Injured Collingwood to fly back to UK

Perth, Feb 3 (AFP) England''s arduous tour of Australiahas claimed another victim, with all-rounder Paul Collingwoodto return home with a back spasm.

Collingwood suffered the injury during England''s loss toAustralia in the sixth one-day international at the SydneyCricket Ground Sydney yesterday.

Captain Andrew Strauss later lamented that the touristshad missed the veteran''s medium pacers during Australia''srecord run chase which saw them make 334-8 to take a 5-1 leadin the seven match series.

The 34-year-old is the latest addition to a worryinginjury list just under a week before England departs for theWorld Cup, although he is expected to be fit for theprestigious limited-overs tournament.

Collingwood is one of six England World Cup squad members-- all members of their ODI attack -- currently sidelined byinjury, the cost of an Ashes tour that has lasted over threemonths.

England departs for the tournament on February 12.

He joined Tim Bresnan (calf), Graeme Swann (back), StuartBroad (stomach), Chris Tremlett (side) and Ajmal Shahzad(hamstring) on the injured list.

The England camp released a short statement todayconfirming Collingwood was returning to the UK.

"Collingwood ruled out of rest of series with backspasm," it said.

"Will return to UK. Expected to be fit for World Cup andwill travel with squad on February 12."

Collingwood has been out of form for much of the tour,culminating in his retirement from Test cricket after the 3-1Ashes win, but his ability with bat and ball in limited overscricket is a vital asset to England.

He has played 193 ODIs and his 6-31 against Bangladeshremains the best-ever figures for his country in limited-overscricket.

Durham''s Liam Plunkett has been flown in to join theEngland squad and could play in Sunday''s final game of theseven-match ODI series at the WACA Ground in Perth. (AFP) CM