London, Aug.26 (ANI): England middle order batsman Paul Collingwood has said that he knows he has to improve as a batsman to keep his place in the England side.

Collingwood, who takes over as England’s captain this week for a one-dayer against Ireland in Belfast on Thursday and two Twenty20 internationals against Australia next week, was quoted by The Independent as saying: “I know I am going to have to tinker a bit with technique and become a better player to be able to stay in the side.”

“But I am willing to do that. I am still at an age when I am enjoying my cricket. He [Trott] came in and had a dream debut and I understand the position I am in. I am going to have to work my absolute nuts off to keep my place. I know I can do it and I still feel I am fit enough and mentally strong enough to do that,” he added.

After his match-saving innings of 75 in Cardiff, Collingwood’s final four innings were worth just 42 runs. The Australians shut off Collingwood’s leg-side options, and now he is in the familiar position of fighting for his place in the side at the age of 33. “I’ve had a great year playing Test cricket,” he said. “Look at my stats, they have been good. I would have loved to have played a lot better in last few Tests but the innings in Cardiff went a long way to winning these Ashes,” he says in his favour.Perhaps it was the knowledge this could be his last crack at the Australians which made Collingwood appear the most nervous England player on Sunday, when he dropped several catches, including one at slip he would normally take with his cap pulled over his eyes.

“People sometimes think we are robots and don’t have emotions and nerves don’t get to us but believe me the closer you get to winning the Ashes the more nervous you become,” he said. (ANI)