PAUL Collingwood still thinks fairy tales are for other people. But he may have to reconsider after a glorious Ashes finale to his Test career.

Collingwood is the paragon for an England team full of talent but whose whole-hearted effort is the true reason for a first outright series victory in Australia for 24 years.

There was no argument from Australia about England’s 2010/11 domination, after the fourth day of the final Test at Sydney ended with the hosts, already 2-1 down, heading for apparently certain innings defeat on 213 for seven, still 151 runs adrift.

Matt Prior’s near run-a-ball century was the third of an England innings which realised a mammoth 644 all out, their highest total Down Under.

Then a typical England collective – two wickets each for James Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan – put Andrew Strauss’ team on the verge of a 3-1 series victory.

There was no further breakthrough after the captain rightly claimed an extra halfhour, but England knew their celebrations had merely encountered a minor delay.

Even Collingwood, ‘grandad’ of the team at 34, was in short trousers when England last won a series in Australia in 1986/87.

He announced his retirement at the end of this, his 68th Test, then sat back and watched his younger teammates grind Australia down yet again.

The middle-order batsman has grafted his way to a career batting average exceeding the benchmark of 40, which marks out the best from the rest.

Although he has not reached those standards this winter – he finished the series with 83 runs at under 14 – his career achievements are richly deserved.

‘‘In many ways it’s a sad moment, but I can safely say I’ve made the right decision at the right time,’’ he said.

‘‘This is what I’ve been playing the game of cricket for, to be in a position against Australia in Australia like this.

‘‘It’s going to be the perfect moment to bow out of Test cricket.’’ Collingwood was already convinced, before the match started, that the time had come.

‘‘I knew it was probably going to be my last innings.

‘‘I was hoping it was going to be a fairy tale and I’d crack a hundred. But I don’t have fairy tales.’’ His poor form over the last six weeks is cause for only minor regret for a cricketer who has helped his country win the Ashes three times.

‘‘I haven’t scored the runs out here, but I can barely take the smile off my face,’’ he added.

‘‘The last time we were here four years ago, I actually managed to score runs – and we got beat 5-0.

‘‘I much prefer it this way around this time, let me tell you.

‘‘I’m very, very satisfied with the contributions over my Test career.

‘‘It cannot have been easy to watch for some people at times, but I’ve fought hard and given my all.

‘‘I’ve played the last year just to get into this series ...

and to be involved in a great England cricket team like it is, with some special players and some special characters, it’s a very proud place to be.’’ Collingwood, who made his first Test appearance at Galle in 2003, has also played 189 one-day internationals and led England to their maiden International Cricket Council global trophy at last year’s World Twenty20.

‘‘In many ways I’ve overachieved, averaging 40,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve scrapped it out. I’ve had my ups and downs but I wouldn’t change a thing about how my career has been.’’ He has no doubt he is leaving a team capable of reaching that coveted number one Test ranking.

‘‘That’s one of the reasons why I’m moving on!’’ he said.

‘‘Honestly, this team can go as far as they want to.

‘‘I’m very much looking forward to watching them in the future. They can be a very special side.’’ Prior also had much reason for satisfaction, but was delighted to pay tribute to Collingwood.

The England wicketkeeper said: ‘‘He’s definitely been one of the catalysts of why this team is where it is right now, and why the team spirit is like it is.

‘‘Those are the things that are very, very important to this team – what happens behind closed doors – and Colly will be sorely missed from that point of view.’’ There is conspicuously less to smile about for Australia, and it was left to opener Shane Watson to acknowledge the inevitable, and give England due credit.

‘‘We’ve let ourselves down in the way we’ve played, but there’s no doubt the English have played extremely well in the last two games,’’ he said.

‘‘They’ve really been outstanding.

It has surprised me.

But the way they’ve played, how complete a team they are and the way they’ve continually stood up is impressive ...

and the Australian team haven’t done that.

‘‘The English have totally outplayed us.’’

Fact file

1976: Born in Shotley Bridge on May 26.

1995: Makes his limited-overs debut for Durham.

1996: Takes the wicket of Northamptonshire’s former England all-rounder David Capel with his first delivery in first-class cricket; goes on to make 91 in Durham’s first innings.

1998: Receives his county cap from Durham.

2000: Durham’s player of the year.

2001: June – Makes his oneday international debut for England against Pakistan.

2002: First-class career-best 190 for Durham against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street.

2002-03: Records his maiden one-day international hundred against Sri Lanka at Perth.

2003: December – Makes his Test debut for England against Sri Lanka at Galle.

2004: Shares an England record fifth-wicket ODI stand of 174 with Andrew Flintoff, against India at The Oval.

2005: June – Produces ODI career-bests with bat and ball in the same match, making an unbeaten 112 and then taking six for 31 as England crush Bangladesh at Trent Bridge.

September – Called into the England team in place of the injured Simon Jones for the final Ashes Test at The Oval, where England secure a draw to beat Australia in a Test series for the first time in 18 years. Later awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

November – Twice narrowly misses a maiden Test century in each innings in England’s defeat against Pakistan in Lahore, making 96 and 80.

2006: March – Finally reaches three figures in a Test match, converting his third successive half-century into a hundred in the first innings against India at Nagpur.

July – Scores 186 in first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s.

December – Scores brilliant 206 in second Ashes Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, England’s first double century in Australia for 70 years.

2007: January – Scores backto- back centuries at Brisbane and Melbourne in England’s victorious CB Series campaign.

June 18 – Scores 128 on his home Riverside ground to help England to a 3-0 Test series victory over West Indies.

June 22 – Named captain of England’s one-day side.

2008: August 3 – Stands down as England one-day captain.

2009: May 1 – Appointed England captain for June’s World Twenty20 tournament.

June 15 – England eliminated from World Twenty20 at Super Eight stage following defeat to West Indies at The Oval.

July 2009 – Scores 64 and 74, the latter innings seeing out 344 minutes and 245 balls as England secured a draw in the first Test against Australia in Cardiff. England go on to regain the Ashes the following month.

2010: March 13 – Scores his 10th Test hundred, in the first Test against Bangladesh.

April/May – Guides England to 2010 World T20 success, beating Australia by seven wickets in the final at Kensington Oval on May 16.

2011: January 5 – Announces retirement from Test cricket on fourth morning of final Test against Australia in Sydney, having helped England retain the Ashes.