Colly back at the Bridge

South Africa still sweating over fitness of Morkel brothers for day-nighter

Last updated: 26th August 2008

Kevin Pietersen patting Paul Collingwood on the head Jun 08

Pietersen: Glad to have Collingwood back at Trent Bridge

The start has gone very well for me personally but from a captaincy point of view the players have been absolutely brilliant

Kevin Pietersen
Quotes of the week

England v South Africa
Watch the second ODI from Trent Bridge LIVE on Sky Sports 1 & HD 1 from 2pm on Tuesday
For full cricket listings click here

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Skipper Kevin Pietersen has confirmed Paul Collingwood will be back in England's side for the second one-dayer against South Africa.

The former captain missed the series opener at Headingley Carnegie on Friday as he completed a four-match suspension.

Despite England winning the opening ODI in impressive fashion Collingwood will come straight back in to the starting XI, replacing either Luke Wright or Ravi Bopara.

Pietersen is in no doubt that the team is better off for having the all-round talents of the Durham player who will be batting at six in the order.

Strengthens team

"The team definitely strengthens with Colly coming back in," Pietersen said.

"He will bat at six, bowl his medium pace and field at backward point, and he has 150 games of one-day international experience.

"So to have him back with the ability he has got, and that kind of experience, is an extra boost as well."

The decision to put Collingwood at six means all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who struck a rapid 78 in the win at Leeds, will continue to bat at five.

His innings in the opening match against the Proteas saw him share a pivotal 158-run stand with Pietersen, who led from the front with both bat and ball.

Although since being appointed permanent captain he has collected two victories and two man-of-the-match awards, the new leader is keen to deflect the praise onto the other players.

Brilliant

"The start has gone very well for me personally but from a captaincy point of view the players have been absolutely brilliant," said Pietersen.

"All the guys have created such a good environment.

"You never know how people will take the change on, but it has been taken on by everybody in such a positive manner.

"I have just tried to drum into them the way I want us to play and they have accepted that in the best possible way."

South Africa head to Nottingham for the day-nighter hoping to have the Morkel brothers fit for action as they bid to level up the five-match series.

Fast bowler Morne missed the first match with a side strain but did bowl half-a-dozen overs in the nets on Sunday.

All-rounder Albie has been sidelined with a shoulder injury and, out of the two, he is the least likely to feature on Tuesday.

Progress

"Morne bowled the equivalent of six overs in the nets in two spells of four overs and two overs," said Proteas assistant coach Vincent Barnes.

"He was only operating at about 50 per cent of his capacity, so we will have to step him up quite a bit if he is to make Tuesday's second match."

On the other injured Morkel, he added "Albie has also made significant progress.

"He took a complete part in the batting and fielding drills but at this stage is only bowling with a tennis ball under the direction of (physio) Shane Jabaar. Again, Monday will be an important session for him."