Collingwood: Test success is main priority
Tuesday, 26 Aug 2008 12:15
Paul Collingwood says he is happy to defer the England one-day captaincy to Kevin Pietersen
Paul Collingwood has admitted his desire to maintain his place in the Test team was the main reason behind his decision to quit the England one-day captaincy.
The Durham all-rounder stepped down earlier this month, allowing Hampshire batsman Kevin Pietersen to take control of the national side in all three formats.
And in the build up to this week's one-dayers against South Africa, Collingwood revealed his main personal focus is on success in the Test arena rather than the shortened versions of the game.
"I found the added responsibility of captaincy was very draining," he said.
"It was starting to take away my form in Test cricket and that was the last thing I wanted it to do.
"It was too much of a coincidence that I scored a hundred against West Indies just before I got the captaincy last year and I scored another hundred the day after I gave it up.
"It was very much a relief. I spoke to my wife and said I couldn't keep going like that because I was going to lose my Test spot and that was going to hurt the most."
Collingwood is back in the England one-day squad for the first time since giving up the captaincy after completing his four-match ban for a slow over rate in his final match as skipper against New Zealand last month.
But when asked if he would find it strange to come back as just another member of the squad rather than the leader, he rebuked the suggestion.
"I'm very much looking forward to it. It's great coming back into the ranks and concentrating on your own job," the 32-year-old said.
"Hopefully I will be scoring big runs for England."