Topic: Paul Collingwood

Paul David Collingwood MBE (born 26 May 1976), is an English cricketer. He is a regular member of the England Test side and was captain of the One Day International team from 2007, resigning on Sunday 3 August 2008, and he is also the current England Twenty20 captain. He is also vice-captain of his county, Durham County Cricket Club. Collingwood is an all-rounder, who combines natural strokeplay with reliable medium pace bowling. Described as a "natural athlete", he is also regarded as one of the finest fielders of his time.

His first class debut was in 1995, and he made his first appearance for England in One Day International cricket in 2001 and in Test cricket in 2003. A series of three consecutive match-winning performances by Collingwood at the end of the 2006–07 Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia brought him enthusiastic approval in the British media. His "allround display of incredible nerve and tenacity" helped to secure the trophy for England. In 2009, in the second test against the West Indies, Paul Collingwood substituted for an injured Matt Prior as wicket keeper, the first time he has done so in First Class cricket.

Collingwood was born and brought up in Shotley Bridge, County Durham by parents David and Janet, and was educated at Blackfyne Comprehensive School, now known as Consett Community Sports College. Introduced to cricket "on the playing fields of Blackfyne Comprehensive School", Paul was able to "force his way into Shotley Bridge's Under–13s team at the age of just nine". As a teenager, his father, who still remains a member of the Shotley Bridge Cricket Club, persuaded him to give up football and concentrate on cricket. Collingwood still makes regular visits to his old cricket club, "...he is a brilliant role model for the kids and his success is an aspiration to follow...".