Paul Collingwood postpones his retirement for a season

Paul Collingwood has decided to play at least for one more season for Durham despite his coaching responsibilities for the England national team. The 41-year-old had announced that the 2017 season will be the last for him as a player but given his rich and prolific form in the ongoing season, he decided to play another season for his county side. Collingwood’s contract was actually expired in 2016 but extended it to feature in the 2017 season.

Prior to the ongoing County Championship round, Collingwood amassed 763 runs in the season; the 2nd most by the division two players after Joe Denly (921). He recently struck his maiden Twenty20 century becoming the oldest ever to hit a century in this format and followed it with an unbeaten 88, both being his highest scores in this format.

Collingwood has been signed up as the fielding coach for the England side and now will be working under coach Trevor Bayliss and his assistant Paul Farbrace for the entire Ashes series in Australia followed by a 5-match ODI series. The veteran all-rounder says that he expected this season would be his last one but his love and priority towards the game wants him to keep performing on the field and hence decided to play for one more season.

“I have been very honest right from the start and told him [Strauss] that playing cricket remains my number one priority,” Collingwood told the Daily Mail on Sunday. “I genuinely thought at the start of the season that this was going to be my last one but I think it would be silly to give up a sport you love and one which you are still playing really well. There is an element of wanting to go out performing as well as you ever have done but things that have happened recently make me believe I can go on and more than do myself justice.” He added.

“I also see it as a huge privilege to be involved with England, not least because coaching these guys is a great way to keep learning. You don’t get the buzz that you do when you’re playing but you do get snippets of pleasure — like when a player who has been down in the dumps or struggling for form goes out and performs,” said Collingwood about managing two different roles.