Collingwood backs selectors

England's selectors were ruthless in their reaction to the desperate defeat in the opening Test by dropping seam stalwarts Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison and introducing youngsters James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

"There are always going to be players waiting in the wings and that's obviously healthy for the England cricket team," said Collingwood. "It's not because the new selectors have come in and they've suddenly become very ruthless - it's always been the case that you have to do your job in the England side or your position is in doubt."

He added: "As long as we win Test matches, and that's what we did last, hopefully we'll stick together as a batting unit and keep developing.

"Nobody's position is safe in the side, but it's always been the same."

To drop Hoggard and Harmison was a tactic which worked with both Anderson and Broad impressing to help the tourists level the series in Wellington, but it was a victory achieved without a major innings from their top six once again.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose claimed his maiden Test hundred but Collingwood was the last member of the top six to reach three figures in the first innings - and that was against West Indies at Chester-le-Street eight Tests ago.

But despite their barren run over the last six months, Collingwood believes England have been correct to keep faith with the top six rather than drop one of the them to accommodate the recall of Middlesex batsman Owais Shah.

"I think with the records they have they've proved they can play in whatever conditions," stressed Collingwood. "I think we're one big ton away from hopefully opening the floodgates and it's up to one of us to go out there and do that.

"I can't get past 60 at the moment, which is a bit frustrating but you'd probably take that when you start an innings off. I would obviously like to go on and get that big score, but I feel it's just around the corner."