By Jon Steer
August 2 2005

Paul Collingwood has been added to the England squad for the second Ashes test which starts at Edgbaston on thursday. Colly was initially left out when the ECB announced an unchanged squad on Sunday but was added last night after an inspection of the Birmingham pitch. Prior to the squad announcement on Sunday, Colly had been mentioned in all forms of the media following his three recent centuries for Durham. The selectors initially decided to stick with the current squad but changed their minds after a pitch inspection yesterday.

The huge amount of rain that has fallen at Birmingham in the last week is likely to result in the pitch still being damp for the start of the test on thursday. Chairman of selectors David Graveney said that adding Colly to the squad gave them "the maximum number of options available on match day".

Unfortunately for Durham Colly would have been starting a champtionship match against Essex tomorrow. Should Colly not make the starting eleven for the test he will be able to join up with the Durham team providing that Durham nominate the player he will replace in advance of the match. Colly can take his place providing he is able to do so before the start of the third day.