What sort of captain does Paul Collingwood want to be? That is the question he can ask himself during his enforced layoff. The break will give him a good opportunity to reflect and it could be a really good learning curve for his leadership if he comes back stronger and wiser.

I cannot remember being in a similar position as a captain, where there was a chance to recall a batsman after a collision mid-pitch going for a run. My teams have always been tough in the middle, but we have always been fair at the same time and I hope I would have done the right thing. Collingwood has always played the game in the right spirit. He is a fighter and a bloke you would want in your side. We all make mistakes on the field when things are tight and a decision is needed in seconds. But what disappointed me at the Brit Oval on Wednesday was that he had time to weigh up the options.

Unfortunately it is something that he will have to live with. He will be known as the man who who did not show the right sportsmanship when he had the opportunity. Captains do not get many chances to portray what they are really like. Tactically, yes, but not always what they stand for deep down. I want to be constructive, not slaughter the guy. Yes, we have had the odd difference on the field, but he has my respect as a cricketer and a person. He needs to address what happened so that it does not eat away. The big thing is that the captain runs the show. He is the one - not the coach - who determines how a team are remembered.

The two columns “W” and “L” - the wins and losses - are important, but so is the way you play the game. Collingwood has acknowledged that he was wrong and he should see this as a turning point. He will be able to work out the way he wants his teams to play the game and how he wants them to be perceived.

Batsmen's game won by bowlers

Graham Napier's big hundred for Essex in the Twenty20 Cup gave more ammunition for those who think that Twenty20 is more and more a batsmen's game. People forget that this is still a pretty new style and players are working out new tactics. Boundaries are shorter, bats are better and, as Napier showed on Tuesday in scoring an undefeated 152 off 58 balls, batsmen will have a go.

More and more scores will look ridiculous. I think that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has helped to raise standards because most of the world's best players were over there, watching and learning from each other. Some of them have gone on to England and they will be rubbing off on the English guys.

But I believe that bowlers win 20-over matches. Rajasthan Royals won the IPL with five frontline bowlers in every game. That was a policy. And it is the same with Victorian Bushrangers in Australia, beaten once in three full years.

If you bowl first you can restrict the total and make life easier for your batsmen. If you don't post a great score you have the ammunition to take wickets, the best way to slow the run-rate. The basics of the game hold true whatever the format.

Relying on part-time bowlers can be a mistake and this is one area where England can learn. Paul Collingwood seems to think that he can fill in with himself, Luke Wright and Ravi Bopara as a combined fifth bowler. Sometimes there may be no choice, but not in this case.

For years I put forward Dimitri Mascarenhas as a one-day player. Finally he was given the chance to prove himself and he came off. So it staggers me that he is not in there now. He is a finisher with the bat and can offer ten clever overs with the ball. He should be a regular.

Pietersen can go on to greatness

Kevin Pietersen gave an example of what is possible with his switch-hitting in the NatWest Series against New Zealand. I think we are finally scratching the surface of his talent. I sent him a text straight away to say: “Outrageous, love it, well played.” He must have changed his number because there was no reply.

By his own standards he has been a bit low-key this past year. That would irk him because he is a very driven man. But he has the ability to do anything. One day he will run down the pitch and then play that switch shot. Seriously, he can be one of the greatest of all time.

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