The Ashes: Collingwood Stakes Claim for Test Inclusion

While the England batsmen licked their wounds, Paul Collingwood grew in strength yesterday. The Durham all-rounder, categorised as a one-day specialist, produced an innings that would have graced any Test arena.

Collingwood's 181 not out in Durham's 345 for eight against Somerset here could serve as an example for any of England's batsmen. When things were tough he gutsed it out; when the conditions eased he made hay.

Unfortunately for him, with the England team for Edgbaston due to be announced on Sunday, the chairman of the England selectors David Graveney did not arrive at the County Ground until tea, by which time Collingwood had done the hard work against a ball that swung and seamed.

"I saw him at tea, but we kept ourselves to ourselves," Collingwood said.

It was his second big century in a week and his fourth of the county season since moving up to bat at No3 after England's tour to South Africa in an attempt to prove that he can do more than score rapid one-day hundreds against Bangladesh.

Admittedly the bowling yesterday was a little below Test standard, even though it was dispensed by a South Africa international and two recent Test new-ball bowlers.

When Collingwood walked to the wicket, Andy Caddick (last Test, January 2003 v Australia) was in the middle of a lively spell, having just squared up Garry Scott for a catch at the wicket. Durham were five for one and Somerset had five slips in place. Richard Johnson (last Test, December 2003 v Sri Lanka) and Charl Langeveldt (last Test, April 2004 v West Indies) were also getting the ball to move on a scruffy-looking wicket.

Collingwood was dropped in the gully on 21, off Caddick, but he then remained error free until he mistimed the lofted drive that took him to 150. Fortunately for him, Johnson fumbled the difficult running catch at long-off.

Between times the all-rounder with only two Tests on his CV (both in Sri Lanka in 2003) cut, drove and pulled the Somerset attack in partnerships of 142 with Mike Hussey - who wants more Test cricket with Australia - and 152 with Gordon Muchall.

When Caddick returned after lunch and picked up the Australian in the middle of another hostile spell, Collingwood was content to see off the main danger.

When Ian Blackwell, in 22 consecutive overs of slow left-arm bowling, spun the ball into the leg-side rough, Collingwood was content to kick it away.

As the Somerset bowlers tired, he upped the pace. His first fifty came off 78 balls, the century 80 balls later. By the time he trooped off, having been offered the light when Caddick hit him twice on the elbow in one over, Collingwood had 24 fours to go with a six into the Ian Botham stand.

"This is exactly what I have to do," he said later, massaging the ice pack on his arm. "This is what I've had to do over the last few years and what I want to continue to do - make big runs. Hopefully then I might get a chance but they are all good players in the side now and I'm sure they will put the job right.

"I moved up to No3 to get real big runs. I know it doesn't sound much moving up from four to three but I had to get in there and make a statement and it's been a good move.

"The Derby innings [190 last Friday] was good but I'm particularly pleased today against the quality of that bowling, especially when it was swinging around in the first three hours or so."