likely candidate to be dropped from England’s batting line up. His recent slump in form for Durham and England will certainly test out Michael Vaughan’s sentiments that no ‘comfort zone’ exists within the top six positions.

Collingwood is yet to register a 50 in any form of cricket this season and 22 test match innings have past since he recorded a century. He may have helped England to victory with an unbeaten 24 on Monday, but it was hardly the most dazzling batting display.

The England cricket team as a whole is producing battling displays at the moment and, I guess, that is what Collingwood is going to have to do. Keep battling away. Michael Vaughan’s recent return to form has shown that it can be done. The England captain has looked close to his best in the first two tests against New Zealand, even though he had an horrific start to the County Championship season with Yorkshire.

Looking briefly at the most recent test against the Kiwis, it is clear that Paul Collingwood isn’t the only English batsmen that could do with some runs. Alistair Cook, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen only have one fifty between them so far this series and need to start producing. The bowlers, in particular Monty Panesar, got the team out of a huge hole after the abysmal 1st innings batting display and it’s about time they started playing like the favourites that they are. Be more positive, don’t let Vettori and Oram bog you down and convert your scores of 20 and 30 into scores of 50 and 100. Simple really isn’t it?

Something which would have been playing on the minds of these batsmen, including Collingwood, is the eventual return of Andrew Flintoff. However, ‘Freddie’ is not likely to figure in this series. Leaving the likes of Ravi Bopara, Rob Key and Owais Shah as the next in line should someone be dropped. However, as far as cricket betting goes, I think your money would be fairly safe if you bet on England fielding the same side again in the third test.

Peter Moores has backed Collingwood to return to form and let’s hope he does just that. I think just think that he is struggling to get used to the number six position, of which he will adjust to in time. The Durham man is just one good innings away from a return to form and I wouldn’t bet all surprised if he gets a century at Trent Bridge. If this coincides with Ian Bell failing again, expect him to be the next man in the critics firing line.