Colly To Face Kent

Collingwood - tumultuous past month.

England one-day captain Paul Collingwood will feature in Durham's Friends Provident Trophy semi-final against Kent on Friday after all.

Collingwood had been expected to sit out the contest at the Riverside as he begins preparations for next week's first Test against South Africa.

But after a tumultuous past month, the 32-year-old all-rounder has decided the challenge of trying to help his county into another Lord's final would best serve him ahead of a Test vital in his career.

Collingwood was criticised for opting out of county action before the final Test against New Zealand last month because his form had been poor.

He again failed to impress in that match at Trent Bridge, recording a duck to end the series with a batting average of 10.66, but he showed signs of recovery in the subsequent one-day internationals.

That series, however, ended in controversy for Collingwood as he was castigated in some quarters for failing to recall run-out batsman Grant Elliott and was then banned for his side's slow over-rate.

He then returned to domestic cricket and, after hitting an unbeaten 44 to steer Durham to an eight-wicket win over Yorkshire in the LV County Championship, is now keen to get another game under his belt.

Durham coach Geoff Cook said: "The fact he scored a few runs in the second innings and started to play something like his old self, he really felt he wanted to play this game and try to keep that little bit of form he is developing moving forward.

"Paul has played international cricket for years and years, he has been through a benefit year, he is captain of England - it's a terrifically stressful time and I am sure people are sensitive to that.

"He had the controversies of last week with the run-out decision and he has had a lack of form to combat at the same time, so he has had lots going on in his life over the last couple of years.

"But the good thing is he is starting to see a little bit of light at the end of that tunnel and he is ready to take on South Africa.

"Hopefully, another part of that launching pad will be tomorrow's game against Kent."

Durham came of age last season as they won the FP Trophy, finished runners-up in the Championship and secured promotion in the Pro40.

They have been well represented in England squads in recent years and today had four players named in the country's provisional 30-man party for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Collingwood, Phil Mustard, Graham Onions and Liam Plunkett all feature while Ashes winner Steve Harmison is also pushing for a Test recall.

The club have also made shrewd signings in Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel and their progress in the FP Trophy, as well as reaching the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals, has made 2008 another promising season.

Cook said: "To get this far has been absolutely brilliant. To be eliminated at this particular stage would be, if not a disaster, then really disappointing.

"The players would not take a lot of picking up, but they would be very disappointed if we didn't progress in at least one of the competitions.

"The players keep coming back for more. Each of the different competitions that we come into, they are all desperate to do well.

"We have a good, strong squad which has been supplemented by Albie Morkel and Shaun Pollock coming in, ostensibly for Twenty20 cricket, but they have been willing to participate in four-day cricket in Albie's case, and Shaun is delighted to be playing tomorrow and hopefully helping Durham move forward to the final.

"Their injection of enthusiasm, ability, their characters - they have bought into what Durham is trying to produce on a short and long-term basis, so they have given an injection at a very timely moment in the season.

"That is no criticism of the rest of the squad, but when you can bring in quality players and quality people, then it helps everybody."

Yet Durham will face a Kent side boasting plenty of limited-overs pedigree themselves having won last year's Twenty20 Cup.

They are also in good spirits after securing another Twenty20 quarter-final spot and recovering from a first-innings deficit of 127 to beat Surrey in the Championship this week.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood returns after being rested for the Surrey game while seamer Simon Cook is also fit again.