Is this the end of the road for Paul Collingwood?

Paul Collingwood has long been a staple of England’s cricket team. He holds the record for one-day international appearances in an England shirt, and only last year he captained the Twenty20 side to World Cup glory.

However, after retiring from test cricket at the end of the Ashes, he was left out of the team for the first one-day international against Australia in Melbourne. His recent poor form may mean there is no way back for the man who still holds the record for the best all-round one-day international performance.

Collingwood is no stranger to being on the brink of being discarded by the national team, but every time he has find a way to persuade the selectors to stick with him, mostly by scoring great centuries or picking up a crucial wicket. His fielding has also set the standard for the modern-day England team, with some of his memorable catches his main legacy.

Collingwood had a poor Ashes series to say the least, and his retirement at the end of the Sydney test match only seemed to spare him from being dropped. However, when this form carried on into the two Twenty20 international, the England selectors have found themselves with no option but to leave him out.

Collingwood's poor Ashes series led to his retirement after the
Sydney test

With only six matches left in the series, he may not have the chance to prove his worth ahead of February’s World Cup. England’s middle order looks very strong, with Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan looking as if they will be very difficult to dislodge when it comes down to their batting compared with Collingwood’s, especially on recent form.

However, after defeat in Melbourne, many commentators have said Collingwood’s medium pace may have come in handy, as England’s five frontline bowlers struggled under the floodlights. James Anderson and Stuart Broad should be back for the World Cup though, and this should strengthen the bowling attack, leaving Collingwood even more out in the cold.

It remains to be seen whether Paul Collingwood will be given the chance to represent his country in the forthcoming World Cup, but seeing him on the podium as part of a winning England team would be a great way for him to bow out of international cricket. 

This article can also be found at worldcricketwatch.com

Are Australia ready for a World Cup defence?

With the Ashes over, Australia are now turning their attention towards the One-Day series with England and the World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh which follows the series in February. With World Cup squads having to be named in a week’s time, Australia’s selections for the opening one-day games against England have given us a few clues surrounding what team will be on the plane to the sub-continent.

Starting with the openers, it would only take a serious injury for Shane Watson not to open the batting. The limited overs format suits his hard hitting style and he will have to perform if Australia are to retain the trophy they have held for 12 years.  His medium pace bowling could also come in handy on the slow, low pitches that can be found on the sub-continent.

Since Adam Gilchrist burst onto the international scene, many teams now have a wicket-keeper as their opening batsman in the 50-over format. Since Gilly’s retirement Australia have continued this tradition and this doesn’t seem likely to change given their recent selection. Brad Haddin is the only man in the squad who could realistically open the innings. He seems to have been given the nod over Tim Paine, although both could make the trip to Asia.

Despite his lack of form, I would be very surprised if Ricky Ponting wasn’t batting at number three when he returns from his finger injury. However, for the time being it looks as if David Hussey will take the captain’s place in the side. Hussey averages less than 30 in his 23 one-day internationals, but a good performance against England could give Ponting some sleepless nights.

The rest of the middle-order almost picks itself, with Michael Clarke, Cameron White and Mike Hussey unlikely to be dislodged before cricket’s premier tournament. The likes of Callum Ferguson and Usman Khawaja could gain places in the squad, but are unlikely to make the team unless there are injuries.

Michael Clarke will head up Australia's middle order

The make up of the rest of the team is still a mystery. Many may predict that Steve Smith will bat at seven due to his leg spin bowling, which should come in handy on the spinning wickets of the sub-continent. Whether he will take up that position for the England series is yet to be seen.

The other bowlers who have been named in the squad have everything to play for. Mitchell Johnson’s lower order batting will most probably see him into the side, whilst Shaun Tait’s pace is almost unrivalled in world cricket.

Shaun Tait should figure in Australia's World Cup bid

The third seamer’s position looks as if it will be fought out by Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger. Despite Siddle’s impressive Ashes series, Bollinger seems to be more in favour with the selectors when it comes to the one-day game.

The one position which has gained the most headlines is that of the spinner. Nathan Hauritz’s inclusion shows that he is still on the selectors’ radar, despite him being overlooked for the Ashes series. He will fight for his position with the much maligned Xavier Doherty, who wins a place in the squad after impressing in the one-day matches against Sri Lanka, which preceded the Ashes.

With seven matches to choose the right combination of players to retain the trophy, Australia’s selectors have a big job to do. The squad they have picked shows that are willing to back players who are tried and tested, and only time will tell whether this will reap the rewards of a fourth consecutive World Cup.

This article can also be found at worldcricketwatch.com

10 things we learnt from the Gabba Test Match

The first test of the 2010 Ashes is over, ending in an entertaining and record-breaking draw. With the second test in Adelaide kicking off on Thursday night, the teams have little time to reflect on their time in Brisbane. But what has been learnt?

1. England have metal: Many questioned whether, despite arguably being the more talented side, England would have the required character to succeed when under pressure. However, led by the superb Alastair Cook, England's top order showed that the team is a different animal to those that have previously been humiliated Down Under. In similar situations, the tourists have usually relied on the likes of Paul Collingwood to dig them out of trouble, but by not needing his services the confidence in the batting order will be sky high.

2. James Anderson can bowl in Australia: By the end of the 2006/07 series, James Anderson was, like every English cricket fan, thoroughly downbeat. However, unlike most English cricket fans, the Lancastrian had even more reason to feel sorry for himself, as he had felt the full force of the Australian batting line-up. With a distinct lack of swing, the man from Burnley put in some very ordinary performances. Four years on, though, and he is a man reborn. He was England's most dangerous bowler and was very unlucky not to pick up more wickets than the two that he did. He is known as 'The Bowling Captain', and has a huge job to do over the remaining four tests.

3. Mike Hussey is back: Before this test match, Mike Hussey was in the last chance saloon. A failure in Brisbane could have ended his test match career. However, despite looking shaky early on, Hussey batted brilliantly to put Australia in a commanding position. He was very unlucky not to make a double century, and has surely now cemented his place in the side for the foreseeable future.

4. Marcus North is walking a tightrope: Many cricket fans already knew North needed a big performance at the Gabba to get the critics off his back. However, he scored just one and again fell victim to Graeme Swann. His only highlight was the wicket of Andrew Strauss in England's second innings, and his ability to bowl occasional off-spin may be the reason why he has been retained for Adelaide, a pitch which usually aids spin bowling.

5. Mitchell Johnson has fallen off the tightrope: Match figures of 0-170. A nineteen-ball duck. A horrendous dropped catch. A even more horrendous moustache. I don't think anything more needs adding.

6. Xavier didn't have the 'X Factor': Xavier Doherty's selection for the opening test was greeted with raised eyebrows, with many commentators asking whether a man with a first-class bowling average of 48 would be able to trouble England's batsmen. The answer to that question was no, he couldn't. In his much anticipated battle with Kevin Pietersen,  England's number four won hands down, whilst his two wickets were not exactly due to world-class bowling; Ian Bell was caught in the deep when hitting out whilst Jimmy Anderson was bowled playing the reverse sweep (I never thought I'd ever write that sentence).

7. Ben Hilfenhaus bowls a mean first over: On the whole, Ben Hilfenhaus did not have a great test match. However, in both innings' his opening over caused no end of problems to the England batsmen, and namely captain Andrew Strauss. In the first innings Strauss was caught in the gully from the third ball of the opening over, whilst the first ball of the second innings saw the England captain survive a huge lbw appeal. If Hilfenhaus can translate this type of form into his other overs, he could become a real threat in the test matches to come.

8. Australian fans are very good as dressing up as empty seats: The final two days of the test match saw very disappointing crowds, especially given the tightness of the match. Whether this is down to ticket prices or a lack of interest is unclear, but whatever the reason the relevant authorities at Cricket Australia will be hoping to see a huge improvement on the attendances from Brisbane.

9. The Barmy Army haven't changed: Despite the 5-0 whitewash of the 2006/07 series, many people remember the series for the brilliant visiting support given by the Barmy Army. Despite reports suggesting less England fans would be travelling Down Under this time round, the Army seemed to be louder than ever in Brisbane. With new songs and old, they are sure to keep us entertained throughout the series.

10. This could be the closest series ever!

Why do England keep playing to Australia's strengths?

When England’s Ashes squad was announced just less than two weeks ago, eyebrows were raised over the selection of Surrey bowler Chris Tremlett. Despite not playing for the national side in any form of the game since June 2008, the selectors saw fit for him to be selected, mainly due to his 6’7” frame.

Tremlett’s height will, the selectors believe, be a huge advantage in Australian conditions. The extra pace and bounce that the pitches in Australia offer has meant that the 29-year old has gained selection over the likes of Yorkshire’s Ajmal Shahzad and Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes. Alongside Steven Finn, who is much more likely to be picked for the First Test at the Gabba, the former-Hampshire star should be the most suited bowler to the conditions Australia has to offer.

However, a selection that the ECB may have felt has strengthened their bowling options may also be looked upon with happiness by the home side. A man whose bowling is suited to Australian conditions is likely to be something not too threatening to the home side’s top six.

Tremlett’s similarities with Sajid Mahmood (a man picked for the 2006 Ashes whitewash) are alarming.

Mahmood is a tall, fast bowler who, like Tremlett, should be very much suited to the conditions Down Under. However, in 2006, Mahmood took five wickets at an average of 52.8 in the final three tests of the series, whilst going at over five runs an over. The home batsmen took a particular liking to him and he hasn’t played a test since the final match in Sydney. The fact that Mahmood was very much part of the national set-up, something that Tremlett can’t claim to be, makes the Surrey man’s selection slightly more worrying.

Realistically, Tremlett will most probably not play in the series unless there are injuries amongst the front-line bowlers. However, his selection in the squad shows that the English selectors are not learning from the mistakes made four years ago. Some of England’s finest bowlers have struggled in Australia, so a selection of a man without an away test match to his name must be seen as a risk.

This article is not saying Tremlett is a bad bowler. He has had a good first season at The Oval and may have felt himself slightly aggrieved to have not at least gained a call-up for the one-day side over the English summer. However, his selection for an Ashes tour after over three years in the test match wilderness with a style of bowling that the Australian batsmen will look upon fondly is a strange one to say the least, and further proof that the England selectors don’t seem to learn from their mistakes, something which has meant their team may again struggle to retain the famous little urn.  


This article can be found at worldcricketwatch.com