Collingwood refuses to read too much into Australian troubles

Paul Collingwood yesterday insisted the tourists are concentrating only on their own preparations to face Western Australia in their first warm-up match, rather than the fall-out from another hapless defeat for their Ashes rivals.

Australia appeared certainties to end their losing run this week when they had Sri Lanka 107-8 in the first one-day international in Melbourne.

Instead, on the back of a world-record ninth-wicket stand, Angelo Mathews somehow helped Sri Lanka scramble home to go 1-0 up with two to play.

Collingwood was trying his best to resist the temptation to make capital not only from Australia's poor results, but press reports of disagreement and factions in the home camp. "Most of us watched the game, but really we're very much focused on what we've got to do rather than the opposition," he said.

"We're very much preparing ourselves to do well in these warm-up games."

He had to acknowledge, though, that Australia's apparent difficulties are hardly bad news for England.

"Obviously it's a different team to the Test team. But let's be honest, the more games they lose the better it is for us.

"The more games they do lose, confidence levels may go down.

"But we're not going to read too much into it. We've got to prepare ourselves as a team to be in the best frame of mind going into the Test matches. I'm sure they'll be trying to do that themselves too. We're not going to take them lightly – it's as simple as that."

The danger, Collingwood believes, would come if England allowed themselves to be distracted.

"It would be silly to let the foot off the gas because of the opposition going through whatever they are going through," he said.

England find themselves in an unusual situation after arriving in Australia, answering questions not about any shortcomings of their own but about the hosts' spot of bother. It's a different position – something we're not used to when we come to Australia," Collingwood agreed.

"But we know they're a good side, and we're going to have to play very well to beat them."

England have a fully-fit squad to choose from for their three-day match starting at the WACA today.

The likelihood is that Ian Bell will replace Eoin Morgan.