Paul Collingwood — MBE
For those that are following such things — and I hope there will be many — Paul Collingwood should be worth a toast this evening. For he completed a majestic innings against the Aussies in the second test of this year's Ashes early this morning, knocking Warne, McGrath et al. all over the Adelaide Bowl for 206 magnificent runs.
It was around this time last year that people were critical of Collingwood's receipt of an MBE for his role in England's 2005 Ashes victory. arbitrary constant doesn't normally stoop to such levels, but: IN THEIR FACE!
Collingwood is class and, in the main, when he's had the chance, he's shined. As this profile of him reminds us, he has achieved some impressive things on the field, including this:
On 21 June 2005, playing for England against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge, he scored 112 not out from 86 balls, then took 6-31, the best-ever figures by an Englishman, to become the first player to score a century and take six wickets in a One Day International; Viv Richards had previously scored a hundred and taken five.
In 17 test matches, Collingwood has scored three 100s and four 50s at an average of 47.64 and, as I was reminded by Temperama, he contributed a substantial and steady 10 from 51 balls whilst Pieterson did his stuff at the final test of the 2005 Ashes at the Oval.
Finally, Collingwood's contribution in the field cannot be underestimated: he is in the same league as Jonty Rhodes when it comes to fielding at or around point / backward point. I saw England play Australia at their first one-day international in Bristol last year and was lucky enough to be sitting in line with point when Collingwood took an to dismiss Matthew Hayden (which, incidentaly, was better than Strauss's catch to dismiss Adam Gilchrist).
Let it be known, then, that arbitrary constant is a big fan of Collingwood and thinks he is class.
Filed in Sport