England add Collingwood to Ashes squad

England, 2-0 down in the Ashes Test series against Australia, called uncapped Durham all-rounder Paul Collingwood into their squad on Monday as cover for injured batsmen Michael Vaughan and John Crawley.

"We are concerned about Crawley and Vaughan for Perth (where the third Test starts on Friday)," England coach Duncan Fletcher told the Australian website mediagame.com.au.

"Especially Crawley, he doesn't look too good. Vaughan has got slight discomfort but we are still pretty hopeful about him playing.

"We've called in Collingwood, who is flying from Melbourne. He's playing grade cricket there and is flying in to provide back-up for the batters."

Vaughan has a bruised shoulder after he was struck by a delivery from Australia's Jason Gillespie while scoring 177 in the second Test in Adelaide, which the home side won by an innings and 51 runs on Sunday.

Crawley missed the match with a thigh injury.

"If there is a problem with both of the other two he (Collingwood) will have a very good chance of playing," Fletcher added.

"To some degree it (Collingwood) was the most convenient (selection). He is out here playing grade cricket and he is in our one-day squad as a batting all-rounder.

"With jet lag, it's important to have someone out here."

England paceman Andy Caddick will have a scan on his injured back on Monday, said team spokesman Andrew Walpole.

The 34-year-old Somerset player, who suffered back spasms during the second Test, is hoping to recover in time for the game in Perth.

England trained at the Adelaide Oval on Monday after their crushing defeat on Sunday.

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles are already out of the Perth Test through injury, while fast bowlers Darren Gough and Simon Jones have been ruled out of the five-match series because of knee problems.

If Caddick is ruled out of the Perth Test, England have sufficient cover with Alex Tudor and Chris Silverwood, who replaced Jones and Gough in the squad.

England were also beaten by an innings in the first Test in Brisbane.

Mail Cricket Editor