The New Zealand pair added 180 runs for the fifth wicket, scoring with ease to give their side a significant lead, but Collingwood does not believe the game is out of England's reach
Paul Collingwood has urged England batters to take encouragement from the ease with which their New Zealand counterparts progressed on day two of the LV= Insurance Test at Lord’s.
After 23 wickets fell in the first four sessions of the match, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell added 180 runs for New Zealand’s fifth-wicket to give their side a significant lead.
While accepting the New Zealand pair had batted well, Collingwood also suggested it underlined the changing nature of the wicket and expressed the hope England’s batters would also fare much better upon it in their second innings.
He also hoped that England’s bowlers would be able to strike with the second new ball – available from the second over on day three – and insisted the game was "certainly not out of reach" at this stage.
"The rhythm of the game has completely changed," Collingwood, England’s assistant coach, said. "After yesterday's excitement, the movement in the pitch and all the wickets falling, you think that kind of excitement was going to continue.
Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell took control on day two [Mike Hewitt/Getty Images]
"But I think the heavy roller made a decent impact, which is a good sign for us in our second innings. Once the ball got soft we weren't able to create too many chances.
"The way that the pitch has played this afternoon should give our batsman a lot of confidence that we can we can chase anything.
"It looks like it's going be a new ball wicket from now on. So tomorrow morning, we’ve got an opportunity to take a few wickets with that. But I think the good signs are that the wicket is playing really well once that ball gets a bit soft. So it's certainly not out of our reach yet. Hopefully the batters can come out in the second innings and do something special.”
Despite the disappointing start to England’s batting under new Test coach, Brendon McCullum, Collingwood insisted the mood in the dressing room remained calm.
"Brendon’s a glass half-full kind of a man," Collingwood said. "He’ll stay calm. He won’t change his values and beliefs just because of one innings, that’s for sure. And neither will Ben Stokes.
"I’m sure all the players have come out of that first innings and wished they’d been either more selective in their shots or scored runs.
"But Brendon last night was very calm. He’s a very calm character and he won’t have a knee-jerk reaction just because of one innings.
"We know that things aren’t going to change overnight. It’s going to take some time to get the team playing the way that we want them to play. It’s a work in progress."
Brendon McCullum will not be worried by what he's seen across the first two days, believes Collingwood [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]
Meanwhile, Collingwood, who missed out on one of the head coaching positions, said he would accept a coaching role with either the Test or limited-overs squads in a reorganised coaching structure.
"I’m happy with whatever the hierarchy want me to be involved in," he said. "I am assistant coach at the moment. I am involved in the first few Tests and looking to create a bond and good relationship with Brendon. Then we'll see what decision is made after that. Whichever role they think is best for me - whether that be red or white ball cricket - I am happy to go with it.
"Could I continue to work in both dressing rooms? That's a lot of work. I think it is one that is going to be out of my hands, so I will just have to wait and see.
"I have really enjoyed being involved with the white-ball teams over the last few years. They have something very special in terms of the environment so of course you would miss those environments if you are not involved in them.
"But we have an opportunity here to create something exactly the same in red ball cricket. That is the excitement for me. McCullum has a vision and he wants to get that same kind of attitude and approach we have in white ball cricket and make us the number one Test team in the world."
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