Ian Bell MBE had been in outstanding form for Warwickshire. In his defence, it has to be said that he was the youngest and most inexperienced member of the English batting line up back in 2005. Funny how the criteria of youth and inexperience you apply to that lightweight Hughes that you’re championing all the time doesn’t apply to Bell.
His technique is amongst the best in the game and I’m expecting a few big knocks from him next week on his home patch at Edgbaston. England are lucky they have such a ready made replacement for KP.
They won’t drop Broad, but I reckon Big Steve will be in for Onions.
[quote=“Manuel Zelaya”]Ian Bell MBE had been in outstanding form for Warwickshire. In his defence, it has to be said that he was the youngest and most inexperienced member of the English batting line up back in 2005. Funny how the criteria of youth and inexperience you apply to that lightweight Hughes that you’re championing all the time doesn’t apply to Bell.
His technique is amongst the best in the game and I’m expecting a few big knocks from him next week on his home patch at Edgbaston. England are lucky they have such a ready made replacement for KP.
They won’t drop Broad, but I reckon Big Steve will be in for Onions.[/quote]
[quote=“Manuel Zelaya”]Ian Bell MBE had been in outstanding form for Warwickshire. In his defence, it has to be said that he was the youngest and most inexperienced member of the English batting line up back in 2005. Funny how the criteria of youth and inexperience you apply to that lightweight Hughes that you’re championing all the time doesn’t apply to Bell.
His technique is amongst the best in the game and I’m expecting a few big knocks from him next week on his home patch at Edgbaston. England are lucky they have such a ready made replacement for KP.
They won’t drop Broad, but I reckon Big Steve will be in for Onions.[/QUOTE]
I saw the dismissal on Sky Sports News at lunchtime - another one digged in short and steepling up towards his chin and another one that he obligingly popped meekly up to gully. I think everyone knows the drill with this chap now.
Bell out for a duck in the second innings. Looks like the possibility of replacing KP has frightened the living shite outta him. 7 and 0 is his last 2 innings.
Ian Bell to bat at No4 for England in third Ashes Test against Australia
• Strauss confirms Bell will be direct replacement for Pietersen
• England resist calls to promote Collingwood in order
Andrew Strauss has confirmed that Ian Bell will bat at No4 in Thursday’s third Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston.
Bell, who last featured in an England Test side against West Indies in Jamaica in February, will replace Kevin Pietersen whose Ashes series is over following surgery on his achilles problem last week.
There had been speculation that Strauss could tinker with the batting order, moving Paul Collingwood to No4 in order to take the pressure off Bell, but the England captain has opted to include the Warwickshire batsmen as a direct replacement.
Bell, who has missed the last seven Tests, insists that he kept his focus on county cricket having been dropped from the England side.
“When I got back from the West Indies after the winter tour, I really had to put the Ashes to the back of my mind,” he said. "I had to get the runs in county cricket with Warwickshire to give myself a chance to be part of the Ashes and overall I’ve done that.
“It was important for me to keep in good form in case there was an injury or someone was showing a lack of form. I had to make sure I was in the best possible form if I got an opportunity.”
OK, so your logic is that anyone who roots for England (our closest neighbour) in a match not involving Ireland is a wannabe British subject, but anyone who roots for Australia (a big empty piece of scrubland on the far side of the world) cannot be accused of wanting to be a citizen of that country (and by default also a subject of the same Queen)?
Expectation levels lowering somewhat I see in respect of Mr Hughes. Getting a start against Northants is now an event to be celebrated.
What’s your point in respect of Bell as a matter of interest. Are you saying that the blip of 7 & 0 in his last match in what has otherwise being an excellent season for him is reason not to select him for Edgbaston?
Presumably if you were applying that rationale and putting such store on performance last time out, Ponting would be dropped for only scoring 40 runs at Lords.
Er, no there’s no logic at all in any of it Shadow. I just fucking hate English sporting teams. No problem with English people or England per se, I just hate their sporting teams.
[quote=“Manuel Zelaya”]Expectation levels lowering somewhat I see in respect of Mr Hughes. Getting a start against Northants is now an event to be celebrated.
What’s your point in respect of Bell as a matter of interest. Are you saying that the blip of 7 & 0 in his last match in what has otherwise being an excellent season for him is reason not to select him for Edgbaston?
Presumably if you were applying that rationale and putting such store on performance last time out, Ponting would be dropped for only scoring 40 runs at Lords.[/QUOTE]
OK, fair enough. At least you acknowledge that it’s irrational then.
It’s an opinion and you are most certainly entitled to it but aren’t those of us without the irrational dislike of all English sporting teams entitled to our opinion? And in all fairness, how are a bunch of arrogant, bad sport (with a few exceptions) antipodeans more deserving of our support? Of all nations, I think Australia are one of the least likeable sporting wise.
It makes him someone who has scored 2718 runs in 28 First Class games at the age of 20 and also 472 runs in 5 tests.
His recent record I think you will agree far outweighs Ian Bell. You’ve seen him play 2 tests Evo, where he didn’t perform, and naturally you write him off (with your usual “flat track bully” bollocks).
I have the utmost faith in him. I do apologise for my worst prediction in the history of sport shit. But there’s 3 tests left. Lets wait and see!
