Collingwood's England nudge

Paul Collingwood gave the England selectors a timely nudge yesterday with his second sizeable century in a week as Durham took command on day one of their four-day match against Somerset in the Second Division of the County Championship.

Collingwood, who hit 190 against Derbyshire last week, was 181 not out when bad light ended play for the day, with Durham on 345 for 3 at Taunton. Andrew Caddick picked up two wickets for the home side but it was Collingwood's performance which caught the eye.

The England selectors name their squad this weekend for the second Ashes Test at Edgbaston which starts next week and the Durham all-rounder is certain to come into the reckoning. He could replace spinner Ashley Giles or pacemen Matthew Hoggard or Simon Jones as England look to lengthen their batting line-up.

The Sussex wicketkeeper Matt Prior did not exactly seize his chance to impress yesterday. With Geraint Jones's position as England's incumbent looking increasingly insecure, Prior had a golden opportunity yesterday to prove his run-getting powers.

Prior was in England's recent NatWest Challenge squad, but did not get a start. However, his presence in the squad indicated that he is right behind Jones in the selectors' minds.

He came into this match having already topped 500 runs for the season, and boasting a respectable average of 36, but yesterday lasted just eight minutes.

He had added half a dozen runs to his season's tally when he departed leg before to Steven Kirby, the first of four Sussex wickets that fell in the two hours of play possible. Murray Goodwin passed 1,000 runs for the season but play ended before the lunch interval, with Sussex on 97 for 4.