PAUL Collingwood is three points away from an automatic suspension after being handed a three-point penalty for bowling two full tosses above waist height.

The ECB Cricket Discipline Commission yesterday confirmed that the Durham captain has been handed his second three-point penalty in 13 months.

He was reported by umpires Peter Hartley, Jeremy Lloyds and Martin Saggers during the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final against Gloucestershire.

Under the rules even accidental high full tosses, which result in the bowler being disallowed from bowling any further, carry the penalty.

Collingwood received three points in July last year when he lingered in his crease after being given out lbw and was deemed to have shown serious dissent.

The accumulation of nine points in any two-year period results in suspension.

Collingwood has been practising his bowling this week in case it is needed in tomorrow's T20 semi-final against Yorkshire at Edgbaston.

The captain turned what seemed certain victory into a nervous finish when he conceded 22 runs in five balls at Bristol.

“I hadn't bowled for seven weeks because of my injuries and I still had a splint on my thumb,” said Collingwood. “I never shy away from anything and I thought I would be able to draw on my experience.

“Ben Stokes won't be able to bowl, so I'll have to be ready if I'm needed. Hopefully, I won't be.”

Although Stokes and Mark Wood are available, Yorkshire can call on Test trio Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance, as well as one-day international squad members Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid and David Willey.

“They have some fantastic international players, but we also have a few,” said Collingwood. “It should be an exciting game and we will go in with a fearless attitude.

“We have been underdogs for the last few games, when we have put in our best performances, so it suits us.

“You could see from the performance at Bristol how much it meant to get to finals day and it’s something to be enjoyed. It’s great to be at these occasions in front of a sell-out crowd. They’re huge events in the calendar, and hopefully we can do something special. Everybody is extremely excited.”

Among the most excited is Wood after his lengthy lay-off because of two ankle operations.

“I was really low at one point,” he said. “It's tough when you can’t do what you want to do. “Watching the lads here and England on the television is hugely frustrating.

“The rehab is tough going. You’ve got to take things gradually and get yourself right. I’d just started my international career, and was getting into a routine of playing and knowing what my strengths and weaknesses were.

To have to start again was frustrating. But it feels good now - the ankle’s a lot better.

“I definitely won’t be thinking about it on Saturday. My adrenalin will be flying through my body so I’m sure I won’t feel my ankle.

“After we won at Bristol we sang the team song as loudly as I’ve ever heard it. Everyone’s buzzing and bringing the trophy back to the North East is something I would love to do.”