Collingwood was first picked for England in the NatWest series in 2001 against Pakistan and Australia, and for the subsequent one-day tour of Zimbabwe. Unfortunately though, Collingwood damaged his right-shoulder in 2003, and forced to miss most of the following season. Despite this set-back, Collingwood was given a 12-month ECB contract for the winter tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It was mainly Collingwood's fielding that got him into the squad, and was normally Englands 12th man. In the 2004 Champions Trophy, Collingwood was Englands second highest scorer, averaging 70.5 with 141 runs. On 21 June 2005, Collingwood set the record for the best ever figures by an Englishman in a One-Day International. Against Banladesh at Trent Bridge, he hit 112no from just 86 balls, then went on to take 6-31 to become the first player to score a century and take 6 wickets in the same match. Collingwood was called up ahead of James Anderson for the final Ashes test of 2005 for the injured Simon Jones. While his performance wasn't his best, a 6th wicket partnership with Kevin Pietersen of 60-runs helped England to clinch the series. Collingwood was left out of the first two tests in Pakistan in 2005-06, but was recalled for the 3rd and final test, where Collingwood scored 50 in both innings. In the following tour of India, Collingwood kept his place, avergaing 68, including 134no in the first innings of the first test.

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