Ashes 2015: Paul Collingwood says England are playing a brand of cricket which is 'great to watch'
Sunday 12 July 2015 12:46, UK
Paul Collingwood thinks Australia are going to find England a hard team to beat in the ongoing Investec Ashes series.
The England team have received plaudits for their displays this summer and reached new heights over the past few days, powering to a 169-run win in the first Ashes Test at Cardiff.
Durham stars Ben Stokes and Mark Wood both made useful contributions to the emphatic victory, which England will look to build on when the second Test gets underway at Lord’s on Thursday.
And Durham captain Collingwood, a distinguished former Test batsman and one-day captain himself, has been hugely impressed by England’s recent displays.
Collingwood said: “It has been fantastic, great to watch.
“The England team over the last few months have been really exciting and the two lads from Durham had a massive part to play in that. It is great to get that first (Ashes) win under the belt and hopefully they can get more in future.”
Asked if England could go on to regain the Ashes, Collingwood said: “The brand of cricket that they are playing is very exciting.
“As long as they keep putting the opposition under pressure, they are going to get some positive results.
“They are still learning, they are a young group of players, but they have played some exceptional cricket over the last few months and are going to be a hard team to beat.”
Middlesex batsman Nick Compton has played nine Tests for England and was also delighted to see them perform so well at Cardiff, having lost the previous Ashes series 5-0.
“It has been hugely anticipated and the way England have played has been fantastic,” said Compton.
“They say sport can change very quickly and boy has it changed. England have played a very positive brand of cricket and it seems to be paying off.
“You are going to have your good and bad days but, in terms of a start to the series, it gives an experienced Australia side a lot to think about.”
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