Friday 6th November 2009
Paul Collingwood raring to go
Paul Collingwood is feeling refreshed and ready to go following a three-week break that came to him after ICC Champions Trophy.
The all-rounder is currently preparing himself for England's opening match of their two-and-a-half-month tour to South Africa that gets under way later today.
The visitors face-off with the Diamond Eagles in a 50-over encounter in Bloemfontein and Collingwood is relishing his return from an injury that forced him to miss the Champions League in India with the Delhi Daredevils.
"Well, certainly mentally (the break helped) I think," Collingwood said. "In all honesty, I think I was probably about 70-80%, physically coming out of the Champions Trophy.
"Mentally it has been a hard slog, but you never quite know where you are until you've had a break. I wouldn't say it's a blessing in disguise, because it would have obviously been good to play for Delhi.
"But it does refresh you a hell of a lot to be at home for three weeks with the family and just recharging the batteries."
The 33-year-old suffered a torn buttock muscle during the Champions Trophy semi-final defeat against Australia, but revealed that he was now fully over it and itching to go.
He continued: "It's absolutely fine now. I feel great, raring to go and excited really. I never want to get injured, that's the thing.
"But whether it came it at the right time, you'd probably say yes. The three weeks was a godsend, I tell you.
"But in actual fact, at the end of the three weeks, because we hadn't had those sort of breaks in the past, you start wanting to get back out there."
Looking ahead to the game today, Collingwood said he was expecting a tough task against a strong domestic outfit that is captained by former South Africa batsman Boeta Dippenaar and also includes veteran Proteas wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk.
He said: "I think when we tour Australia and here, you do come up opponents who are desperate to beat you and beat you well.
"So we'll make sure the experienced guys will guide the younger guys and make sure we go out there 100% because anything less, there could be a hiccup there.
"We want to start off well, we want to win the games, but also get the right kind of practice out of it as well."
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