English veteran Collingwood to quit Tests after the Ashes

SYDNEY - England batsman Paul Collingwood said it was time to move on and give younger players an opportunity as he announced his retirement from Test cricket on Thursday.

Collingwood, 34, has been under increasing pressure to keep his No 5 batting spot after a dismal run at the crease this Ashes series that has garnered just 83 runs at 13.83.

Former captain and teammate Andrew Flintoff said this week it was time for the England team's management to be ruthless and drop the under-performing Collingwood from the Ashes-winning team.

Collingwood chose not to wait until the end of the Sydney Test, which is expected to finish on Friday with a huge England series-clinching victory, and made his announcement to teammates before the start of the fourth day's play.

While he will no longer be a part of Test cricket, Colling-wood will remain England's Twenty20 captain and play for the one-day team, the England and Wales Cricket Board said.

"In many ways it's a sad moment, but I honestly think it's the right time," Collingwood said after Thursday's play.

"This is what I have been playing cricket for, to be in a position against Australia, in Australia, like this, and it's going to be the perfect moment to bow out of Test cricket."

One of the chief beneficiaries of Collingwood's decision could be Eoin Morgan, 24, who has been on the sidelines during the Australian series.

"I am happy with the contributions I've made to the England team in the Test format and there are a lot of youngsters coming through," the England stalwart said.

"This team will progress without me and get better and better, so I am looking forward to tomorrow as my final farewell."

In-form Ian Bell, who scored his first Ashes century with 115 in England's first innings in Sydney, is also in line to move up the batting order from six to five in a reshuffle.

Collingwood told his teammates of his decision on the field ahead of Thursday's fourth day in the Sydney Test and was given hugs and pats on the back by the England players.

"I wanted the guys to know before they found out off anybody else and there were a few whispers going around and I also thought there might be a chance of us winning the game today," he said.

"I spoke to my wife in Melbourne (last week) about it and pretty much made my decision three days ago."

The Durham right-hander restated his commitment to limited overs cricket and "the opportunity to continue leading the Twenty20 squad and playing a significant role in England's ODI team".

Agence France-Presse