Collingwood joins England party in Perth

Paul Collingwood has joined up with England's Ashes party in Perth in preparation for the third Test against Australia starting on Friday. The Durham all-rounder has been called up from playing grade cricket in Melbourne to give coach Duncan Fletcher and captain Nasser Hussain another option as they survey the damage caused by extensive injuries and the loss of the first two Tests by big margins.

The 26 year-old has played in 25 one-day internationals but is awaiting his debut at Test level. His chances of doing so now depend largely on the fitness of John Crawley and Michael Vaughan. Crawley missed the second Test in Adelaide after sustaining a blow on the hip while batting against Australia A in Hobart prior to the Test. Like many injuries on this tour, it is taking longer to heal than was at first thought. Vaughan was struck a painful blow on the shoulder by a ball from Jason Gillespie while scoring his superb 177 in Adelaide.

Robert Key replaced Crawley for the second Test, but Fletcher has said that if both Crawley and Vaughan are unfit for selection on Friday, Collingwood would definitely figure in England's plans. The player himself is excited by the prospect.

"Last week I was playing against North Melbourne, and I've (now) got a chance to be playing against Australia," Collingwood said. "I'm really looking forward to the challenge, and if the opportunity arises, well, so be it."

His experience of playing in Melbourne club cricket - to get fit before the one-day section of the tour for which he has been selected in his own right - has taught him the type of reception he is likely to get if he does get into the Test side.

"Every Australian was getting into me when I first arrived in Melbourne. It just seems that if you're a Pom they get straight down your throat," he said. "They're all the same, from the grass roots right the way to the top, and they try to intimidate you."

One of England's other injury doubts, fast bowler Andrew Caddick, has had a steroid injection in his back in an attempt to free him of the spasms that affected his mobility in Adelaide. Any decision on his fitness for the Test on Friday will be delayed until the treatment has been given every chance to work.