Paul David Collingwood

Profile:

Standing 5'11" tall, Paul Collingwood is a hard-hitting middle-order batsman and useful medium pace outswing bowler. He made his one-day debut in 1995 and his first-class debut in 1996, winning his cap in 1998. One of few Durham players to be born locally, Collingwood soon became a favourite at the club. He was swift to made an impression on the first-class game, taking a wicket (former England allrounder David Capel, bowled) with his first ball, and scoring 91 in his first innings, against Northants.

Collingwood won praise from Wisden for his "vital contributions under pressure" in the 1999 season, and was voted Player of the Year by the Durham members for 2000, particularly for his one-day efforts. But his first-class statistics disappointed: averaging 30 in 1998, 24 in 1999 and 25 in 2000 he was held back by a struggling Durham team and immature Chester-le-Street pitches. He wasn't helped by a back injury that inhibited his bowling and by promotion to be opening bat in 1997.

Collingwood began the 2001 season in sparkling form; 153 against Warwickshire in the CricInfo Championship, 130 against Durham UCCE plus innings of 91 and 95 against Notts. His one-day form was equally impressive, earning him national recognition and selection for the NatWest Series squad to play Pakistan and Australia in a triangular one-day competition. His first exposure to international cricket can best be described as chastening. An in-form Inzamam-ul-Haq took a liking to his bowling (two overs for 18) and Collingwood could contribute only two with the bat. After nine against Australia (as England were swept away for just 86) he got a 'first-baller' from Waqar Younis and bowled one over for 10 runs at Leeds.

Collingwood played in only one more ODI that summer, but the selectors showed their confidence in his ability by choosing him for the one-day tour of Zimbabwe. It proved a good decision; in his three appearances Collingwood scored 169 runs, with a top score of 77 and a swashbuckling 56* off 46 balls which carried England to victory and a 5-0 whitewash in the final game at Bulawayo. His match-winning unbeaten 71 against India at Cuttack won him the man-of-the-match award, and although his batting then declined both in India and New Zealand, he was again man of the match in Napier after bowling England to victory in the third ODI with figures of 4-38.