World Cup 2019: England assistant coach Paul Collingwood takes the field in warm-up game vs Australia

It seems the entertaining factor of the ICC World Cup 2019 has come into play even as the warm-up matches are underway. On Friday, Afghanistan produced with brilliant teamwork to beat Pakistan by three wickets in Bristol, leaving their supporters in boundless joy. On Saturday, yet another interesting episode caught the cricket fans’ eyes and it was during the game between hosts England and defender Australia in their warm-up game in Southampton.

It so happened that after England’s acting captain Jos Buttler won the toss and asked Aron Finch’s Australia to bat first at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. Soon, the turn of events was such that the hosts’ assistant coach Paul Collingwood also took part in the game! Yes, the 42-year-old former England captain and all-rounder was seen running around on the ground as a sub-fielder, leaving the fans startled as well as impressed.

Collingwood’s fitness level made them go wow. That after having undergone an eye surgery earlier this week. Australia were off to a decent start despite losing captain Finch early as David Warner hit 43 off 55 balls. Shaun Marsh and Steve Smith scored a couple of 30s and the Kangaroos were 128 for 3 around the halfway mark of the innings.

Liam Plunkett took two wickets for the Three Lions. England’s regular captain Eoin Morgan suffered a finger injury during a practice session on the eve of the warm-up game and keeper-batsman Buttler stepped in to lead the side.

Collingwood won England T20 World Cup in 2010

Collingwood, who was fielding for the England side wearing their World Cup kit which resembles that of 1992 when the Three Lions ended up as the runners-up, played 197 ODIs for England between 2001 and 2011 and scored over 5,000 runs and took 111 wickets. Recently, Morgan bettered his record of playing the most number of ODIs for England.

Here are the approaching milestones for the English players – World Cup 2019: Approaching milestones for the England players

Collingwood was also at the helm when England had gone on to win the T20 World Cup in the West Indies in 2010, beating Australia in the final. He played three World Cups with his final ODI being the match against Bangladesh in the 2011 edition.

Here is how fans reacted to the incident:

Paul Collingwood back out on the field for England 😍😍

This is like when old school wrestlers come out at the Royal Rumble

I want to see Bret "The Hitman" Heart in at short mid-wicket and The Dudley Boyz in the slip cordon#bbccricket pic.twitter.com/aSqetsICPd

— Toby Tarrant (@tobytarrant) May 25, 2019

Paul Collingwood is fielding. I guess Brad Haddin should keep the wicket in second innings.

— . (@LazyAkh) May 25, 2019

What are the odds that Mark Wood and Jofra Archer took a dive to get Paul Collingwood on the field, who will then brilliantly run out Steve Smith and destroy Australian morale ala Gary Pratt? #ENGvAUS

— Sports Retort (@Sports_Retorter) May 25, 2019

Paul Collingwood on for a late testimonial 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

— Olly Down (@oliver_down) May 25, 2019

Paul Collingwood is now fielding for England.

— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) May 25, 2019

What do we have here? Paul Collingwood is wearing the England jersey… and my, oh my, he's taking the field! On as a substitute fielder. #CWC19 #ENGvAUS

— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) May 25, 2019

my favourite player of CWC19 is paul collingwood

— paige 🤙🏼 (@paigecaunce) May 25, 2019

Paul Collingwood fielding for England in the 2019 World Cup warm-ups wearing the 1992 World Cup jersey. Evergreen Colly! https://t.co/iEKKTpUfjm

— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) May 25, 2019

Paul Collingwood is sub fielding for England! This is not a drill!

Okay, yes, it is a drill. But still…Colly!#WorldCupWarmUp pic.twitter.com/NxjXqXYzyO

— Guerilla Cricket (@guerillacricket) May 25, 2019

Sights we thought we’d never see again: Paul Collingwood prowling in the ring for England! #WC2019

— Ben Tanner (cricket) (@BJTcricket) May 25, 2019

Paul Collingwood fielding for England. 😂😂😂

— The LeftBacks (@LeftBacks) May 25, 2019

Meanwhile, Paul Collingwood is fielding for England. #INDvNZ

— Suyash! (@SuyashBirje) May 25, 2019

Paul Collingwood coming on today is a future pub quiz question, for sure #ENGvAUS

— Shrewnaldo (@Shrewnaldo) May 25, 2019

Paul Collingwood fielding for England! Wearing Mark Wood's shirt.

— Ian McCullough (@IanMac08) May 25, 2019