Collingwood Says Sorry for Run-out Furore

Paul Collingwood's failure to withdraw England's appeal for the run-out of the New Zealand batsman Grant Elliott after a mid-pitch collision risked condemnation as the lowest moment for an England captain since Michael Atherton's ball-tampering furore 14 years ago.

There were boos in the crowd, and New Zealand, even after sneaking a one-wicket victory off the last ball, were incensed enough to slam the dressing-room door in Collingwood's face. But then the apologies started. Thanks to his remorse, he has escaped with what will be classified as a monumental embarrassment.

Collingwood did have a hearing with the match referee, Javagal Srinath, but that was merely about England's slow over-rate. The topic of why he had refused the umpire Mark Benson's invitation to withdraw his appeal, because of Elliott's collision with the bowler, Ryan Sidebottom, was never officially broached.

"It was in the heat of the moment," England's one-day captain said. "Both players collided. I asked Sid [Sidebottom] straight away if he was going for the ball and he said 100% he was going for the run-out. A split-second decision had to be made and in a tight game like that emotions were running high. The umpire asked me straight away if I wanted to uphold my appeal because the collision had been tough luck on Grant Elliott and I said yes.

"I have never been in that situation before as a captain. It is a difficult decision to make. In hindsight I wish I had called him back. You come off the pitch and wonder if you should have done things differently. I hold my hands up and say I probably made the wrong decision, and that is something that I will have to live with. I apologize to the New Zealand lads.

"You always try to set an example as a captain. The cricket was so tense at the time that it was a massive decision. As a captain I was thinking, 'What is the right or wrong thing to do here?'"

Daniel Vettori, New Zealand's captain, who had celebrated victory in choice Anglo-Saxon, said that their last-ball win had permitted life to "move on a lot quicker". He said: "I want to apologize for our team's reaction and my reactions. It took a long time to calm down. I think with what has happened in the last 18 months in cricket there has been a real push for the spirit of the game. That match was as tense as it gets and we were apologetic for maybe the way we acted on the balcony.

"I like to think it's a decision that I will never have to make and that, if I do, I won't make it. Paul came to speak to us and was contrite so we will move on and hopefully it doesn't happen again. You also want your senior players to step up and ensure you make the right decision. Once an opponent's hands go on a batsman you have to stop things."