Paul Collingwood

England still in driving seat

Tue Aug 04 01:09PM

It was frustrating not to win the third Test at Edgbaston, but when you consider how much time was lost, it was always going to be a tough ask.

The groundsmen deserve a lot of credit for allowing so much play, but it would have been an amazing result to force victory in what was effectively three days' play.

The weather put paid to our hopes of getting a positive result, and it is pretty annoying to watch the rain fall knowing time is ticking away.

Everybody does different things during rain breaks, but we all try to relax and keep busy than sitting there getting nervous.

During the delays at Edgbaston the chips were out and there was some poker played. There was a bit of sleeping in the dressing room. If it's a long stoppage you can go to the gym or hit a ball in the indoor nets.

Steve Harmison left a dartboard for the boys; we're all as good as Phil Taylor now, we've had that much practice!

It can be tough to switch on and off when there are rain delays. We spoke to the psychologist about it going into the match.

You've got to get mentally prepared half an hour before play starts, but when you don't know when you're going out it can be tough. But it's something you get used to playing in England.

We had a sniff of a win on the final day, but the ball did not swing so it was not to be. It wasn't really playing like a day five pitch because so little cricket had been played on it.

We really had to bowl them out in 50 or 60 overs to win the game as they built up a bit of a lead, so it was always hard to force a result.

The good thing was we got on top, put Australia under pressure and if we continue doing that I'm sure we'll get the right result.

I don't think it's fair to compare Edgbaston with the first Test at Cardiff, where we got out of jail. At no point did we have this game down as a definite win, which Australia did at Cardiff, so I don't think there will be any change in momentum. We're still in a very strong position.

Although it was frustrating from our point of view, Michael Clarke and Marcus North played superbly under pressure to ensure the game ended in a draw.

They are very, very good batsmen and steadied the ship along with Mike Hussey. The two young lads came in and put up an important partnership so you have to give them credit.

I also have to pay tribute to our bowlers, who kept plugging away in conditions that were not that helpful, and gave their usual wholehearted effort.

We might not have got the result we wanted but we can move on to Headingley in good spirits, and full of confidence.

Comments1 - 13 of 13

good call hope you guys get off to as good a start in Headingley as you did at Edgbaston.
England For The Win!!!
From sam.georgiou on Tue Aug 04 01:45PM
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fair comments from collingwood, the aussies batted very well in there second innings and have set up what should be a great fourth test, one more win and it's ours
From melliott650 on Tue Aug 04 01:56PM
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What happens if all the other games are a draw? England wins?
From buffet40 on Tue Aug 04 02:00PM
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Collingwood writes his articles as a sportsman. Ponting writes his articles as a ..... well do I need to say more?
From don.wheeler on Tue Aug 04 02:00PM
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Collingwood always talks sense. He talks in the same way as he plays cricket. Not like that Ponting and Coco the clown McGrath. Good luck for the next match Colly.
From evertonnut on Tue Aug 04 02:37PM
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dont forget that Aus would have definitely won the first test bar the weather. which isnt the case for england in the 3rd test considering how well Aus batted in the 2nd innings.
From bobo.spamble on Tue Aug 04 04:45PM
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Well said Colly, we all know you are the best and most consistent player England has. Good luck for the 4th test mate
From jbx_sega on Tue Aug 04 05:17PM
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Aus is cocky especially Ponting but what the heck, so was Viv, Kallis and all the robust leaders/winners.
Did not think Eng tried yesterday afternoon.
From fyahfighta on Tue Aug 04 05:28PM
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I hope Flintoff admits he is nowhere fit and does not play. He is making this test series into a soap oprea. Lets have 11 fit players on the field this time who are fit to play when the captain selects them.
Flintoff has been too much of a distraction I feel if he plays on Friday we risk losing the game. He was hobbling around in the last test not my words someone who was there.
From buttyhome on Tue Aug 04 05:31PM
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It is unfair to say that Australia got away the same can be said about England in the first test. And Australia just lost 5 wickets and saved the test convincingly. I am neither Aussie nor England supporter but believe in making fair statement
From saurabh_datta on Tue Aug 04 07:27PM
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Yeah, rest Fred and replace him with Harmy and a batsman - not Bell or Bopara, and not Trott! The reason Oz got out of jail was because Strauss made bad decisions about bowlers - should have got Jimmy bowling early, then straight after lunch - they'd have been 6 down then and only about 200 to chase after tea. Fred is demanding the ball when he is hobbling around and even at the best of times just does not get wickets (maybe because he thinks the idea is to bruise elbows rather than stumps!). Ugh
From grammarman2001 on Wed Aug 05 02:26AM
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Let's hope for typical Headingly conditions, winning the @#$% and Jimmy being in 1 of his good moods
and maybe Sidebottom brought back to capitalise (swing and seam rather than bounce tends to do the damage at Headingly, Harmison should be ideal for the Oval, especially if our 1 bounce bowler, Freddie, is unfit).
I agree with #13 re not bowing Anderson first up on the final morning, but it seems the ball didn't really swing much, so maybe it wouldn't have been enough; he still represented our best chance. Vaughan wouldn't have missed that trick, but Strauss is not the captain Vaughan was, then again few are or have been.
You can't question Freddie's heart, it just didn't happen for him.
From ian_whittaker1 on Wed Aug 05 04:32AM
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Good luck England.
From markrose260 on Thu Aug 06 01:12AM
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