Ashes incentive spurring on England

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The two-match series against West Indies is still to capture the public's imagination, with the ease in which England secured their 10-wicket triumph at Lord's contributing to only 3,000 tickets being sold for Thursday's opening day of the second npower Test at Chester-le-Street.

Collingwood said: "There's been a real progression, the players feel that and we realise this is the last Test match before the Ashes."

If England avoid defeat, they will regain the Wisden Trophy following their surprise series loss in the Caribbean during the winter and continue their momentum since slipping to defeat in the opening Test in Jamaica last February.

That will provide motivation enough for England's line-up but it is the prospect of taking part in the far bigger challenges ahead this summer that is spurring them on in their final Test appearance before facing Australia in Cardiff on July 8.

"It's been a difficult winter with certain issues that have gone on but I think the way we bounced back - certainly from the Jamaica Test - I don't think you could have asked the side to do it any better," added Durham all-rounder Collingwood.

"The way you go about trying to win Test matches, we really have nailed that from that day and hopefully you'll win more than you lose having that kind of formula.

"We can't get away from the fact that it is and we want to put a big performance in and win this trophy back - it hurt us when we got beaten by the West Indies out there and we want to get it back."