I love to annoy the opposition: Collingwood

Paul Collingwood, who has played a key role making sure England go into Thursday's fourth and final Test against South Africa 1-0 up in the series, said he loved annoying the opposition with long, defiant innings.

Paul Collingwood, who has played a key role making sure England go into Thursday's fourth and final Test against South Africa 1-0 up in the series, said he loved annoying the opposition with long, defiant innings.

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The middle-order batsman hit 50 and 26 not out in the first test at Centurion, 91 in the innings victory in Durban and 19 and 40 in Cape Town, the latter spanning 188 balls and leading the visitors to a battling draw. “I might bore a few people but it's a job I enjoy and I love to annoy the opposition,” said Collingwood. “I’ve always been a fighter, ever since growing up.

“I will always go out there and fight. This whole team has shown that resilience. Obviously you need flair and genius at times but in test cricket resilience is so important.

“My innings out here have been very special. Centurion was good and in Cape Town I always had the belief we could do it.” Collingwood said his fighting 40 in the third test was worth a century to him and England. “It was such a big game for us. It's hard to measure these innings, they're not about runs, it's about the time you spend in the middle,” he added. England finished the opening and third matches with their last pair at the wicket, the first time that has happened twice in the same series in test cricket.