'Fighter' Collingwood ready for the final round

At the end of a batsman's career, history rates them by how many hundreds they have scored for their country, but for Paul Collingwood there should be an extra column. How many Tests he has saved for England. In the last eight months he has played a major role in three great escapes with backs-to-the-wall efforts at Cardiff, Centurion and most recently Cape Town.

In the first Test against South Africa he made 26 off 99 balls to ensure England's late jitters didn't cost them the match, but his 188-ball 40 at Cape Town was on a whole new level. The team were five down before the second ball was taken and the result looked a foregone conclusion.

But somehow Collingwood survived a withering new-ball burst from Dale Steyn and defied South Africa until into the final hour. There was another late wobble - it really wouldn't be England without one - but his five-hour partnership with Ian Bell meant the visitors hold a 1-0 lead heading into the final Test at the Wanderers. Collingwood has nine Test centuries, and made 91 at Durban in this series, but his match-saving efforts are what he savours.

"They are right up there if I'm honest," he said. "Centurion was a very satisfying innings but for some reason last week at Cape Town - we were five down pretty early and backs against the wall - I always had the belief we could do it. It was such an important game for us.

"It's very hard to measure those kinds of innings because it's not about runs. It's about the time you spend in the middle, the attitude you show to the other players that we can do it. In many ways I always think they are worth a hundred, but because you haven't got the runs it doesn't come across that way. To get across the line like we have done in this series it's a big achievement."

Right from the beginning of his Test career Collingwood has shown the ability to fight it out when the going is at its toughest. When he was recalled to face Australia, at The Oval, in 2005 he played a vital role on the final afternoon alongside Kevin Pietersen's thrilling 158. Collingwood only made 10, but used up 51 balls in a stand of 60 that extended England's precious lead.

"Those are the situations I do really, really enjoy," he said. "I like - not upsetting the opposition - but just going out there and doing things that are not easy to do. I know I must bore people at times. But it's a job I enjoy doing, and I hope there are more of those kind of innings in the future.

"I am a fighter. I always have been, since growing up with my brother, from my early teens. I'm sure I'll keep that kind of fighting spirit all the way through my career."

Given Collingwood's history of rescuing his country, the Cape Town effort didn't come as a huge surprise, unlike that of his main partner, Bell, who set a new benchmark for his career with a 213-ball 78. Collingwood believes it can be a turning point for Bell, who has often been criticised for making easy runs when the going is good.

"At Durban he played a fantastic innings, he timed the ball well, he scored elegantly, but I'm sure he's come off the other day and thought that's probably worth more runs than he scored at Durban," Collingwood said. "That was a fantastic knock from him. From being under pressure a couple of games ago to turn that around and to show he as the mental strength to see out a day will certainly give him a lot for the future."

The South Africans acknowledge the role Collingwood has played in this series. "He has shown the quality player he is and his experience has come into play," Jacques Kallis said. "Perhaps he's not the prettiest player in the world, but you'd rather take the guys who are ugly and get the runs than pretty players who don't always produce the goods."

Those fighting qualities could well come the fore again this week as England aim to secure a memorable series triumph. With South Africa having no option but to attack for victory all the talk is of a lively pitch although that doesn't concern Collingwood.

"Let's be honest they're not going to produce a flat, flat wicket where it's going to turn out to be a draw," he said. "South Africa are in a position where they need a win and to do that, they've got to gamble a little bit.

"This wicket does tend to go through a lot more anyway and you get a bit more bounce here. Then if they leave a bit more grass on, it will obviously seam around a bit. It could be a difficult week for the batsmen. But it's all about adjusting to conditions. Whatever we come up against, it's the same for both sides. The team that adapts best will win."

So far in this series it is England who have adapted best to the challenges that have faced them and in no small part that has been down to Collingwood. For England's born fighter there's one round to go.