Paul Collingwood

England need hard slog

Thu Sep 10 12:22PM

It's pretty simple to know what is missing from the England one-day team at the moment - we are not batting as well as we can and should.

We are getting ourselves in and not going on to make big scores. For some reason we haven't executed the bigger shots very well.

Once you get in and try and step up the tempo, you have to play some shots and take the odd risk; but it seems we are constantly getting out when we do that. It's very frustrating.

Last night's pitch at the Rose Bowl was slower than most, but that's not an excuse. It's the kind of pitch you see a lot in one-day cricket and you have to learn to score runs when there is not much pace on the ball. In any case, it was the same for the Australians.

There has been talk of a post-Ashes hangover, but there certainly shouldn't be one.

These are seven one-dayers against one of the best sides in the world and we cannot make excuses or say: 'We won the big one, we don't care about this.'

This is a very important time for us, with four more one-dayers, the Champions Trophy then South Africa.

We have had a long summer and it can get tough at times, but we just have to get our heads around the itineraries.

I'm coming up to four years of playing pretty much every game for the Test, one-day and Twenty20 team, and of course it can wear you out a bit. But you have to remember that you are playing cricket for a living, and it's something I absolutely love doing.

Last night's game took place at the same time as England's World Cup qualifier against Croatia, and although we were completely focused on the cricket the football obviously got a lot of attention.

Sporting schedules are so packed these days it is hard to avoid clashes, and we are lucky that home Ashes series take place in the summer when there is no football on.

We have always had to live in football's shadow a little bit, and we are never going to be able to rival it in terms of popularity. We just hope we can keep people interested and get kids playing the game.

In addition to my international commitments, I will be playing in the Twenty20 Champions League with the Delhi Daredevils next month along with Owais Shah.

It's something I am contracted to play in. When the ECB sign you off to play in the IPL, the Champions League is included in that. It's part of my contract and I have to uphold it.

Sussex have left Matt Prior out of their Champions League squad but it is not the same situation as he has not signed a contract and the ECB can pull him out.

Comments1 - 28 of 28

I wouldn't bet on either you or Shah actually playing for the Delhi daredevils. Some time in the nets may be more productive
From kestephenson on Thu Sep 10 12:38PM
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"It's pretty simple to know what is missing from the England one-day team at the moment" says Collingwood, but it's abundantly clear that he doesn't really know or won't say. Strange, beecause it's obvious to every cricket fan in the country what is missing from the England one-day team - ADIL RASHID!
From bob.edge64 on Thu Sep 10 12:43PM
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What is missing is some sensible selection and rearrangement of the batting line up . Prior is not good enough to bat 3 , Bopara just lacks what it takes to step up to international level . Collingwood should be played as what he is , a reasonable all rounder , not a no 4 or 5 batsman . Why on earth do you play Rashid in one game , he does well then is dropped !! whilst others play game after game and do not contribute . What a shambles
From billy.mckain on Thu Sep 10 12:57PM
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From freegadgets28 on Thu Sep 10 01:26PM
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From cady_yaahooo_user on Thu Sep 10 01:34PM
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Im an England fan but its been like water torture watching the one day internationals. Paul Collingwood has the same right as anyone to air his views but he needs a reality check. There is no quick fix for this England team, the only player who has come out of this series with any credit is Strausse, the rest of them are a joke. maybe they should take a leaf out of Capellos book and get rid of this central contracts nonesense and pick the team on current form! Dropping Rashid made no sense whatsoever.
From phil.lee32 on Thu Sep 10 01:43PM
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Well said, phil.lee. Strauss has batted well and has not been given the support of his senior pro, Collingwood, either in performance or advice. Prior should not bat at 3. Rashid should have played in the last match in place of Collingwood. Yes we miss Fred and Kev, and were without Broad and Denly.
How about;
Strauss
Denley
Bopara
Shah
Prior
Broad
Rashid
Wrigh
t
Sidebotham
Bresnan
Andersen
From tonypearce189 on Thu Sep 10 02:51PM
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Well said, phil.lee. Strauss has batted well and has not been given the support of his senior pro, Collingwood, either in performance or advice. Prior should not bat at 3. Rashid should have played in the last match in place of Collingwood. Yes we miss Fred and Kev, and were without Broad and Denly.
How about;
Strauss
Denley
Bopara
Shah
Prior
Broad
Rashid
Wrigh
t
Sidebotham
Bresnan
Andersen
From tonypearce189 on Thu Sep 10 02:51PM
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How about dropping inadequate Bopara, nervous rabbit Shah, past his sell by date Collingwood, useless Bresnan, time to find a decent barber Sidebottom and picking a team that can bat and bowl. I would suggest
Strauss
Denley
Trott
Prior
Morgan
Wright
Rashid
Br
oad
Swann
Onions
Anderson
And tell them to bat properly. It's 50 overs for crying out loud, not a twenty over slog. Just knocking the ball around for singles for 50 overs would bring you in excess of 250.
From garneralan267 on Thu Sep 10 03:12PM
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how about picking some players who are prepared to bend their back in the field bye bye ryan.
From dave.hartley on Thu Sep 10 03:17PM
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The only reason sussex are "resting" Prior is that they dont need him anymore they have not missed him at all a lot of the sussex team do not like his arrogance and team spirit is far better when he is not playing.Now would be a good time for the selectors to "rest" him and try either Foster or Davies both far more gifted players then Prior will ever be come on selectors look to the future.
From davidcove on Thu Sep 10 03:23PM
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The reason Sussex are "resting Prior is really that they do not need him they really are not missing him at all.Alot of the Sussex players do not like his arrogance and the team spirit is far better when he is not playing.Also now would be a good time for England to "rest" him and play either Foster or Davies both far more gifted players than Prior will ever be.
From davidcove on Thu Sep 10 03:27PM
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would you bat better mr. collingwood if you were playing in india for lots of cash?
From dan.sunderland on Thu Sep 10 05:45PM
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it's obvious what is missing MR Collingwood, ability from you & a few others, never mind I'm sure you will be picked for the remaining FOUR defeats
From finch540 on Thu Sep 10 06:07PM
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From freegadgets28 on Thu Sep 10 06:40PM
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TIME FOR CHANGE COLLY ITS HARDER TO GET OUT OF THE CURRENT BATTING SQUAD THAN IN IT.THERE ARE PLENTY OF HITTERS IN THE COUNTIES TO GIVE A CHANCE TO AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANY WORSE THAN YOU LOT AT PRESENT,HOW ARE YOU GOING TO WIN WHEN 8 9 10 JACK ARE LEFT TO TRY AND GET RUNS ALL THE TIME.I PITY ANDREW WITH THIS TEAM AT PRESENT R B A GLAMORGAN
From barryace84 on Thu Sep 10 07:59PM
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Same old story, failure rewarded with automatic selection.
This is the worst australian team in 20 years, yet they are totally walking all over us, what does that say for you and your lot colly?
From edward103 on Thu Sep 10 10:06PM
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Bopara and Shah BOTH should be out - ASAP...
From zlana on Fri Sep 11 07:36AM
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Wouldn't we all like an admission from Mr. Collingwood that he is, as everybody bar the selectors and captain seem to know, extremely lucky to be involved in the series or in the England set-up at all. The dropping of Rashid and non-inclusion of Trott is really not good enough. The press are full of the virtues of Capello as the man who has transformed England's attitude and performances. Can English cricket find someone to do the same for the ECCB. The captain should not be consulted and a committee should not select the team. Someone like Chris Adams or Geoff Cook should be given a chance to do things differently. Also whilst writing, is it a fact that Collingwood is the only player in the history of english cricket to have played a full test and ODI series at home and never once represented his county?
From pacranny on Fri Sep 11 09:24AM
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You should know whats wrong Paul. You prod and fiddle about for 50/60 balls to score a dozen runs.As another correspondent remarked, You should write a book on the 100 best defensive shots to score one run. For god's sake get on with it man
From overspin1 on Fri Sep 11 10:20AM
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You should know whats wrong Paul. You prod and fiddle about for 50/60 balls to score a dozen runs.As another correspondent remarked, You should write a book on the 100 best defensive shots to score one run. For god's sake get on with it man
From overspin1 on Fri Sep 11 10:20AM
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Collingwood you're an idiot! Nuff Said
From still_x on Fri Sep 11 10:34AM
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Question for you Colly: Just how ineffective do you have to be as an England player in order not to get a central contract?
From i4nhart on Fri Sep 11 01:53PM
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still_x and everybody like you... what is wrong with you, people?
to abuse an opponent doesn't mean express your opinion you know...
how about "healthy" discussion?
are you short for words?
From zlana on Fri Sep 11 02:09PM
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None of you get the point. They are all good cricketers, but there's no ONE DAY leadership. Why wait for 40 overs for the batting powerplay when Lee and Johnston are about to bowl. Someone said they're worried about losing wickets early if they powerplay earlier. What are they? Wimps? Then its left to the tail enders to scrabble for a big finish. GET ON YOUR BIKES BOPARA and SHAH! Go out there as if you mean it! Work the singles, put pressure on the bowlers and the fours will come. Sit back and defend your selection and what happens - we lose!
From david.r.guest on Sat Sep 12 07:47PM
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Did we win the Ashes or was it given to us - maybe to keep interest going for the next time.
From patandbarbara on Sun Sep 13 08:26AM
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No Paul; what England needs is to drop losers like you!
Even when you do score, (which is very rare) your run rate is snail-like!
If we lose this 7-0, thhe Aussies will return home smiling and this will overshadow the fact that WE WON THE ASHES!
From cameronwestwood on Sun Sep 13 10:04AM
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There was only one comment I liked and that was from garneralan. I played overs cricket for years and the quick singles, two's and the dispatch of the bad ball will either win you the game or a near miss.Why not try his suggested team which I agree with? Ian Bothams face said it all after the match.
Raybee
From beeforthraymond on Mon Sep 14 07:34PM
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England need hard slog

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England need hard slog

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