Collingwood dismisses retirement talk

England's Paul Collingwood has scotched speculation on his one-day future after coming in to bat at number eight during the World Cup defeat to Bangladesh. Collingwood quit Tests during the Sydney Test against Australia in January this year to allow himself to focus on one-day internationals and Twenty20 cricket. 

England cricketer Paul Collingwood (L) adjusts teammate Eoin Morgan’s helmet during a training session in Chittagong

 

 

Chennai: Mar 14, 2011 

 

England’s Paul Collingwood has scotched speculation on his one-day future after coming in to bat at number eight during the World Cup defeat to Bangladesh. Collingwood quit Tests during the Sydney Test against Australia in January this year to allow himself to focus on one-day internationals and Twenty20 cricket. 

 

The Durham all-rounder, who led England to a famous World Twenty20 triumph last year, has had an unimpressive run in the tournament so far, managing just 61 runs and one wicket from four league matches. He missed the win over South Africa through injury. “One reason I retired from Test cricket was to prolong the one-day side of things and I still feel I have major contributions to make,” Collingwood, 34, said. “I’m still the Twenty20 captain.

 

I want to continue that as well. It’s not in my mind to even think about things like this (my future).” Collingwood shrugged off England’s topsy-turvy form at the World Cup where they need to beat the West Indies on Thursday to keep up their hopes of a last-eight place. “I see things developing very much how the Twenty20 did last year in the West Indies. We scraped through the group stages, but once we did we really put our performances together and went on to win it. 

 

“We really need to focus on getting this complete game. You put the whole thing together, and we’re a formidable team. We want to do that against the West Indies.” Collingwood said the scheduling of the World Cup, that followed on the heels of a gruelling Ashes and one-day campaign in Australia, was no excuse for their showing so far. 

 

“It’s not ideal having two huge series or tournaments together, it’s like having two Olympics in the same winter. But we can’t make that as an excuse. “We have to beat the West Indies. It’s not all over for us and if we can win four games on the trot we can win the World Cup.” Collingwood has garnered 5,092 runs and 111 wickets from 197 one-day internationals.

 

© AFP

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