Collingwood can play, to Durham's delight

2:05am Friday 4th July 2008

PAUL Collingwood will be a surprise starter as Durham take on Kent for a place in the Friends Provident Trophy final this afternoon, and coach Geoff Cook feels the semi-final showdown will be the perfect preparation for next week's eagerly-awaited first Test with South Africa.

Collingwood was named in England's 12-man squad for the Lord's Test yesterday despite the ongoing fall-out from his decision not to recall New Zealand's Grant Elliott after he was controversially run out and a poor run of form that has seen him score just 181 runs in his last eight international innings.

Last week, the ECB claimed the all-rounder's international preparations would rule him out of today's Riverside semi-final, but after cruising to an unbeaten 44 as Durham beat Yorkshire in a four-day game on Tuesday, Collingwood requested permission to play this afternoon.

That request was granted yesterday, and as he prepares to reshuffle his side in order to accommodate England's one-day captain, Cook has insisted that Collingwood's presence will benefit both club and country.

"We had a directive from England that Paul was not available for the Kent game, and when he started the game against Yorkshire he was adamant he was going to rest," said the Durham coach.

"But you can get too close to a problem sometimes, and I think a change of environment has really helped him. It's taken him a little bit further away from the perspective of his immediate problems.

"I think he's found it tough recently, and understandably so. Anybody who was involved in that sort of controversy would find it tough, especially if you're struggling for form as well.

"It's been a bit of a double whammy, but Paul's a strong character.

"The strength of his character has got him to where he is, and it'll be the strength of his character that will help him to keep on moving forward in the future.

"He's starting to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel now, and he's ready to take on South Africa.

"He's starting to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel now, and he's ready to take on South Africa. This game against Kent is another part of the launching pad for that series."

Collingwood was a member of the victorious Durham side that claimed the Friends Provident Trophy at Lord's last August, but his fellow international, Steve Harmison, was forced to sit out the final victory over Hampshire because of a muscle tear.

The Ashington Express' described missing out on Durham's maiden first-class trophy as "like being hit by a truck - physically and emotionally", but his efforts this season have helped the North- Easterners mount a hitherto successful defence of their crown.

Harmison, like Collingwood, is no stranger to criticism on the international stage, and after he was axed from England's Test team during the winter tour of New Zealand, the 29-year-old has responded with a string of match-winning displays on the domestic stage.

"I never cease to be amazed by how Steve continues to bounce back," said Cook. "His resilience is incredible, and his desire to come in and buckle down under a fair amount of scrutiny is amazing. "He repeatedly says he wants to play for England, and that's brilliant. He never loses the desire to play for his country, but that desire doesn't sidetrack or affect his desire to do well for Durham as well.

"He was really disappointed to miss the final last year. He hid his disappointment brilliantly and supported the lads fantastically during the two or three days we were in London, but I think missing that game hurt him.

"He has bowled like a champion in this competition this year, so in terms of his performances over the last two seasons, he definitely deserves to play in a final for Durham."

Liam Plunkett and Phil Mustard complete a quartet of Engl and internationals currently convalescing in the Durham team - the duo were yesterday named in a provisional 30-man squad for September's ICC Champions Trophy along with Collingwood and Graham Onions - and both will be involved in today's game against a Kent side that also remains in contention for a domestic treble.

Plunkett was Durham's hero in last year's semi-final, claiming 4-15 as Essex were skittled for 71 and hitting an unbeaten 30 as the home side scrambled to their victory target.

He has proved equally influential in Durham's surge to the quarter-finals of this year's Twenty20 Cup, and has successfully shaken off the early-season torpor that briefly saw him lose his place in the side.

"He was at a terrifically low ebb having been a starry-eyed international player for two years," said Cook. "But he's come back into the side, buckled down, got himself fit and now he's playing some terrific cricket and making some really substantial contributions. "He's still a young guy with a lot to learn, but bouncing back from adversity like he has can only be a positive thing."

DURHAM SQUAD: M Di Venuto, P Mustard, W Smith, P Collingwood, D Benkenstein (capt), A Morkel, S Pollock, B Harmison, G Breese, L Plunkett, S Harmison, C Thorp, N Killeen.