Collingwood added to England squad

Paul Collingwood, the Durham allrounder, has been called up to England's squad for the second Test at Edgbaston. There was speculation that he would have been named in the original squad but the selectors made no changes when they announced the twelve on Sunday. "As you know I haven't got the most talent in the world but I'm a fighter and hopefully always will be," Collingwood told AFP upon learning of his selection.

However, after arriving at Edgaston for the build up to the Test, the England management has decided to expand the squad by bringing in Collingwood. He has been in impressive form of late, with three Championship centuries in his last three innings.

David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, said: "It has been well documented that Birmingham has experienced unusually large amounts of rainfall in the last few days and this has put the ground authorities under extreme pressure. Having looked at the pitch it has been decided to add Collingwood to the squad so that England will have the maximum number of options available on match day."

Collingwood has played two Tests for England - both in Sri Lanka on the 2003-04 tour - and was one of England's star performers during the recent NatWest Series and Challenge. His medium-pace bowling and superb fielding will provide extra options for England.

Revised England squad Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (capt), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wk), Ashley Giles, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Chris Tremlett.