Collingwood sure of salvaging draw
Paul Collingwood has backed England to head out of Wales with the Ashes series level despite Australian dominance at Cardiff.
England enter an extended final day of 98 overs on Sunday in Cardiff with eight wickets intact and intent on survival - they are still 219 runs short of making the tourists bat again.
Hundreds from Marcus North and Brad Haddin made it four centurions in the innings - a record for Australia against England - and led their team to 674 for six declared, their highest Ashes total for 75 years.
There was just enough time to snare two contrasting lbw decisions - Alastair Cook plumb in front and Ravi Bopara a victim of a poor decision - before the forecast rain blew in and terminated play at tea.
Click here for all the action as it unfolded
"We have three sessions to bat and you have to take responsibility as an individual to see those through and not leave it to anybody else," Collingwood said.
"In the first innings we all got starts and didn't go on and now it is all about putting your hand up and being the man to see the three sessions out.
"The Ashes series is a long series but tomorrow (Sunday) is a very important day for us.
"It's the first Test match and we want to go into the next Test match level still so it's important as a batting side to stand up and to bat through a difficult situation and see the side home, so we can go into the next match level.
Relive the Day 4 action in pics
"The pitch is very slow and people will have their own approach and their own methods and work out what shots are going to be risky on that pitch.
"We have to play well but we believe we have the players in the shed to see the game through."
It is 1934 since England last defeated Australia at Lord's, the venue of the second Test, so retaining parity has extra significance.
A worrying lack of penetration with the ball, however, means they may consider personnel changes for next week's contest.
While England scalped just half-a-dozen victims between them in 181 overs, outcast fast bowler Steve Harmison extended his recent good form with five for 60 against Yorkshire in a County Championship match at Headingley.
But Durham team-mate Collingwood said: "It's difficult to pick up wickets when the ball does nothing for the seamers.
"I know you have to use other methods but when the pitch is so slow it's very difficult.
"I thought there were times when we could have built a bit more pressure on the Australian batsmen, but they always seemed to be able to get through them.
"He (Harmison) is going to be in the mixer, just like all the bowlers.
"But this attack has done well for us in the last few months and I'm sure we'll be sticking with that."
Australian left-hander North is another man who earned recognition through displays in county cricket, having played for Lancashire, Derbyshire, Durham, Gloucestershire and Hampshire.
"Without a doubt, having the experience of county cricket has made sure that coming over here to play Test cricket, there has been no surprises in conditions, no surprises in the weather and no surprises in the facilities of preparing," North said.
Click here for Day 4 highlights
"That has helped for me. I have played at Cardiff a few times and I was aware of possible conditions I could be facing."
This was 29-year-old North's second hundred in three Tests and, like that of Haddin, was made in his first Ashes innings.
Of the transition, he added: "It certainly hasn't felt easy. Test cricket has an intensity which is like no other.
"But I am only young at this level in respect of experience and I am grateful for each opportunity I get to play for Australia. Each time I walk out to bat I will try to make the most of it.
"We saw an opportunity to keep England out there and to field for 180 overs is pretty hard work for them.
"The position at the moment means there is probably only one winner, so hopefully the weather stays away and we have got a full day's play (on Sunday).
"Hopefully now we have ground them down in the field they are going to have some heavy legs when they come out and bat."
Wicketkeeper Haddin dominated the 200-run stand for the sixth wicket with three sixes and 11 fours in an innings of 121, which ended when he holed out off Collingwood's medium pace.
"He did nothing silly, took time to get himself in and the situation of the game allowed him to be free-spirited," said North.
"It is great for him to be able to express himself in that kind of scenario."
Powered by Disqus
Join us on Facebook