Paul Collingwood and Marcus Trescothick. (Photo source: X(Twitter)
The England cricket team’s tour of India has been a challenging one, with the visitors down 3-1 in the five-match Test series against the formidable hosts. As if their on-field struggles weren’t enough, the Three Lions have been affected by illness and injuries, forcing them to get creative with their resources.
In the lead-up to the fifth and final Test in Dharamshala, England suffered yet another setback when fast bowler Ollie Robinson was struck down with a bug that affected others in the England camp earlier in the week and did not allow him to travel to the ground. With their playing group already depleted to 14 men after teenager Rehan Ahmed returned home earlier, England were left scrambling for replacements.
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Paul Collingwood and Marcus Trescothick to take the field as substitute fielders
Paul Collingwood and Marcus Trescothick, two former England greats have been listed as substitute fielders for the crucial Test match in Dharamshala. According to ICC playing conditions, teams are allowed to name a maximum of six substitute fielders, and England has turned to their coaching staff to fill the void.
Collingwood and Trescothick were both renowned for their exceptional fielding skills during their illustrious playing careers. Collingwood took 96 catches in his 68 Test matches, while Trescothick snaffled 95 catches across 76 Tests, cementing their places among England’s all-time great catchers.
In a clever move to prepare their coaching staff for potential on-field duties, England organised a “coaches vs players” slip fielding challenge during pre-match training. Trescothick showcased his enduring reflexes by taking a stunning one-handed catch off Ollie Pope’s bat, reminding everyone of his fielding capabilities.
Collingwood, too, has experience as a substitute fielder, having donned the whites for England on a few occasions after his retirement in 2011. He even ran the drinks for the team during their 2020 series against Pakistan when COVID-19 restrictions prevented additional players from being called up.
As England aim to end their disappointing tour on a high note, they’ll be bolstered by the presence of seasoned campaigners like Collingwood and Trescothick, even if their roles are limited to fielding duties. The Dharamshala Test holds significant historical importance as both Johnny Bairstow and Ravichandran Ashwin mark their 100th Test appearances for England and India respectively.
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England won the toss and opted to bat first, with fast bowler Mark Wood replacing the ill Robinson in the playing XI. The first session of Day One was hung in balance with England batting on 109 and lost two wickets, in the form of Ben Duckett and Pope.