Paul Collingwood

An accomplished batsman, handy medium-pace bowler and exceptional fielder, Collingwood played a valuable role in England’s recent successes.

Having initially gained recognition as a limited-overs expert, the all-rounder went on to establish himself as a regular in Tests and, after playing in the final match of the 2005 Ashes, was an ever-present in the teams that gained further series victories over Australia in 2009 and 2010-11.

Collingwood also scored a superb double hundred in a losing cause at Adelaide in December 2006 and became the first man to lead England to victory in an International Cricket Council event when he captained his country to a memorable triumph in the 2010 World Twenty20.

After retiring from Test cricket in January 2011, he soon lost his place in England’s one-day team, though his contribution over the years cannot be overlooked.

His first international caps arrived in the summer of 2001, when he was selected for the NatWest Series against Pakistan and Australia.

A Test debut followed in Sri Lanka two-and-a-half years later, although he had to wait before establishing himself in the five-day arena.

In the meantime, he proved his worth in the 50-over format, becoming the first player to score a century and take six wickets in an ODI as England thrashed Bangladesh by 168 runs at Trent Bridge in 2005.

Selected for the final Ashes Test later that summer following an injury to Simon Jones, Collingwood shared a crucial 60-run stand with Kevin Pietersen to help Michael Vaughan’s men secure a series-clinching draw at The Oval.

From then on, he nailed down a regular place in England’s Test side, while continuing to excel in ODIs and Twenty20 cricket.

He was one of few players to emerge with their reputation enhanced following England’s tour Down Under in 2006-07.

A marvellous 206 - his highest Test score - in Adelaide was followed by back-to-back hundreds in the subsequent Commonwealth Bank Series, in which England emerged victorious.

Collingwood succeeded Vaughan as England’s limited-overs skipper following the 2007 World Cup.

A dip in form followed, but, under severe pressure, he responded with 135 in the second Test against South Africa at Edgbaston in July 2008.

After resigning the one-day captaincy, Collingwood continued to display his worth and his dogged determination was evidenced by a match-saving 74 in the first match of the 2009 Ashes at Cardiff.

Then, on the tour of South Africa, he contributed 91 to England’s victory at Durban before repelling 188 balls to help save the match in Cape Town.

Collingwood followed this up with 145 - his 10th Test century - against Bangladesh in Chittagong as England secured a 2-0 series win, before leading the team to World Twenty20 glory in the Caribbean.

He then featured in the home Test series victory over Pakistan, before bringing his Test career to an end during the final match of the 2010-11 Ashes in Sydney. He played 68 Tests in all and averaged 40.56 with the bat.

Collingwood featured in the World Cup later that year, but lost his England place in all forms thereafer and subsequently concentrated on county cricket.

He took the Durham captaincy midway through the 2012 season from Phil Mustard, leading an impressive revival as the north-east side staved off a real threat of relegation and eventually finished sixth.