Collingwood revels in India win
Paul Collingwood is leading an emerging one-day team
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Saturday, 08, Sep 2007 08:17
England captain Paul Collingwood paid tribute to his one-day team after they comprehensively beat India by seven wickets at Lord's today to take the series 4-3.
The experienced pair of Collingwood (64) and Kevin Pietersen (71) both hit unbeaten knocks to guide England to their victory target of 188, but Collingwood highlighted the emergence of some of England's younger players.
"Jimmy [Anderson] and Stuart [Broad] have really come together as a new-ball partnership and then when you have Freddie [Andrew Flintoff] coming on first change it puts them under the pump," said Collingwood.
"Ian Bell has come out with an approach of looking for the four-ball, not going out there nudging and nurdling [looking for singles]. For a number three to play like he has, he has really come on leaps and bounds."
Man-of-the-series Bell, who scored 422 runs at an average of 70.33, was pleased with the improvements he had made in the series.
He said: "The consistency has been there this series and that's what I've been working for. In the past I've put in a couple of good performances and not gone on.
"But I'm enjoying it now - a bit more intent through those middle overs," the Warwickshire star added.
England fly out to South Africa tomorrow for the Twenty20 World Cup and Collingwood was happy that his team will start the tournament on a high.
"It's a massive tournament but we will continue in the same vein. There are a lot of positive vibes around the camp," said Collingwood.
"We've done well against a very good India side. Our approach, our dedication has been there and the effort has been fantastic."