Collingwood demands one-day focus
Collingwood braces his players for a one-day push
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Monday, 20, Aug 2007 10:40
England one-day skipper Paul Collingwood has called on his colleagues to use the upcoming series against India to improve their miserable record in the shortened game.
A seven-match series against the tourists offers England a chance to take some revenge for their Test series loss, but Collingwood also hopes that individual players can improve their skills ahead of September's Twenty20 World Championship and a five-match tour of Sri Lanka.
"We've got a great opportunity of playing a lot of one-day cricket to develop our skills and approach. We want to get better and know we have to," he said.
"Hopefully this two-month period is the perfect time as a one-day side to keep improving and that's what we're looking to do. We realise we have to improve as a one-day side."
England conceded the first series of Collingwood's captaincy 2-1 to the West Indies earlier this summer and currently lie ninth in the ICC's one-day rankings with only Bangladesh, Ireland, Zimababwe and Kenya beneath them.
The return of Andrew Flintoff and 50-over specialist Ravi Borara, both of whom missed the West Indies defeats, will have bolstered Collingwood and coach Peter Moores' confidence although India can also call on some fresh faces.
Munaf Patel has been added to their bowling attack while Robin Uthappa and Ajit Agarkar should inject pace into an ageing batting line-up.