PAUL Collingwood has become the tenth Durham-born cricketer to play in a Test match for England and the second since Durham achieved first-class status.

Simon Brown made one Test appearance against Pakistan at Lord's in 1996 and he was the first since Peter Willey made the last of his 26 appearances in 1985.

Although 27-year-old Collingwood's Durham team-mate Stephen Harmison beat him into the Test team, he was born in Ashington, Northumberland.

Born in Shotley Bridge, Collingwood went to Blackfyne School and Derwentside College and played for Durham junior teams before rising through the second X1 to make a remarkable first-class debut against Northamptonshire at Riverside in 1996.

He bowled former England all-rounder David Capel with his first ball and scored 91 in Durham's first innings.

From such an auspicious start he has rarely looked back, remaining upbeat and determined through several injury setbacks, notably the damaged shoulder ligaments which kept him out for the first four months of last season.

Having appeared in 37 one-day internationals - he has since played in five more - he had been appointed vice-captain of Durham and was hoping for a Test debut in Riverside's inaugural Test against Zimbabwe when he was injured in a pre-season friendly at Old Trafford.

"It shows Paul's strength of character that he has fought back from that to reach the top level," said Durham's Director of Cricket, Geoff Cook.

"Paul is everything you would want in a professional sportsman. He is committed, hard-working and wonderfully talented."

Chairman Bob Jackson added: "It is fantastic to see another Durham player receiving a Test call-up. Like Stephen Harmison, as a locally-born player he will provide inspiration to the next generation of cricketers who dream of playing for Durham and England."

Watched by his parents, David and Janet, Collingwood was playing for Durham against Gloucestershire at Bristol towards the end of last season when he discovered that he had been selected for the one-day and Test squads to tour Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

More surprising was that he had been awarded a 12-month central contract, of which he said he had had no hint.

"This is one of the best things that has happened to me," he said at the time. "It has always been my main ambition to play Test cricket.

"This is a great reward for all the hard work I've done to get fit again. I got a sniff of the Test squad in Australia last winter and I was hoping to gain my first cap this summer. Now I just hope it comes during the winter."

His wish came true yesterday and it was typical of someone who tends to make an instant mark whenever he steps up to a new level that he should hold two catches.

Of the other Durham-born players to appear in Tests for England, Colin Milburn and Jim McConnon were both born only a few miles from Collingwood in Burnopfield. Three others, Dick Spooner, Cecil Parkin and David Townsend, were from Stockton, Simon Brown and Andrew Stoddart were from the South Shields area, which leaves Willey, from Sedgefield, and Bob Willis, who spent the first six weeks of his life in Sunderland.