Cool Eoin Morgan is the man for a crisis, says Paul Collingwood

The Middlesex star enjoyed a mixed first full series in Test cricket last month, crashing a brilliant maiden hundred in the opening match at Trent Bridge before struggling in the remaining three against Pakistan.

But the 24-year-old was back to his best in the two Twenty20s, as he maintained his happy knack of seeing his side home after some top order wobbles.

Collingwood, who admits he himself is badly in need of a score, says Morgan's brilliance can help England dominate the five-match series.
"Eoin Morgan really is a little genius isn't he?" said Collingwood speaking ahead of today's series opener at Chester-le-Street.

"He is so calm under pressure and whatever the situation is he can adapt to it well. He can score 360 degrees around the wicket with confidence.

"He must be a hard person to bowl against because he's got such a wide array of strokes. He's made a huge impact on our one-day side."

Morgan is a man in form and combined with Michael Yardy to stretch England's winning run in T20 games seven matches.

In the first clash with Pakistan last Friday, England were wobbling on 62 for five as they chased a target of 127.

But while their team-mates had trouble dealing with a slow wicket Morgan and Yardy saw the hosts home by putting on 67 from 43 balls. They paired up again on Tuesday with Morgan hitting a confident unbeaten 18 in a six-wicket win.

While Morgan has been thriving, Kevin Pietersen has taken steps to try and regain his form ahead of the Ashes this winter. Pietersen has not scored an international century for 18 months and was dropped by England for the first time after being left out of the squad for the Twenty20 and one-day matches against Pakistan.

The 30-year-old is on loan with Surrey until the end of the season and will go to South Africa next month to play two matches for KwaZulu-Natal Inland.

Andrew Strauss believes Pietersen has made the right decision in securing the temporary moves and is backing the star batsman to be firing again when he faces Australia.

"There are very good reasons for him to go away and concentrate on his four-day game," said the England skipper.

"He desperately wants to get back to the sort of form that made him one of the top batsmen in the world — and he will do that, there's no doubt in my mind.

"He's got two four-day games at Surrey and now two more four-day games as well, so there's a fair amount of cricket there. I think he will really benefit from being able to do that.

"He wants to feel comfortable with his game before arriving in Australia and not leaving things to chance. That's a very strong argument and one that we're very happy to support him in."