Sport News

Collingwood suffers injury worry

category: Cricket

09.05.2008 18:52

England all-rounder Paul Collingwood is suffering from a shoulder problem just days before the start of the home Test series against New Zealand.

He was given a pain-killing injection during Durham's 232-run County Championship defeat by Lancashire.

Collingwood, who had shoulder problems in Sri Lanka last winter, did not bowl in Lancashire's second innings.

But Durham director of cricket Geoff Cook insisted: "I don't think there is any fear of him missing any cricket."

Collingwood, 31, has played 33 Tests and has been an ever present in the England side since the series in India two years ago.

He is likely to be included in the squad for next week's Lord's Test when it is announced by chief selector Geoff Miller on Sunday.

But his form with the bat, as well as his shoulder, will be a cause for concern after scores of three and one against Lancashire.

"Runs would be good to get that confidence going, but I'll back myself to go out there and score out in the middle when the time comes.

"I am sure that everybody has got me down as the first one off the team sheet but I am a battler," he said.

Collingwood was given a working over at Old Trafford by England team-mate Andrew Flintoff.

And if he suffers any further problems with his shoulder, it could improve Flintoff's chances of making his Test comeback following surgery on his ankle.

He has not been in form with the bat either, but against Durham, he again showed that he has lost none of his speed or hostility with the ball in his hand.

"I think that over to Collingwood was the best working-over of a world-class batsman I've seen for a long time," said Lancashire captain Stuart Law.

"Colly's a good player, but Freddie made him look almost second rate."

Original text is here

  Add comment

Name:
E-Mail:
Comment:
Enter code: