Collingwood divides opinion. He was never the most gifted of batsman. He never played the flashy shots. He never made the game look beautiful. However, with an average at over 40, and this achieved during some of the darker times for the England team, he hasn't exactly done badly. He also scored runs when England most needed them, saving England from defeat on several occasions.
His bowling wasn't spectacular. He took 17 wickets I believe, and this is an okay return. He wasn't without talent.
Where he excelled was as a fielder. Bar Jonty Rhodes, I am yet to see a better fielder in my lifetime, and it will probably take a decade to find another. The number of great catches I can think of in my head mainly belong to this man.
He hasn't done bad either in terms of honours. Ashes winner twice at home, once away and a Twenty Twenty World Cup winning captain.
People mocked him, but when you look back on his record, he has been a superb servant to English cricket and we could do with a couple more players like him to have around.