Paul Collingwood says this summer's clash with South Africa will provide a real indication of how good England are.
England one-day skipper predicting tough battle against South Africa.
Paul Collingwood says this summer's clash with South Africa will provide a real indication of how good England are at present.
England welcome New Zealand and South Africa during the international summer, but is the battle with the Proteas which Collingwood says will provide the big test.
Collingwood admitted that the winter provided mixed results, but was happy to end it with a Test series victory in New Zealand.
Now looking to build during the English summer, the arrival of the South Africans will be a big test for Michael Vaughan's men.
"The winter was pretty good, we were disappointed with Sri Lanka, the one-day series went well, but we were disappointed with our form in the Test series," Collingwood told
Sky Sports News.
"But we finished off the winter well to get a 2-1 victory in New Zealand when 1-0 down and that showed great character in the side and showed bouncebackability as people say.
"The South Africa series is going to be a real one to watch this year. They are a hard team to beat and in many ways it will really gage how far we've come in the last few years and how good we are at the moment."
Big scores
Collingwood, speaking at the launch of England's new adidas kit, admits the batsmen have not scored heavy enough of late, and they realise that pressure for places will be great during the summer.
"We started to put it right in the last Test match," Collingwood added. "We need to get a few more tons, we've all realised that as a batting unit.
"Competition for places is always a healthy situation to have. People score hundreds they put pressure on you, so when you get the opportunity you need to go out there and score the big runs. Pressure's not a bad thing."
Collingwood backed Durham team-mate Steve Harmison to challenge hard for a return to the England side after seeing him fired up for the start of the domestic season.
"I've seen him (Harmison) over the last couple of days at Durham and talking to him he looks really up for it," Collingwood continued.
"I'm not saying he's never like that but you can tell he's really got the bit between his teeth and people facing him in the next few weeks are in for a torrid time.
"When he's at his best he's one of the best bowlers in the world so we all hope he can get back to that."
IPL ambition
England players are not allowed to participate in the lucrative Indian Premier League, but Collingwood hopes they can find a way to cash in soon.
"The way I view it at the moment is that I can't play in it at the moment that's all I know," he said on the new Twenty20 competition.
"In the future who knows, we might get the opportunity. From a players point of view we'll be keeping an eye on it over the next few weeks - it's an exciting tournament having the world's best players there.
"Obviously the money in there, you can't get away from it, it's a lot of money for cricketers and hopefully in the future we'll get the opportunity."
