Paul Collingwood could replace Butcher in 1st test

By Jon Steer
March 3 2004

Paul Collingwood could be in the starting eleven for England's first test againt the West Indies next week. He is likely to replace Mark Butcher who strained ankle ligaments during a warm up game with Jamaica yesterday.

Although not part of the team to take on Jamaica Colly took the place of Butcher at number three in England's second innings. He was siz not out at the end of the second days play, England finished on 50-1 after eleven overs.

Collingwood was always likely to need injuries to squad members to make the starting line up after the selectors choose to stick with the established batting lineup of Butcher, Thorpe and Hussein.

It was Hussein falling ill just before the 1st test on the tour of Sri Lanka that gave Colly his test debut in the first leg of the winter tour.

If Colly and Harmison are both picked for next week's test it will be the first time that the two have played alongside each other. Harmison was forced to miss the Sir Lanka leg of the tour after injuring his back in Bangladesh.