Cricket: WELCOME TO COLLINGWOOD.

Byline: MYLES HODGSON

ENGLAND'Sarrival for their inaugural Test tour of Bangladesh may not have been the biggest entry on the world sports agenda but they have been given an immediate illustration of the excitement their presence has caused in local circles.

While the majority of the British sporting public focus on the fortunes of the four home nations in the forthcoming Rugby World Cup or the test facing England's footballers in Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier, thenation's cricketers were confronted with a frenzied welcome on their arrival in Dhaka.

The locals turned up in their hundreds to witness Michael Vaughan and his side emerge from the airport terminal.

Captain Vaughan,leading England on his first overseas tour, was forced into an impromptu press conference.

It is not a greeting England would have been surprised about in the cricket-loving sub-continent but it should act as a warning against a Bangladesh side still searching for their first Test victory in 24attempts. Heavy rainfall has already forced the tourists to switch today's training session to the BKSP ground on the outskirts of the city,because it is the only ground with indoor facilities.

With a squad comprising five players -Martin Saggers,Paul Collingwood,Rikki Clarke,Gareth Batty and Geraint Jones -who are yet to feature at Test level, that is unlikely to unsettle them on a tour they are determined to succeed despite its low profile.

Durham all-rounder Collingwood is certainly keen to make his mark having had his dreams of a Test call-up this summer shattered by a pre-season shoulder injury which sidelined him for four months.

``This is an important tour for a lot of people,'' stressedCollingwood, who had to have surgery on his left shoulder after sustaining a fracture while diving during a pre- season match against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

``The injury was a big blow for me because I had such a good winter and I was planning to come and get a load of runs for Durham to push for a place in the Test squad,and luckily the selectors have stuck by me and given me this opportunity,''he explained.

Revised tour itinerary for England's trip toBangladesh: Oct 8: Arrive Dhaka Oct 9- 11: Practice and preparation Oct 12- 14: Three -day match v BCB President XI Oct 15:Rest/preparation Oct 16- 18: Three -day match v Bangladesh A Oct 19- 20: Practice and preparation Oct 21- 25: FIRST TEST,DHAKA Oct 27: Flight to Chittagong Oct 28: Practice and preparation Oct 29 Nov 2: SECOND TEST,CHITTAGONG Nov 3: Flight to Dhaka Nov 4: Rest/preparation Nov 5: One-day warmup match v BCB Development Squad,Dhaka Nov 6: Flight to Chittagong Nov 7: First one-day international in Chittagong Nov 8: Flight to Dhaka Nov 9: Practice and preparation Nov 10: Second one-day international in Dhaka (day/night)Nov 11:Rest/preparation Nov 12: Third one-day international in Dhaka (day/night)Nov 13: Fly to Colombo

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DEBUTANT: Collingwood