Daniel Brigham: Collingwood or Gallian? You decide…
July 29th, 2008 by Daniel Brigham in England, South Africa in England, Test cricket and tagged bopara, collingwood, daniel brigham, England, key, shah, South Africa, the wisden cricketer
“His fielding, his energy, and his bowling on this type of wicket could be useful if it swings,” said Michael Vaughan about Paul Collingwood’s return to the Test side. Just don’t mention the batting.
He wasn’t deemed good enough for Headingley, so how has he then become good enough to play at Edgbaston?
When Collingwood was dropped, it was hard to see how he deserved a place in the squad, let alone the team. Especially when you consider that Owais Shah, Rob Key and Ravi Bopara all produced dynamic, inspired performances in front of TV cameras this week - as they have been doing all season.
The man he’s come in for – Stuart Broad – is also in much better form with the bat. So, by bringing back a batsman for a bowler, England appear to have actually weakened their batting. Not strengthened it.
“He’s just a good man to have around the team, because he’s very mature and a good thinker of the game”, says Vaughan on Collingwood. That’s OK then, good to know that form and ability doesn’t come into it, as long as he’s a good man.
Essex’s Jason Gallian is a very nice man and very mature, but he hasn’t played a Test for 13 years. I wonder if Gallian feels let down by the selectors and Vaughan.
Daniel Brigham is assistant editor of The Wisden Cricketer
Posted in England, South Africa in England, Test cricket |
July 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Good bloke he may be, but Collingwood is the ultimate life-sponge.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
[...] Webster England have dropped/rested/grown jealous of Stuart Broad’s good looks, restoring Paul Collingwood to the side to face South Africa at Edgbaston in his place. Given that this is apparently being [...]
July 29th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
1-0 up, it’s a decision I could understand, if not agree with. 1-0 down, it’s ludicrous.
England’s attack should be
Flintoff
Jones
Anderson
Harmison
Broad.
This talk about the pitch is rubbish - until they play, it’s just a guess.
Since the end of the Saffers’ first innings at Lord’s, England’s selected bowlers have delivered 250 overs for 10 wickets. I hope that the eight batsmen score quickly enough to allow the bowlers 500 overs to take 20 wickets.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Maybe he’ll act as a lightning rod to deflect negative press away from Vaughan’s own poor form. Doesn’t seem as though anyone in the England set-up really warms to Shah though, anyone know why?
July 30th, 2008 at 8:40 am
For some reason Vaughan doesn’t seem keen on Shah. A new captain, perhaps Rob Key, could well warm to Shah’s abilities.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Thanks for coming Paul. Great knock.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
It’s the 1990s again
July 31st, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I think you should be more concerned about Vaughan!!
July 31st, 2008 at 1:19 pm
“He has had a bad run of scored, but we are supporting him because we think he can come through,” said Moores on Collingwood after yet another failure last night.
Note ‘think’, not ‘know’. Everything they’ve said about Collingwood since his recall makes him sound like a charity case. Who cares if he’s a good man. And should be infer from that that the selectors think Owais Shah isn’t a good man?
August 1st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
[...] Webster It seems that the Last Chance Saloon is popular with those of a Ginger persuasion… who’d have thought it? Although one century does not a summer [...]
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
[...] Collingwood has probably saved himself with his big score in the second innings at Edgbaston, it is far from clear that he should have been in the side to make it. However good he is in the dressing room, [...]