Collingwood has ‘been one of the great servants of English cricket’: Strauss
By ANIFriday, January 7, 2011
SYDNEY - England skipper Andrew Strauss reckons that all-rounder Paul Collingwood has been a great servant for English cricket, and emphasised that the team would miss him following his retirement from Test cricket.
Collingwood announced his retirement from the longest version of the game following a dismal run during the Ashes series in which he garnered just 83 runs at an average of 13.83.
However, Strauss said that it was in the way he epitomised the strength of character and togetherness England have long sought that he will be remembered.
“I think he’s (Collingwood) been one of the great servants of English cricket. For the last eight or nine years he’s been very much part of the soul of the England side. He does a lot of things off the pitch that you guys (media) don’t see,” Supersport.com quoted Strauss, as saying.
“He does a lot of the hard yards that people don’t want to do and he doesn’t get recognition for that,” he added.
The 33-year-old further insists that Collingwood’s absence from the Test arena will be a “big loss” for England, which is aiming to be the world No.1 team.
“He’s going to be a big loss for us, I really do think he will be because he epitomises everything this England side is about. We’re going to miss him greatly,” Strauss said.
The all-rounder will remain England’s Twenty20 captain and play for the one-day team. (ANI)
