Collingwood wins fitness battle

Paul Collingwood was passed fit to take part at Old Trafford

Paul Collingwood has passed himself fit and ready to lead out England in Thursday’s fourth match of the NatWest one-day series against India after shrugging off a stomach complaint.

The England captain was declared a doubt for the day-night encounter at Old Trafford after after failing to train yesterday due to illness, putting all-rounder Andrew Flintoff on stand-by to take charge of the side.

But Collingwood has recovered overnight and will lead England for the seventh time since becoming the one-day captain in succession to Michael Vaughan earlier this summer.

England will make a late check on the fitness of Andrew Flintoff, who missed Monday’s victory at Edgbaston with a knee problem, and Dimitri Mascarenhas, after he joined Flintoff on the sidelines with a hand injury.

Collingwood will be banking on England’s superior agility in the field being the difference between the sides.

Already leading 2-1 in the seven-match series, England’s vibrant and energetic displays in the field have put India’s star-studded batting line-up under pressure and forced captain Rahul Dravid to admit: “We have been out-fielded.”

That policy will be emphasised again under the Old Trafford lights when England attempt to extend their lead by utilising the age difference between the younger hosts and the older but more experienced tourists.

Ian Bell believes England's fielding has given them the advantage © Getty Images

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Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell, who took two impressive catches during England’s outstanding victory at Edgbaston on Monday, stressed: “Coming into this series and looking at this Indian side we knew we were a lot younger.

“We knew if we could out-field India and run between the wickets better by 15-20 runs, that could make a difference.”

England have also increased the pressure during the early powerplay overs of India’s innings, when tight bowling from James Anderson and Stuart Broad and energetic fielding has restricted free-flowing openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

“Jimmy and Stuart have set the tone with the new ball on three occasions now and we have had great control over the opposition batsmen in that period for the first time I can remember in my time as a one-day player,” enthused Bell.

“That gives everyone a bit of a boost. Colly (Paul Collingwood) has encouraged the guys that bat but don’t bowl to energise the rest of the team by backing the bowlers.

“We know because of their class that India’s openers have the potential to come at us hard so we must be ready for that and that’s when we will need to really work as a team.”

Lancashire seamer Anderson has certainly appreciated the role of the inner ring of fielders in his success during the opening three matches in the series, admitting: “The fielding performance at Edgbaston was right up there.

“It’s such a big confidence boost as a bowler when a batsman has to find a gap to get it through the off-side.

“I think we had four on the off-side the other day and you knew they had every chance of stopping it.”