Paul Collingwood is relieved to be named in England’s squad of 13 for the Edgbaston Test, but he wants to return to the XI
Cricinfo staff28-Jul-2008
Paul Collingwood: “I don’t know if I’m competing with Steve Harmison for a place but I’m as delighted for him that he’s back as I am for myself” © Getty Images
Paul Collingwood is relieved to be named in England’s squad of 13 for the Edgbaston Test, but he wants to return to the XI after being dropped to make way for Andrew Flintoff. A run of poor scores and Flintoff’s return to full fitness hurried Collingwood’s exit in Headingley, one he reckons as the worst moment of his career.”I worried about what this meant for me when I was left out of Headingley and it was without doubt the biggest disappointment of my career,” Collingwood told the . “The only thing that comes close to it was when I was left out of the second Test in Pakistan [in 2005] and I worried whether I would ever make it as a Test player. Thankfully, then I got back in when Straussy [Andrew Strauss] went home for the birth of his child and now I’ve got the chance to get back straight away now.”Collingwood’s Test sack came less than a month after he was banned for four limited-overs matches. He was penalised after England failed to bowl their overs in the required time, but he drew more flak for the controversial run-out of Grant Elliott. Collingwood chose to not withdraw an appeal after Elliott failed to make his crease after colliding with Ryan Sidebottom.”It’s nice to be involved immediately again but my priority now is to make the final XI,” he said. “After all that’s happened this year I just want to get things back on track now. It’s been a very difficult season for me but hopefully it will be a season of two halves and the better half starts now.”I just want this to be the spark, the catalyst, whatever word you want to choose, to get me going again. It’s been the worse year of my career but once you have got over the hurt you look at it and realise that hope is just around the corner.”I think you could see from my face when I was told I was out what it meant to me but to be honest I’m glad I was so hurt because it proved to me that I still have the passion and want to play for England as much as ever. I’d been in the team for 30-odd Tests and it was hard to get my head round that I wasn’t in the team any more. “Collingwood returned to county duties with Durham since his England omission, and scored a quickfire 78, including six sixes, in their Pro40 win over Middlesex. However, he failed to take his side past eventual champions Middlesex in the Twenty20 Cup semi-final on Saturday. His Durham team-mate, Steve Harmison, also earned a recall to the England squad, and both might be competing for a place depending on the combination England choose to adopt: either six batsman or five bowlers.”I don’t know if I’m competing with Steve Harmison for a place but I’m as delighted for him that he’s back as I am for myself,” he said. “The key thing for Harmy is that he’s as hungry as ever to play for England, the ambition is really there after all he’s been through.”He could have settled for a quieter life with Durham, but he really wants to play for England, like me, and every time I have been back to Durham people have said to me ‘you wouldn’t believe how fast Harmy is bowling’,” Collingwood said. “I think he’s benefited from a break but I hope my break is restricted to one game and I’m back in the team for Wednesday.”Harmison himself is eager to get back into the Test fold. “I’m not naïve – I know if I play the spotlight will be on me. I know people will be watching my every move and waiting with bated breath when I run up to bowl my first ball,” Harmison said. “I know that it is going to be tough and I know that I am going to be nervous. I know that after what happened at Headingley last week, the pressure will be on England and on me and the level of expectation will be high. And I know I have a point to prove, that I can still bowl at the highest level and take wickets for my country against a fine batting side.”But I would rather be going to Edgbaston, putting myself to the test and dealing with all those issues, than not. I’d rather be playing in front of 20,000 than 2000 at Trent Bridge. With all due respect to my Durham team-mates, I’d rather be playing for England.”Harmison was left out of England’s Test XI after an lacklustre effort in Hamilton, and has been ignored for subsequent Tests. He forced his way back with 40 wickets at 23.10 in the County Championship this season.Geoff Miller, England’s national selector, was impressed with Harmison’s domestic performances. “People are now saying he is in a better place than he was, and he now looks like the bowler he was a couple of years ago when he was striking fear into opposition batsmen,” Miller told the Miller also shut out talk of the return being premature. “There’s no risk at all. We wouldn’t have put him in if we thought there was a risk,” he said. “We talk to all the players regularly and I have watched him bowl this year and talked to him myself.”
