The Ashes: Collingwood Lurks As the Dream Substitute

Paul Collingwood's place in England's starting line-up for the fifth and final Test at The Oval might well depend on the state of Simon Jones's ankle. But, even if Jones is passed fit, Collingwood could play a vital role in the destination of the Ashes - as a substitute fielder.

England's tactics of allowing their fast bowlers regular "toilet breaks" and replacing them with 12th men has enraged the Australians all summer, never more so than when Gary Pratt, Collingwood's 23-year-old Durham team-mate, ran out Ricky Ponting with a direct hit from cover at a crucial stage of the Trent Bridge Test.

Ponting was fined 75% of his match fee for the volley of abuse that he subsequently directed at the England balcony, and it is fair to assume that his mood will not be improved by the presence in the field of one of the most agile backward points in world cricket.

Durham are not involved in the round of County Championship matches starting tomorrow, and a club spokesman confirmed that he expected Collingwood to stay on with the England camp if not selected. But, with Durham on the brink of promotion, he might then be asked back for the county's Totesport League Second Division game against Yorkshire at Headingley on Sunday.

Yesterday England had still not decided on the identity of their 12th men for The Oval starting on Thursday. "It depends on the fitness of Simon Jones," an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said.

If Collingwood does get on the field, the Australians know they must beware. His flying one-handed catch at point off Matthew Hayden in the one-day NatWest Series game at Bristol, in June, elicited an expression from the opening bat that was part disbelief and part disgust.

Another similar piece of athleticism at The Oval and Australian faces might tell a similar story.