SA Footy

Collingwood retires from Test cricket
06 January, 2011
Sportal
Paul Collingwood
Paul Collingwood

England batsman Paul Collingwood has told his team-mates he will retire from Test cricket at the conclusion of the current SCG Ashes Test.

He made the announcement to his team-mates before the start of play on the fourth day of the fifth and final Test of a successful Ashes tour for England.

Collingwood, 34, has struggled for form throughout the series posting just 70 runs at an average of 14 and would have been in danger of losing his spot for England's three-Test series at home against Sri Lanka, beginning in May.

In his role as national team captain of the Twenty20 side, Collingwood is expected to continue playing limited overs cricket for another year at least, including One-Day Internationals.

"Representing England at Test level has always been a dream of mine and I've been fortunate enough to have enjoyed some amazing highs throughout my Test career," Collingwood said.

"I'm proud of the fact that I've always given my all for the England Test team but I feel that this is the right time to leave Test cricket having reached some very special achievements, none more satisfying than retaining the Ashes in Australia."

"I also feel now is the time to ensure some of the younger players are given an opportunity at Test level as we have a wealth of talent pushing for places in the England Test team."

"Clearly I still feel I have a huge amount to offer England in terms of limited overs cricket and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to continue leading the Twenty20 squad and playing a significant role in England's ODI team."

Collingwood will be remembered for his dogged middle-order batting and handy medium-pace bowling.

He infamously won an MBE as part of England's 2005 winning Ashes squad despite playing just one match and scoring 17 runs during the series.

He made a superb double century on England's 2006 tour of Australia, with his 206 at the Adelaide Oval remaining his highest Test score.

Collingwood will finish his Test career with over 4200 runs and 10 centuries at an average of better than 40.

i was hoping this was in the wrong room and that collingwood had retired from the AFL

Thank goodness he played this series and at number 5.
If they had a real batsman ahead of Bell we could've chased scored of 700.

Maybe the Queen will Knight him after this series ...

Last sentence of the press release sums it up IMHO. Retired before his average drops to the embarrassing levels of Alec Stewart. Very, very average test batsman who had a few good moments, was in the right place at the right time and who benefited from the only time in the last 20 years the English had some seriously good batsmen going well against us.

His getting an MBE was a joke (and always will be).

Grahaml wrote:Last sentence of the press release sums it up IMHO. Retired before his average drops to the embarrassing levels of Alec Stewart. Very, very average test batsman who had a few good moments, was in the right place at the right time and who benefited from the only time in the last 20 years the English had some seriously good batsmen going well against us.

His getting an MBE was a joke (and always will be).

What a load of ungracious twaddle.

Over 60-plus Tests Collingwood was a tough, obdurate competitor who scored 10 centuries, including a double century, and averaged over 40. He was a handy medium pace bowler to boot. His record is one that any Test cricketer could be justifiably proud of.

And why the resentment over him receiving an MBE? I didn't think that most Aussies were all that enamoured with the British Empire anyway.

westozfalcon wrote:

Grahaml wrote:Last sentence of the press release sums it up IMHO. Retired before his average drops to the embarrassing levels of Alec Stewart. Very, very average test batsman who had a few good moments, was in the right place at the right time and who benefited from the only time in the last 20 years the English had some seriously good batsmen going well against us.

His getting an MBE was a joke (and always will be).

What a load of ungracious twaddle.

Over 60-plus Tests Collingwood was a tough, obdurate competitor who scored 10 centuries, including a double century, and averaged over 40. He was a handy medium pace bowler to boot. His record is one that any Test cricketer could be justifiably proud of.

And why the resentment over him receiving an MBE? I didn't think that most Aussies were all that enamoured with the British Empire anyway.

Want to know why Aussies are cynical about any "Royal" honour handed out to cricketers??? We have one player in the history of the game knighted, go through the Poms and West Indians and see how many knighthoods have been handed out to them. It's a joke as was Collingwood's MBE.

See, it's not so hard Ricky. Keep flogging those vitamins mate.

regards,

REB