Collingwood ready for mind games

Paul Collingwood demonstrates his mental toughness by hitting a double century at Adelaide in the 2006-07 series

Paul Collingwood has warned Australia that attempts to expose any chinks in England’s psychological armour during the Ashes will prove futile.

Engrained into their culture from an early age, sledging has been used by Australians as a key weapon during the battle on the pitch.

Collingwood believes they are masters of the ‘art’, but insists England will not succumb to the so-called mental disintegration during their campaign to reclaim the Ashes this summer.

"Sometimes they can really come hard at you as a team - usually when they sniff a moment where we have to get right on top," he said.

"Sometimes during the Adelaide Test in 2006 they had gone very quiet, like any team when you get on top of them. It depends what the situation is.

"As a team England can stand up to sledging. If the opportunity comes around, if something needs to be said, then we'll back each other up. We won't go looking for it; we just want to perform well.

"Australia are very good at it. I played a lot of cricket out there as a youngster, initially in 1996, and they come hard at you.

"It's in their culture from a very early age. The youngsters do it. You feel that as a player, as an individual going out to bat in their country.

"It's very much a part of their culture but we have some strong characters who can deal with it should it come along."

Collingwood proved his mental fortitude during the last Ashes series, which England lost 5-0, hitting 96 in Brisbane and a double century in Adelaide.

“That was down to believing in myself,” he said. “You have to go out there from ball one and give it a good go, especially against Australia.

"We all know they are a very good side and you have to get your technique in place.

"But it's the mental side against Australia that's the main thing and that's an area where it's going to be new for quite a lot of the players on both sides.

"It's a totally different series altogether with the media hype and atmosphere, so you need to get your head around the job in hand.

"We know when we played in Australia we didn't get a chance to breathe because the teams you play against are very strong.”