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Moores happy to keep faith with Collingwood

27/05/2008

England coach Peter Moores has said he will keep faith with all-rounder Paul Collingwood, despite his current lack of form.

Collingwood has yet to reach 50 in any form of cricket this summer and his position in the side has come under increasing scrutiny from experts.

Moores says he will support Collingwood during the selectors' meeting before the squad for the third and final Test against New Zealand is announced, but admits there is always a discussion about the future make-up of the side.

He said: "There's always discussion [about changes] because I'm one of four selectors. But we've also got to get a balance with loyalty as well and I do think in Paul you've got a very good cricketer."

Moores is confident England's one-day international captain will come through his present difficulties and prove his worth to the side.

The England coach points to other players in the England side who have lacked form in recent times but have since gone on to make crucial runs – such as Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss – and believes Collingwood will follow them.

"Paul's had a tough couple of Test matches but that happens," said Moores, who thinks the break between the second and third Test will help the Durham man.

"Paul wants to score runs and we've got this nice little period now where he can get himself ready to go at Trent Bridge.

"He's a touch player and he knows he's struggling to find it at the moment and unfortunately in the build-up to the Test series he didn't get any runs in the couple of games he played, but I know he's a good player and he's shown he's a good player."

Collingwood has played in 31 consecutive Test matches for England but has failed to reach a century in his last 22 innings.