Collingwood out to end his England nightmare

Paul Collingwood wants to put the worst year of his career behind him and start all over again with England in the must-win third Test against South Africa this week at Edgbaston.

Collingwood, whose omission from the horror of Headingley was the catalyst for the disharmony within the England team, called the controversial decision to leave him out of a side that included the little known Darren Pattinson 'my worst moment in cricket'.

Thumbs up: Paul Collingwood is celebrating a recall to the England Test side.

Now, after hastily being restored to the 13-man squad for Wednesday's third npower game after last week's 10-wicket defeat, he wants to put the hurt behind him and quickly regain his place.

'You could see from my face when I was told I wasn't playing how hurt I was,' said Collingwood yesterday as he celebrated his recall and that of Durham team-mate Steve Harmison at the christening of Harmison's son, Charlie.

'I couldn't hide it. The only thing that has come close was when I was left out of the second Test in Pakistan (in 2005) when I wondered if I would ever make it as a Test player.

'All the players consoled me because they were gutted for me, but there's not much anybody can say to you in that situation.

'I hadn't scored enough runs for the team and I had to accept being left out. But I was glad it hurt me so much because I know now that I still have the passion and want to play for England as much as ever.'

The axing was a severe blow for Collingwood, 32, in a season in which he has been castigated for abusing the spirit of the game in a run-out incident involving New Zealand's Grant Elliott and then suspended for four matches as the one-day captain responsible for England's slowover-rates.

Now he hopes his recall and his probable inclusion in the team will be 'the turning point, the spark, the catalyst, whatever you want to call it, in reviving my fortunes'.

He said: 'It's been a rotten season but maybe it will be a season of two halves and the good half starts now. We've come back from one down before and we can do it again. I would have liked to have played in a four-day game to get back in the rhythm of the longer game, but that wasn't to be.'

Collingwood looks to be competing with Harmison for a place in the side but he does not see it that way.

'I'm just as delighted for Harmy as I am for myself,' said Collingwood. 'He deserves this. The key is that he still has the hunger to play for England. He could have settled for a quieter life back at Durham but he hasn't.

'Now he may have the chance to show that pace and hostility again for England.'