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Last Updated: Friday, 22 June 2007, 13:45 GMT 14:45 UK
Collingwood plans positive style
Paul Collingwood
Collingwood has only limited experience as a captain
Paul Collingwood has vowed to approach his new role as England one-day captain in a "positive and aggressive" manner.

The Durham all-rounder was named as Michael Vaughan's successor in the short form of the game on Friday, ahead of the series against the West Indies.

And the 31-year-old said: "It is an amazing feeling for me, a great honour.

"I'll have to learn the ropes as I go along but one thing is for sure, I want the players to express themselves and to be positive and aggressive."

England were criticised for what was viewed as a negative approach to one-day batting during their disappointing World Cup campaign.

606: DEBATE

The absence of big hitters, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff aside, meant the orthodox approach of the likes of Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell was exposed.

But Collingwood insists he can inject a new sense of belief in the side ahead of the first Twenty20 match against West Indies at the Oval.

"England have always played their best cricket when they've gone out onto the field and tried to stamp their authority on the opposition," he said.

Michael (Vaughan) is the most successful England captain of all time in Tests and I will be calling on him for advice a lot I'm sure

Paul Collingwood

"We will all hold our hands up and admit we did not have a good winter in the one-day format, and we have not been a great one-day side for some time now.

"However, there is an opportunity for me to go out and turn things around and, while it will be a real challenge, it's exciting and I can't wait to get started.

"I'm not talking about all the batsmen going out there and trying to hit it out of the park from ball one, I'm talking about intensity, about aggression and about self belief."

And the 31-year-old insisted his close relationship with Michael Vaughan would assuage any fears that the split captaincy could lead to problems.

He said: "I am extremely close friends with Michael. He's the most successful England captain of all time in Tests and I will be calling on him for advice a lot I'm sure.

Andrew Strauss
Former captain Strauss has struggled for runs this year

"I will lead the side in my own way, with my own style, but Michael and I are pulling in the same direction. We both want England to be successful and I'm positive there will be no complications.

"He's still doing a fantastic job as a Test captain and hopefully he will be leading us well past the Ashes next time and still winning series and games for England at Test level."

He also backed Strauss to regain his form after the opening batsman was left out of the one-day squad.

"Straussy will be very disappointed," Collingwood told BBC Five Live. "To lose your place in any team is a disappointing thing, but he is a very strong character.

"I'm sure he will bounce back from it and score his runs at county level again and get that confidence and belief that you need at international level.

"He is still a big part of the Test arena and he's got a chance to keep improving his game and keep impressing at that level."

SEE ALSO
Paul Collingwood column
21 Jun 07 |  England
Vaughan prepared for one-day axe
19 Jun 07 |  England
Vaughan quits as one-day skipper
18 Jun 07 |  England
West Indies in England 2007
08 Jan 07 |  Cricket


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