The pros and cons of Paul Colingwood have been done to death in places such as this these past few years: Resilient batsman, handy seamer, truly exceptional fielder, but, equally, someone who, when out of form, can make the game look very difficult.
Which, in a sense, it is. It's hardly an original view to state that he doesn't possess the innate talent of the majority of his fellows, but I think it's a correct one. Of course, compared to the likes of me his talent is off the scale, but when you think about players like Mark Ramprakash, well, it's a different story.
Not for the first time, I found myself thinking yesterday about what would happen if you could bottle Collingwood's mental strength and imbue more fragile but more talented players like Ramprakash or Graeme Hick, with it.
Of course, you can't. In cricket, as in life, people are different. Colly will do to be going on with.
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4 comments:
I happen to think that Colly is very talented. He can bowl, bat and field and all to an international standard (sure the bowling isn't brilliant, but it's damn handy).
I'm an Oz fan and I have never yet understood by Colly takes so much flak.
Thanks for the comment, Vim. I'd stick to my guns re Colly's talent (as I said, compared to various other pros), but, for his mental strength alone, he deserves to become a legend. It's hard to thibk of another England player of recent years with the same ability to deliver again and again when the chips are down - Edgbaston 2008and Cardiff 2009 are two examples.
Since we're on the subject, you might enjoy this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/nov/24/paul-collingwood-franks-the-spin
It's funny Brian, I think someone from Test Match Special must be reading your blog.
I read your article on Wednesday or Thursday last week and then was listening to TMS on Friday while at work, I heard Simon Mann while commentating saying that if you could combine Colly's resilience and fighting spirit with that of Mark Ramprakash's talent and skill you would have some player.
Immeadiately I thought of this article, maybe you should email them and request a credit.
Regards
Dean
Cheers, Dean. I always did like Simon Mann - he may have been reading or maybe it's just a case of great minds thinking alike (or something like that).
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