Cricket: Future Ashes Teams

There's an interesting article by Vic Marks in The Observer about the futures of various elder statesmen in the English and Australian teams. He, like a number of other pundits at the moment, concludes that we may have seen the last of Paul Collingwood in the test side. Whilst Collingwood's form is poor, he has often been at his best when his back is against the wall, something the selectors are sure to bear in mind, as well as the fact that his good form from Cardiff is not so far in the past. Regardless of whether he is in decline or not therefore, expect him to tour with England this winter, as his battling qualities will be highly valued on what will be a tough tour. Whether he can make the side ahead of Bopara or Bell, or another candidate such as Key or Denly is another matter, but as a squad presence at least, the management are likely to value him.