While the cricketing world has grown accustomed to squad updates and injury news, one name’s prolonged absence from England’s coaching scene continues to puzzle fans and insiders alike.
Pat Cummins’ absence from Australia’s squad for the first Ashes Test has been clear-cut, but the mystery surrounding Paul Collingwood – the celebrated 49-year-old former England all-rounder – shows no signs of resolution.
Collingwood Likely Missing from Coaching Team Announcement
Sources close to Daily Mail Sport suggest that Collingwood will probably not feature when the ECB reveals England’s backroom team for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.
This would mark more than a year since he quietly stepped away from coaching duties “for personal reasons” on the first day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Nottingham last May.
A Notable Absence from England’s Celebrations
Collingwood’s absence is particularly noticeable during recent commemorations of the legendary 2005 Ashes squad.
While teammates reminisced, gave interviews, and posed for photographs 20 years after their triumph, Collingwood was nowhere to be seen.
His last significant public appearance came ten months ago during England’s third Test in Hamilton, New Zealand, when he, along with other assistant coaches, faced questions about the team’s underwhelming performances.
A Career Marked by Highs and Humorous Lows
As a player, Collingwood made headlines for both his achievements and occasional antics.
In Hamilton, he had confidently declared Ben Stokes could bowl “as many overs as he feels he needs,” only for Stokes to leave the field the next day with a hamstring injury.
Despite England being 2-0 up in the series, they lost the third Test by 423 runs.
Even Shane Warne famously poked fun at Collingwood’s MBE for the 2005 Ashes, quipping that scoring 17 runs across both innings of a Test deserved the label “Must Be Embarrassing.”
From Player Glory to Coaching Challenges
Collingwood’s cricketing CV is undeniably impressive.
He was the first England captain to lift a T20 World Cup in 2010 and a key figure in Ashes-winning squads of 2009 and 2011.
His success fueled speculation about him taking the reins as England coach in 2022 after Chris Silverwood’s departure following a 4-0 Ashes defeat.
Yet his off-field habits often drew attention.
During a temporary head coach stint in the West Indies, photos emerged of him in a romantic encounter on a Barbados beach shortly after a heavy loss in the decisive Test.
Similar incidents from his playing days, including a visit to a Cape Town strip club in 2007, added to the narrative of Collingwood as colorful, if unpredictable.
Managing Life Off the Field
Despite these episodes, Collingwood remained a respected figure in English cricket.
Fines and apologies aside, he transitioned smoothly into coaching, offering batting and fielding guidance while forming close relationships with stars like Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
His humor, self-deprecating nature, and willingness to be the team’s comic foil only added to his appeal.
Even moments of awkwardness, like confusing then-Prime Minister David Cameron’s name during a Downing Street visit after England’s T20 World Cup win, were taken in stride by teammates and fans alike.
Financial and Tax Matters Complicate Matters
Off-field issues have continued to follow Collingwood, including tax investigations into his personal services company and sponsorship earnings.
After losing a recent appeal, he faces a £196,000 tax bill. It’s believed these matters partly explain his absence from the Zimbabwe Test this summer.
What the Future Holds for England’s Coaching Setup
Under McCullum and Stokes, England’s coaching team in Australia is expected to include batting and spin specialists Marcus Trescothick and Jeetan Patel, with temporary “freelance” coaches a familiar feature.
Fast-bowling coach Tim Southee, however, will not join the Ashes squad due to franchise commitments.
The ECB has indicated that some coaching positions are still being finalized, but Collingwood himself has offered no public explanation for his prolonged absence.
For now, the former Ashes hero and World Cup-winning captain remains elusive, leaving fans to wonder when, or if, he will return to England cricket’s forefront.