I have to say I disagree with that. North's innings in the last test was a very good one. I haven't seen Bell manage to put together an innings yet without having looked very ordinary early on/being out and not given. Not saying he's never done it mind you, just that I haven't seen it. His record against Australia might be why.
He's been pretty ordinary before lunch but is looking better now. Was possibly out very early, but would have been hard to give. Would say he went straight to the toilet at lunch and emptied a few nuggets out of the back of the strides after Johnson went at his head early.
North's inning in the last test had more to do with poor bowling than good batting. England bowled atrociously poor in the last test, almost certainly the worst I have seen in the last year and there is very little arguing that. The odd time they pitch the ball up to North he looked completely clueless and not surprisingly in the 3 innings where England have actually bowled competently this series (twice at Lords and first innings at Edgbaston) North has barely looked like scoring a run.
He may never do so, and it's looking increasingly likely. However, its hard to deny that he's batted fairly well so far or that he has potential.
TEC confirms the long held suspicion of his having his head up his own arse.
Sledger called it early - one wicket and it's unknown territory and that one wicket has fallen.
Frankly speaking day 1 on this pitch if you struggle as batsman, then you aren't going to do too well in international cricket, I think the toss was vital, and England were lucky that they won the toss and batted first, because this pitch is gonna get pretty difficult to bat on as the game progresses, and a substantial 1st innings total can put England firmly in the driver's seat for the rest of the game.
Never said that Bell was better, so you just pulled one out of your own arse there 'mate'.
