171no.. COLLY'S VICTORY FOR HARD GRAFT; CRICKET VETERAN'S LANDMARK.

Byline: DEAN WILSON 

HARD WORKERS the world over can rejoice tomorrow when Paul Collingwood becomes England's most capped one-day cricketer.

Collingwood will overtake Alec Stewart's record of 170 caps at the Wanderers, and it will be a triumph for a man who has got to the top on sheer grit and determination - not to mention a fair sprinkling of skill.

The all-rounder from Shotley Bridge, County Durham, has made himself indispensable to England's one-day cause over the last eight years - but it didn't come easy.

There have been plenty of cricketers with greater skill, style, talent and cavalier approach than Collingwood, but none of them have stayed the distance like he has.

He has been knocked down only to bounce back time and again, always pushing himself, always proving to be worthy of a place. And he's done it because of his work ethic, tenacity, mental toughness and a little slice of luck.

"My 171st game, who would have thought it?" pondered Collingwood. "Certainly not me after my first four games. To play so many since then you've got to work hard and have a bit of luck and I think I've had my share and have done OK.

"You've got to stay injury-free to play that many games and barring a couple of injuries early on in my career, it hasn't been too bad. It is a bit of a surprise that I've got so many caps, but hopefully I can keep going for some time yet.

"It is evident that I've got the most out of my ability and my motto in playing the game is to work out the best formula to get the best out of the skills you've been given.

"There have been lots of times when I've been worried about my position, what my future's going to be if I don't do well.

"It is something everybody goes through and there are going to be dips in form. The question is whether you can bounce back from them." He was dismissed four times in single figures at the start of his career - but of the astonishing highs, none stand out more brightly than his performances to almost single-handedly beat the Australians in their own triangular one-day series after a nightmare Ashes tour.

Collingwood hit 106 against New Zealand before 120 not out and 70 against the Aussies to win the best-of-three final.

He added: "Personally, the 120 against Australia in Melbourne was the best innings and I don't think I'll get too many more like that."

Collingwood, 33, suffered in the 2004 Champions Trophy final when the West Indies robbed what he calls "the best team I've ever played in".

He revealed: "It is funny how you can look at a team on paper and think it is not the best side.

"But that team in 2004 was the side that played our best one-day cricket for a consistent period of time and probably deserved to win that final.

"I'm also very excited about this group of players we've got now.

"I won't say it is the best we've ever had, but from a potential point of view, I think we've got every base covered."

COLLINGWOOD'S WONDER YEARS

ODI Debut: v Pakistan, Jun 2001 Caps: 170.. and counting

Runs: 4285

Average: 35.12

Highest score: 120*

Wickets: 97

Catches: 97

..AND BEST XI C

hampions Trophy Final 2004

Trescothick, Solanki, Vaughan, Strauss, Flintoff, Collingwood, Jones, Giles, Wharf, Gough, Harmison.

CAPTION(S):

BIG DAYS Paul Collingwood's debut, 120 in Melbourne, victory over Sri Lanka and that run-out farce