PAUL Collingwood will have his fitness checked in the build-up to the first npower Test at Lord’s after being named in England’s 12-man squad.
Yorkshire swing bowler Matthew Hoggard is also among the dozen names selected for the first two Tests against New Zealand. Collingwood, 31, was treated for a sore right shoulder in the aftermath of Durham’s defeat to Lancashire at Old Trafford, a mat
ch which saw Andrew Flintoff’s injury jinx strike again.
Although there is some doubt as to whether Collingwood can extend his sequence of 29 consecutive Test appearances, however, the new selection panel has declined to announce an official standby player. “We now need to see how he responds to treatment before we have a definitive idea of his availability for the first npower Test,” said national selector Geoff Miller. “At this stage it’s too early to say whether he will definitely play as he will be reassessed in the lead up to Thursday. Paul and the medical team will be doing everything to ensure he’s given the best chance.”
ENGLAND SQUAD (for the first npower Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, beginning on Thursday: M Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), A Cook (Essex), A Strauss (Middlesex), K Pietersen (Hampshire), I Bell (Warwickshire), P Collingwood (Durham), T Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), S Broad (Nottinghamshire), R Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), M Panesar (Northamptonshire), J Anderson (Lancashire), M Hoggard (Yorkshire).
The full article contains 245 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
