Paul Collingwood joins the English batting Bandwagon
England middle order batsman Paul Collingwood has finally managed to score big runs in the second warm-up match against South Australia. The dependable batsman was a failure in the first warm-up match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Western-Australia-c865,
which was why it had become mandatory for him to perform in the second warm-up knock against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844.
Collingwood, who scored his highest Test score on the same ground, looked in his comfort zone when he came out to bat at Adelaide. England’s cricket coach Andy Flower must have been a very relieved man after Collingwood’s 94. Collingwood’s
knock has come at a time that will serve as a boost for the rest of the batting line-up. He probably would have scored his first warm-up century if it had not been for an edge to the gully off Jake Haberfield’s delivery.
Paul Collingwood made his One-Day International cricket debut for England in 2001 and then his Test debut in 2003. During his initial period, he remained an occasional player for his country failing to cement his place in the side.
However, after being selected for the final Test of the 2005 Ashes, he managed to become a regular player for England. The year 2006-07 was phenomenal for him, as he managed to score 206 in the Ashes, becoming the first Englishman to score a double century
in Australia for seventy-eight years.
The same year Collingwood was a major contributor in England’s triumph in the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia.
Paul Collingwood led the England team to their first ever Twenty20 World Cup victory in 2010 by defeating the mighty Australians in the final. Collingwood has been phenomenal against the Australians and his character will be very
useful against the Aussies in the upcoming Ashes.
However, the same could not be said for the rest of the English batsmen who unlike Collingwood failed to bat on a batting pitch at Adelaide. Ian Bell spent valuable time on the pitch along with Paul Collingwood teasing the South
Australian bowlers and making the best out of the pitch that was surely favouring the batsmen.
Earlier, England were again in trouble at 3 for 63. Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood initiated a rebuilding process, but Pietersen departed soon after scoring thirty-three runs. It was then Bell’s turn to join Collingwood and
things started brightening up for England. Both the players established a partnership of 131 runs giving England something to fight for in this match.
Collingwood was the first to depart and then Ian Bell fell to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ben-Edmondson-c1134 after scoring a knock of sixty-one runs. After a few more lower order wickets fell, the English captain Andrew Strauss decided to declare at 288 for 8.
So far, England would wish to see their ace batsmen Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott to bat well and get in the gear of scoring some big runs in the second innings. Failing to do so will most likely put Andy Flower in an awkward
situation because he is counting on these two specialist batsmen to perform well in the Ashes.
Tags: