England's pride restored, says Collingwood

BRISBANE, Nov 26 (Reuters) Paul Collingwood says England have finally regained their confidence after a brave, fighting performance in the first Ashes test with Australia today.

England are still in danger of suffering a heavy defeat after finishing the fourth day on 293 for five, still 354 runs behind, but Collingwood said the tourists could be proud of the way they fought back to at least force the match into a fifth day.

''It was important for our confidence,'' Collingwood told a news conference at the Gabba.

''The first three days didn't go as well as we would have liked and it was important today that we came out and put a fight up and I think we've certainly done that.'' England looked to be in danger of losing with a day to spare after Australia declared with a 647-run lead and the tourists lost three quick wickets.

But Collingwood made a defiant 96 and Kevin Pietersen 92 not out in a 153-run partnership for the fourth wicket that put the brakes on Australia's push to victory and restored some of England's battered pride.

''We wanted a fight today. We haven't played as well as we can do on the first three days so today was about fighting,'' Collingwood said.

SHOWING PASSION ''It was also about pride and a bit of passion and showing that, not just talking about it, but going out there and showing it.

''We needed a day like this as soon as we could to get that confidence back and prove to ourselves that we can beat Australia.'' Collingwood survived a few anxious moments during his innings, including a dropped catch before he was off the mark, to get within sight of his first Ashes hundred only to blow his chances with a rush of blood.

The 30-year-old from Durham danced down the wicket to Shane Warne in an attempt to reach his century with a boundary but missed the ball and was stumped by Adam Gilchrist.

''I think I got a bit excited knowing I was only one shot away from a hundred in Australia but you live and learn by your mistakes,'' he said.

''It's easy in hindsight to say maybe I shouldn't have done it but at the time it was a good idea.

''I'm obviously a little disappointed I didn't make a hundred but I think if you look from the team's point of view it was an important day for us.'' Collingwood said he was at a loss to explain England's disappointing performance over the first three days other than to concede Australia had outplayed them.

''You have to give a lot of credit to Australia, they played pretty well the first three days, it's not as though it's been just our downfall,'' he said.

''They put us under a lot of pressure but we can be proud of the way we responded today... we rode our luck a little but and managed to get partnerships going and put the opposition under pressure.

''We've got a long way to go but no matter what happens tomorrow, it was important to have a day like this.'' REUTERS PM RK1516