So, yes, we do admire Collingwood’s determination and dedication playing for his country; he is a talented and brave cricketer. But he was also revealed at The Oval last Wednesday to be one of the vast army of modern professional sportsmen who play their games with tunnel vision.

It is disturbing that he could not see the wider picture – and it must leave doubt over his future leadership. This was not the only evidence that Collingwood is an average captain. The next day he was handed a four-match ban from international cricket for the separate matter of England’s parlous slow over rate against the Kiwis.

He deserved the suspension because this was not a first offence and because slack over rates are a disgrace. They are about buying time to win or draw a match you might otherwise lose, and they offend against the spirit of cricket just as surely as failing to withdraw a run-out appeal.

England’s go-slow strategy went beyond gamesmanship. It was a blatant disregard for the rules of the contest.
Either Collingwood knew exactly what he was doing, or he lost the plot as skipper. One reflects no better on him than the other.

Whatever the future holds for him personally, however, Collingwood must not be made an individual scapegoat for events at The Oval.

When the umpire said his wise words, nobody else in the England team had the wit to help the captain out of the giant hole he was digging. They all, apparently, took the view that a win at any cost was perfectly acceptable.

It confirmed the impression of a current generation of England cricketers who lack a wider perspective on life. They are a sheltered bunch.

I make no apology for mentioning on this page again the scene of a physically imposing England player who, on the last one-day tour of Australia, allowed a security man to drag his cricket bag up a flight of 30 concrete steps rather than carry it himself.

When every last little thing is done for you, and that culture becomes embedded, maybe it is not so much of a surprise that a cricketer gets the big judgement wrong.

On that same tour England were ferried around in a luxury bus and had four security men shadowing their every move, even on a 10-yard walk past autograph hunters.

New Zealand were also playing in that series and they were a self-reliant band who drove to the ground in a rented mini-bus with captain Stephen Fleming at the wheel. It isn’t just down to the England players, though. The general attitude of the management is also to blame.

Coach Peter Moores has made “ruthless” the buzzword of the England camp. Ruthless play, ruthless selection, ruthless tactics. Is it any wonder the spirit of cricket was neglected when the crucial moment arrived, and that Collingwood couldn’t see the wood for the trees?

The supposed ruthlessness has also prompted the go-slow cricket, and the fatuous jellybeans stunt last summer against India.

Before the time of Moores there was another infamous run-out incident when the ball was hurled at Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq while he was in his crease and he was given out when he overbalanced evading the throw.

Another matter that comes to mind is the explanation of former coach Duncan Fletcher in his autobiography that one of the reasons Chris Read didn’t remain England wicketkeeper was that he was too quiet at the wicket. If only Read had been a loud and ruthless sledger was the sorry message.

Sadly, the spirit of cricket has been withering in the England team for a long time – and the burden of shame does not lie only on the shoulders of Paul Collingwood.