CHENNAI – 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. “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.”
