Paul Collingwood looks to fight his way back into the limited-overs sides, but isn’t bitter about the decision to sack him as Twenty20 captain
Interview by George Dobell30-Jun-2011Is it fair to describe the last year for you as the best of times and the worst of times?
Oh, no. It’s been a fantastic year, really. We won the World Twenty20 and then we retained the Ashes in Australia. How could that be anything less than fantastic? Sure, I was disappointed to lose the Twenty20 captaincy, but on the whole it was a brilliant year. You have to retire some time. And what better way to go out than after a full ground at Sydney after just winning the Ashes? I wouldn’t describe that as the worst of times at all.Did your own form in any way detract from your memories of the Ashes?
I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a tinge of sadness when I think about that. I am very aware that my primary role is to score runs and I didn’t do that. But hopefully I contributed in other ways, and having experienced an Ashes series where I did well and the team did badly, I know I’d much rather have it the other way round.I made a mistake at the start of the tour. I remember saying to the media that in 2006-07 I’d scored heavily but we’d been beaten, and that this time I’d settle for winning the series but me not scoring a run. And that’s pretty much how it turned out.Was it hard to cope with that loss of form?
It was agony. Yeah, agony. I was thinking about it 24 hours a day. Of course I was. My job was to score runs and I wasn’t doing that. I knew full well that I wasn’t contributing as much as I wanted to the team, and I knew that my livelihood was at stake. That’s a horrible feeling, I can tell you.Were the problems technical or mental?
It’s funny: all international sport is probably 90% mental and 10% technical. But as soon as anything goes wrong, we always go looking in search of something technical, don’t we?Now I look at it, my career has had dips every three years or so. I don’t think it’s been much to do with technique. That’s remained pretty much constant. It’s more to do with time and needing a rest. I think I was a bit jaded and my mind had become a bit cluttered. The international schedule has become very hectic, and sometimes it seems there’s no time to get away from the game and just clear your head. Unless you have a major injury you never get a good break. It wasn’t ideal to have a World Twenty20, the Ashes and the World Cup all within 12 months. I wasn’t as fresh as I could have been.In that way, then, perhaps your recent knee injury might have done you a favour in the long term?
Yes, that’s true. It’s meant I’ve spent more time at home focusing on everyday things, like family life. That really helps you keep things in perspective. I’ve not been working away in the nets and worrying about which way the ball is nipping around, and as a result I’m feeling more refreshed than I have done for… well, years. I’m 100% fit, physically and mentally. I’m probably better than I’ve been in a long time. I’m chuffed to bits to be back playing again. I’m as enthusiastic as I’ve ever been and the way I’m hitting the ball in the nets is… well, it feels amazing. It’s all very positive.The team – and the selectors – really stuck by you during the Ashes, didn’t they?
They did. They really did. I’d actually say the team – and the team management – went through it all with me. It can be difficult if you’re in that position. You sometimes don’t know what to say to someone when they’re struggling. But they backed me 100%. I couldn’t have asked for more.It’s part of the reason why we’re in such a good position as a team. We’ve really learnt lessons about the importance of continuity of selection. I’d hope that people understood what I could bring to the team, too.I actually started the tour pretty well. I didn’t feel 100% but I felt I could do a job. I was always hoping there were runs just around the corner, but I never found any sort of rhythm and it just became a really tough mental battle.Was it a shock to lose the Twenty20 captaincy?
It was a huge shock. I really didn’t have an inkling it was going to happen. Quite the opposite, really. After giving up Test cricket, I was really looking forward to focusing on the shorter formats. I was excited by the prospect of being able to devote all my energy to doing the job.I had a good record as captain. We won the World Twenty20, and since then, had played four Twenty20 internationals and won three of them. We’d broken the record for the most consecutive wins in that format – we made it eight in a row – which was a huge achievement, and I was really looking forward to giving the job all my focus.
“One of my first sketches was of Richard Hadlee appealing. Then, a few years ago, I did one of Dean Jones. I did try and draw Straussy too, but it was rubbish. But I quite like portraiture, so maybe that’s something I’ll look at in the future “
Who told you?
Geoff Miller told me. I was working in London, doing some IPL commentary for ITV4, and he came to see me. Look, it wasn’t a nice thing to happen to me, but I understand that the England team have to move forward, and that they took a decision – a strong decision – in the best interests of the England team.Did you tell him straight away that you intended to fight for your place as a player?
Ha! No, no. That’s not really how the conversation went. At that time I was hugely shocked, and it’s fair to say I didn’t think about anything other than the captaincy. Nothing else mattered at the time and… well, let’s just say that I was shocked and disappointed. The captaincy was all we talked about.Did you consider retiring from all international cricket?
Everything goes through your head. All the options. But when I retired from Test cricket, I just knew it was the right time. I haven’t felt that way about limited-overs cricket. Okay, I’ve turned 35, so age might not be on my side, but my fitness is good, and I still feel I’ve something to offer the team. I’m hoping I can fight my way back into things in the next few weeks. I have to score heavily. The next few weeks are huge for me.There was a time when you didn’t seem very keen on the captaincy. What changed?
In the first instance, I was sharing the captaincy with Michael Vaughan and Peter Moores was coach. Vaughany was Test captain and I was ODI and Twenty20 captain. I found that very taxing. I was playing all three forms of the game and captaining in two of them. That really took it out of me. It was damaging my form, and I knew I was in danger of losing my place in the Test side.That was massive for me. My ambition had always been to play for England, and that was slipping away from me. I hadn’t ever really had any ambitions about captaincy, but that’s what was soaking up all my energy.But then Andy Flower took over as coach. He explained that he just wanted me to do the job in Twenty20, and I figured that it wouldn’t take too much out of me mentally. I really got my teeth into it. I’d have to say that leading England to the World Twenty20 success was one of the best experiences of my career.There are examples of other players – the likes of Mark Ramprakash – who have performed superbly in county cricket but never won a recall. Is that a concern?
Well, I’m told the door is open for me in one-day and Twenty20 cricket, so no, not really. And it’s not as if they [the selectors] don’t know what I can do. I’ve played for England for 10 years, so they know what I bring to the team and what I have to offer. But look, I don’t feel I have anything to prove to anyone. If I get picked, then great. If not, I’m happy with what I’ve contributed and I’ll walk away with my head held high.If it became clear that there’s no hope of an England recall, would you continue to play county cricket for Durham?
It’s too early to say. It really is. These are a big few weeks for me. My aim is to score heavily and force my way back into the England limited-overs team.All I can say is that so far I’ve really enjoyed being back at Durham. I’ve always felt part of the club – it’s where I grew up and learnt the game, after all – but I haven’t really felt a part of the team for a few years. Since 2005, when I scored quite heavily and forced my way into the England side, I’ve probably only played a game or two a season [Collingwood only played in two games in Durham’s championship-winning campaign of 2008 and didn’t appear at all in 2009, when they retained the title]. So the prospect of being part of a team that could challenge for the county championship is very exciting.Can you envisage taking on the Durham captaincy?
Again, it’s too early to say. There are too many other things to resolve first. All I would say is that I imagine captaining a county side must be very, very tough. To do that for six months… well, it looks very hard.But look, I’m centrally contracted until the end of September, so we’ll get there and then sit down and have a think about what to do next. I just want to see how it goes until then. So far I’ve really enjoyed it. Travelling around with the lads has been great, and I’m looking forward to getting more involved with it.Have you been impressed by Ben Stokes?
Hugely. He’s an incredible talent. He’s already an incredible player. He hits the ball with massive power, but he does it so naturally, and it’s the same with his fielding; he does it brilliantly, but he does it his own way. It’s really great to see a natural athlete play cricket the way he does.What would you like to do after your playing career ends?
I definitely want to remain in the game. I feel I’ve picked up a huge amount of knowledge over the years, and I’d like to send that on to the next generation. I enjoy working with other players, and it’s great when you see someone improve. It seems crazy to work on a skill all your life and then just stop without passing on what you’ve learnt.I have done a little bit of media work too and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Maybe that’s another avenue. But I really don’t have many skills outside cricket. The game is all I’ve known all my working life, so it’s not like I have anything else to fall back on. I’m not about to become a plumber or electrician.This may surprise a few people, but I’m also quite keen on art. I know people think they know you if they’ve seen you on TV or read a few interviews, but not many people would know that I took art as an A Level. I might like to do a little bit more of that: just pencil-on-paper type stuff.”I remember saying to the media that in 2006-07 I’d scored heavily but we’d been beaten, and that this time I’d settle for winning the series but me not scoring a run. And that’s pretty much how it turned out”•Getty ImagesWhat have I sketched? Not cricket grounds, or anything like that, but I have drawn a few players. One of my first sketches was of Richard Hadlee appealing. Then, a few years ago, I did one of Dean Jones. I did try and draw Straussy, too, but it was rubbish. But I quite like portraiture, so maybe that’s something I’ll look at in the future, too.At the recent Wisden dinner, there was a discussion about whether India’s strong influence on the game was a threat to cricket, and Test cricket in particular. What do you think?
I don’t think that’s the case at all. Actually, I think it might be the other way around.Look, when I was a kid, all I wanted to do was play professional football. As it happened, I wasn’t good enough to do that. But if I’d had the choice, I probably would have been a footballer before a cricketer. Why? Well, I looked at the rewards on offer for a life in either sport and football won hands down. There was just far more money on offer in football. And that’s a huge draw, whether people like it or not.The riches on offer in the IPL make it more likely that kids will choose cricket instead of football. The excitement and glamour will drive up the participation numbers, and as far as I’m concerned, Twenty20 cricket has improved skill levels right across the game. I really believe that. The game has improved in the last eight years since Twenty20 was introduced, and I think it will go on improving. I know that I had to become much cleverer as a bowler and a lot more powerful as a batsman. We’ve all had to improve.For me, Test cricket will always remain the ultimate test of a player, but so long as we don’t take anything from the traditions of the game, I can’t see why the Indian influence should be interpreted negatively.If your international career is over, will you feel fulfilled?
Absolutely. To be honest, if you’d told me in 2001, when I made my international debut, that I’d play 300 times for England, then I’d have laughed at you. If I play again, I’ll just consider it a bonus.I’ve been very fortunate to play in the period I have. We’ve improved as a team throughout that time, and I honestly believe the team will go on improving. After winning the Ashes in 2005 and 2009, beating Australia in their own backyard became one of the big goals. To have done that ranks alongside the World Twenty20 win as one of the more memorable achievements of this side. I’ll always be proud of that.I feel privileged to have had the career I’ve had, and I’m very satisfied with it. I’ve been to some great places, met some great people, and I’ve given it my all. What more could I ask? I know I’ve been a very lucky man.