In his prime, yes.
At aged 40 and with three broken fingers he’d still be better imo.
You’re focusing too much on Bell’s early career when Shane Warne was throwing around his Sherminator barbs in 2005/06. Bell did struggle early in his career when he was thrown in at Number 3, a position he wasn’t suited to and struggled with. He’s since evolved into a world class performer.
Ian Bell was the main reason England won the 2013 Ashes series. Man of the series with centuries in each of England’s three wins at Trent Bridge, Lord’s and Durham - England’s lone centurion at Lord’s and Durham.
Bell has been England’s best and most consistent batsman over the past 5 years. He looked in very good nick when he hit 143 in the first innings in Antigua but a slight worry after that terrific knock - he followed up with just 12 runs in his remaining four innings in the series including a pair in Barbados. If he doesn’t perform against New Zealand, he could be under a bit of pressure going into the Ashes, but I’d expect him to come good again.
What sort of hat do you wear?
Are you Paddy Ashdown?
A Panama like Manuel’s man crush Sir Geoffrey
I said hat, not wig
Looking like Jason Gillespie for the England job.
And there goes Cook.
England 25-3 in the 11th over, sent in by McCullum who clearly has confidence in his excellent attack.
Bell gone for 1, an improvement on his previous two innings.
England 30-4.
Ben Stokes is absolutely destroying the New Zealand attack. What a knock!
Jinxed him. Clean bowled for 92.
191/5.
you really know summer has arrived when the first test at lords starts, a batting paradise
England’s day - terrific character to rally from 30/4 to close at 354/7.
Its pretty much the same trend as what we saw in the Caribbean - openers and top of the order struggling but a strong middle order all the way down as far as Number 8. Further illustration of what a load of nonsense all that Kevin Pietersen business was. Hoping for a much improved bowling performance and some assistance for Jimmy Anderson tomorrow.
Root’s a marvellous player. They should make him captain now, he seems to be someone who eats and sleeps cricket. Cook is a joke and Bell is wearing out his welcome, Ballance was muck. Great comeback from Stokes and Root, showed a lot of character, as this is a serious bowling attack. Sets things up nicely for a cracking test. Can’t wait to see what McCullum does (he’ll probably get out for single figures, but could as easily score a tonne in 2 hours).
[QUOTE="Fitzy, post: 1145540, member: 236"Bell is wearing out his welcome.[/QUOTE]
What a dumb comment. You should have a look at Bell’s knock of 143 in Antigua less than 6 weeks ago. A master class. Any man delivering a knock of that quality is most welcome. He’s had a run of 5 bad knocks since then, it happens to all batsmen. Bell is younger than Michael Clarke and Shane Watson and four years younger than Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin.
Maybe instead of brown nosing Brad Haddin when you met him in a lift a few weeks ago, you should have told him that at 37, he was wearing out his welcome, that his form with the bat has been sh*t for well over a year and it was time to move aside and give a younger man a chance.
New Zealand having a strong day. Kane Williamson with a lovely knock.
Southee and Boult right on the money this morning. Southee has removed Bell. England trail by 60, three wickets down. NZ on top. Been a great Test. Root will be the key here, he’s already the most important player in the team by a mile.
Big partnership now between Cook & Root. 101/3 - deficit down to 33.
Yup, they’ve turned it into a lead of 18 now. Cook looking solid. Ball older now, and looking less threatening. Good morning for England so far.