Paul David Collingwood
Paul David Collingwood MBE (born 26 May 1976) is an English cricketer. He was a regular member of the England Test side, and captain of the One Day International (ODI) team (20072008). He is also captain of his county, Durham County Cricket Club. Collingwood is a batting all-rounder, whose batting combines natural strokeplay with great tenacity. He also bowls reliable medium pace. Described as a “natural athlete”, he is also regarded as one of the finest fielders of his time; usually fielding at backward point or in the slips, he has also deputised as wicket-keeper for England.
His first class debut was in 1996, and he made his first appearance for England in One Day International cricket in 2001 and made his Test match debut in 2003. For two years he remained an occasional Test player, but after selection for the final Test of the 2005 Ashes, he secured a regular place. His 206 during the 200607 Ashes was the first double century by an England batsman in Australia for 78 years and in a match that England lost. A series of three consecutive match-winning performances by Collingwood at the end of the 200607 Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia brought him enthusiastic approval in the British media. His “allround display of incredible nerve and tenacity” helped to secure the trophy for England. In 2010 he led the England team to their first ICC trophy, the 2010 World Twenty20. He is England’s most capped ODI cricketer and was, until passed by Ian Bell in 2015, the leading ODI run scorer. He announced his retirement from Test cricket in January 2011, during the 5th Test of the 201011 Ashes series. He finished on a high, becoming a three-times Ashes winner as England won a series in Australia for the first time in 24 years, with three innings victories contributing to a 31 win.
Early and personal life
Collingwood was born and brought up in Shotley Bridge, near Consett, County Durham, by parents David and Janet,along with his elder brother Peter, and was educated at Blackfyne Comprehensive School, now known as Consett Academy.Introduced to cricket “on the playing fields of Blackfyne Comprehensive School”, Paul was able to “force his way into Shotley Bridge’s Under13s team at the age of just nine”.
As a teenager, his father, who still remains a member of the Shotley Bridge Cricket Club, persuaded him to give up football and concentrate on cricket. Collingwood still makes regular visits to his old cricket club, “…he is a brilliant role model for the kids and his success is an aspiration to follow…”.
He currently lives in Northumberland with wife Vicky, whom he married in February 2005 in Cape Town, South Africa, and their three daughters Shannon (born September 2006), Keira (born 24 February 2008), and Hannah Mae (born 9 February 2011). He is a big fan of Sunderland AFC. His nicknames are Colly, Weed and Shep; the latter is an apparent homage to the famous Blue Peter Collie dog, Shep.
Coaching
After retiring from international cricket, Collingwood associated with England and Scotland cricket teams as coach and supporting staff.In November 2014, Paul agreed to return in Scotland’s coaching staff for 2015 Cricket World Cup. He then became the captain/assistant coach of Durham, which led them to win the 2013 LV County Championship, the inaugural 2014 Royal London One-Day Cup. Collingwood has been named as Limited Overs Consultant for England in September 2015.
Achievements
Test matches
Records:
1,000+ Test runs in a calendar year in 2006.
England fourth wicket partnership record against Australia 206 in a partnership of 310 with Kevin Pietersen in 2006.
Double century against Australia in 2007 only the third English batsman to score a double century in Australia, and the first since Wally Hammond in 1936.
First Durham player to score a Test century for England, and first to hit one at Riverside Ground.
One-Day Internationals
An innings-by-innings breakdown of Collingwood’s Oneday International batting career, showing runs scored (red bars) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).
Records:
Most capped ODI player for England
Best bowling figures in an ODI by an England player 6/31 against Bangladesh in 2005.
Best ODI all-round performance 6/31 and 112* against Bangladesh in 2005. Fastest half century by an England player, 50 off 24 deliveries. The second most career runs in ODI matches for England.
Twenty20 Internationals
Records:
Best bowling figures by an Englishman in a Twenty20 International; 4/22 against Sri Lanka in 2006.
Highest wicket partnership for England in Twenty20 Internationals; 54 in a partnership of 102 with Owais Shah against New Zealand in 2008.
First English cricket captain to lead a major ICC tournament winning side.
Wisden Cricketer of the Year
He was chosen as one of the five Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2007, alongside England teammate Monty Panesar. In their rationale, Wisden describes him as having become the embodiment of “the sort of cricketer who not only made the most of his ability but was also determined to keep getting better.”
