collingwood confident for decider

England captain Paul Collingwood has challenged his side to raise their game for the one-day series decider against West Indies on Saturday.

They were outplayed at Edgbaston on Wednesday, losing by 61 runs.

But Collingwood said: "We're confident. We are a young side and Saturday is going to be a great experience.

"It is a final in effect, and we will get mentally prepared for that. It will stand everyone in the squad in good stead for the future."

Collingwood admitted, however, that England need to find the secret to dismissing Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has passed fifty in all his seven innings during the Test series and one-dayers.
"We have theories as to how we might get him out. Hopefully, come Saturday, we'll get that little bit of luck or a magic ball which gets him out early," he said.

Chanderpaul's unbeaten 116, and his partnership of 175 with Marlon Samuels (77), was the key to his side's win at Edgbaston, which squared the series at 1-1.
It enabled the tourists to post a total of 278-5 and they then bowled England out for 217 in 46 overs.

Chanderpaul suffered an ankle problem during his innings and did not field in the game, but West Indies skipper Chris Gayle afterwards said he would definitely play at Trent Bridge.

"I will push him out there, even if [he's] on one leg. Shiv can destroy any attack when he wants, he can step it up whenever he needs to," Gayle commented.

Looking ahead to the third match, he took the same positive view as Collingwood, adding: "I am confident in the guys. It would be tremendous to win the series."

Collingwood, meanwhile, has insisted Monty Panesar is still a major part of England's one-day plans.

Panesar played in the opening victory over the West Indies at Lord's, taking 1-29, but was left out at Edgbaston.

"We believe that was our best side to win the game on the day," said Collingwood.


We are all still learning and experimenting and finding out what are the best players in these certain conditions and situations

Paul Collingwood

"[But] I've always said Monty is going to be a big one-day player for us, certainly in the future."

Panesar was overlooked in favour of Sussex all-rounder Michael Yardy, who produced a reasonable 0-29 from six overs with the ball but made a scratchy 19 from 42 balls with the bat. "We have to find the right balance," Collingwood admitted.

"We are all still learning and experimenting and finding out what are the best players in these certain conditions and situations.

"When it comes down to conditions, we assess on the day and see what the wicket is like and go from there and it was getting the balance right in the side."