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 15 May 2008 18:31 BST

Collingwood doubtful for first Test against New Zealand

Friday, 09 May 2008 17:04
Paul Collingwood suffers shoulder injury ahead of first Test against New Zealand next week
Middle-order batsman Paul Collingwood has been listed as a doubt for England's first Test against New Zealand due to a shoulder injury.

The Durham star suffered a problem during his county's defeat to Lancashire in the County Championship this week.

And after the game he was forced to have a pain-killing injection to ease discomfort in the joint.

However, director of cricket Geoff Cook eased fears that the all-rounder could be ruled out of the first Test against the Black Caps at Lord's, which starts next Thursday.

"I don't think there is any fear of him missing any cricket," Cook claimed.

Collingwood is looking forward to returning to the international fold after several weeks' rest following the last tour, which resulted in a Test series victory over England's upcoming opponents.

The tourists lost the one-day series 3-1 following defeat in the final match in Christchurch in February.

And Collingwood is hoping for an improvement in his own form to help the team bounce back.

"I'm excited, I've been looking forward to getting back into the nets and working on the game again and that's what you want when you're in that kind of work mode," he said.

"It's a bonus if you can come out and score hundred after hundred every innings.

"Realistically it's not going to work that way and you come up against difficult conditions.

"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."

Collingwood admitted he could be one of the first players to be axed if head coach Peter Moores looks to change things around in the Test squad.

But he said this would only make him more determined to succeed.

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

"It is disappointing not to score runs but the big ones could be just around the corner."End of story

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