Paul Collingwood announces retirement
England’s middle-order batsman and Twenty20 captain, Paul Collingwood announced his retirement from Test cricket on Thursday. However, the Englishman will continue to play One Day and Twenty20 cricket after the Ashes.
The 36-year-old played 68 Test matches for England and was a permanent fixture in the team.
Collingwood has had a tough time with the bat in the 2010-11 Ashes series which England have dominated. He earlier suggested he would look into his Test future as his form continued to deteriorate.
“On a personal level, this is a big week for me in Sydney. I’m at the crossroads and what happens in the final Test may well determine what direction I go in,” Collingwood said.
Collingwood however, would be proud to be a part of the English team which managed to retain the Ashes in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 for the first time in 26 years.
England and Wales Cricket Board has not made any official statement but the news was made public at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
England fans will remember Collingwood as a hardworking batsman and one of the greatest fielders Test cricket has ever seen. Over the years, he has taken some outrageous catches. He could also bowl medium pace whenever it was required.
The retirement of Collingwood means youngsters like Eoin Morgan will now get their chance in the middle order. Morgan is a very talented player but he might find it hard to replace Paul Collingwood.
Collingwood in the end stated that he had a very satisfying career and achieved a lot. He also had some regrets.
"The one thing that has frustrated me more than anything, however, is that, over my career, I haven't ever been able to maintain my form for longer," he said.
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