Collingwood should get Test axe: Flintoff

Strauss warns England not to lose focus.

LONDON: Former England captain Andrew Flintoff has said Paul Collingwood should be dropped from the Test side and replaced by Eoin Morgan. Middle-order batsman Collingwood has struggled while England have retained the Ashes in Australia and heads into today’s series finale in Sydney with just 70 runs at an average of 14 from the four previous Tests.

The team’s best fielder and captain of the side that gave England its first major tournament victory after they beat Australia in last year’s World Twenty20 final, Collingwood’s Test career has been punctuated by several troughs although he still averages over 40. “I know people bang on about not changing a winning side but if England want to become the best side in the world they have got to be ruthless,” wrote Flintoff in the News of the World.

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has repeatedly said England have “wasted” the good form of Ian Bell in this Ashes series by having Collingwood come in at number five to the right-hander’s six.

Meanwhile, England captain Andrew Strauss warned his side against easing off in the final Ashes Test. The tourists have already secured the Ashes, but need to win or draw the fifth Test to become the first England team in 24 years to claim a series in Australia.

He said a defeat would be disappointing in a series which the tourists have largely dominated and that unease about his players’ mental approach to the final Test was the only concern he has had on a smooth tour.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2011.