Paul Collingwood offered no excuses for England's shocking third day performance in Sri Lanka.
Collingwood hopes for reaction after England's batting collapse in Galle
Paul Collingwood offered no excuses for England's shocking third day performance in Sri Lanka, as they recorded their lowest batting total in Asia.
After Sri Lanka finally declared on 499-8, England could muster just 81 all out as they were forced to follow-on in the third Test in Galle.
Michael Vaughan's men are now staring down the barrel of a damaging defeat and a 2-0 series loss, and Collingwood admits that they were simply not good enough.
"Obviously it was a disappointing day for us to be bowled out for that kind of total and there are some disappointed faces in the dressing room," Collingwood told
Sky Sports after the close of play.
"Having two days in the dirt and then going out there, they put us under a lot of pressure with the new ball and took early wickets, and we're going to have to show in the next couple of days what kind of fight we can put up."
Disappointing
It has been a disappointing Test all round for England with the bowling, batting and fielding all not up to scratch for a side that went into the series ranked as the second best in the world.
That number two tag in the world will now go, but Collingwood insists that the team is still moving forward.
"Results-wise, you look from the outside and you think we're in a slump but we know where we are as a squad, we realise we have some inexperienced players in the side and sometimes you have to experience things like that to make you stronger as a team.
"We are heading in the right direction and every member of this side knows that."
England's one-day skipper knows to expect a backlash from fans and the media after their tame capitulation in Galle, but he insists they will come out and show their pride and passion in search of what now looks a very unlikely draw.
"If we can somehow salvage a draw from this we can show that fighting spirit that we love playing for England. We have to go out there and show a lot of passion and pride and over the next couple of days salvage a draw.
"I'm sure people are going to be questioning us, and that's why we're going to have to show the fight.
"We know as a team and individuals that there is plenty of passion in that dressing room."
No excuses
Collingwood accepted that England have just not been anywhere near their best in every department so far in Galle.
"There's no excuses, it's as simple as that," added the Durham man.
"We've had a Test match so far where we haven't bowled very well, we didn't catch very well for the bowlers who have been toiling out in the sun.
"On these occasions you have to be brave and honest with yourself and say we haven't been on top of our game, but somehow we're going to have to bounce back from that.
"We've got two days of Test match cricket left here, its going to be a hard fight but if we get that draw it will be a good result for us."
