***Official*** England in India

[SS1]

His innings at Trent Bridge last year was quite vital. It seems less important in hindsight because England smashed that game, but that was only after Bell had played that knock, before it we were struggling. In general you can say he was England's best batsman during our winning streak because of the number of different situations he got a ton from.

No doubt he's regressed hugely this year though. It's curious because before he was originally dropped in 09 he didn't seem to have a problem against spin or playing in Asia - at least he was no worse in that regard than with anything else. He was England's best batsman on the tour to Pakistan in 2005/6 and Sri Lanka in 2007/8.

His knock at the SCG in 10/11 was pretty important as well, although admittedly we'd already retained the Ashes.

Nevertheless, he's regressed significantly and he simply isn't trustworthy again. I believe he needs dropping.

 

[Stapel]

It is only a week ago that Bell steered England home after three quick wickets, including Cook's and Pietersen's, had fallen. Not the most impressive knock by any standards, but still.

Bell averaged 30 against the Saffers in the summer. Not good! But not extremely bad either. Averaging 30 in a series now and then is simply what happens to any good batsman. And that's what Bell is: a good batsman. Not a great one. the great batsmen average over 50 and have fewer blips.

And do England have an alternative? England can do with Bell at 5 for a long long time! Since no single batsman, apart from Baby Joe today, hasn't been able to secure the #6 spot since Freddie figured out he was more a boxer than a cricketer, there is nobody competing for his place!

 

[Pup Clarke]

And do England have an alternative?

I never understand this question. If you want me to be annoyingly pedantic then yes there are English-qualified batsman in county cricket.

 

[Burgey]

It is only a week ago that Bell steered England home after three quick wickets, including Cook's and Pietersen's, had fallen. Not the most impressive knock by any standards, but still.

Bell averaged 30 against the Saffers in the summer. Not good! But not extremely bad either. Averaging 30 in a series now and then is simply what happens to any good batsman. And that's what Bell is: a good batsman. Not a great one. the great batsmen average over 50 and have fewer blips.

And do England have an alternative? England can do with Bell at 5 for a long long time! Since no single batsman, apart from Baby Joe today, hasn't been able to secure the #6 spot since Freddie figured out he was more a boxer than a cricketer, there is nobody competing for his place!

Mate, they were chasing 40 ffs.

It's like eulogising Rob Quiney's eight.

 

[CWB304]

Mate, they were chasing 40 ffs.

It's like eulogising Rob Quiney's eight.

 

[ImpatientLime]

It is only a week ago that Bell steered England home after three quick wickets, including Cook's and Pietersen's, had fallen. Not the most impressive knock by any standards, but still.

Bell averaged 30 against the Saffers in the summer. Not good! But not extremely bad either. Averaging 30 in a series now and then is simply what happens to any good batsman. And that's what Bell is: a good batsman. Not a great one. the great batsmen average over 50 and have fewer blips.

And do England have an alternative? England can do with Bell at 5 for a long long time! Since no single batsman, apart from Baby Joe today, hasn't been able to secure the #6 spot since Freddie figured out he was more a boxer than a cricketer, there is nobody competing for his place!

Yep, James Taylor. Kid looked like he had a solid temperament. Deserves another crack soon.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Waiting for th inevitable article after this series from Cricinfo about how Bopara is sitll a really good option.

 

[CWB304]

His innings at Trent Bridge last year was quite vital. It seems less important in hindsight because England smashed that game, but that was only after Bell had played that knock, before it we were struggling. In general you can say he was England's best batsman during our winning streak because of the number of different situations he got a ton from.

No doubt he's regressed hugely this year though. It's curious because before he was originally dropped in 09 he didn't seem to have a problem against spin or playing in Asia - at least he was no worse in that regard than with anything else. He was England's best batsman on the tour to Pakistan in 2005/6 and Sri Lanka in 2007/8.

Tortuous special pleading. Be honest, under certain known conditions, which amount to about a quarter of the playing schedule, Bell - a batsman rated as world class by some here not so long ago - is actually a long shot to get into double figures. I have backed Swann to get more runs than Bell and have a better average than him in three separate tours under said conditions and have so far been proved right every time. Bell has at no stage been England's best batsman.

 

[SeamUp]

How long will India persist with Ashwin and Ojha as test spinners ? Thought Chawla and Jadeja did good jobs.

Some attritional stuff today and fair play to the poms for gutsing it out. Saw a bit of it, reminded me a little of that Delhi pitch that just didn't bounce that much but not as bad. Then reverse swing and a bit of turn, it didn't look easy.

 

[uvelocity]

Mate, they were chasing 40 ffs.

It's like eulogising Rob Quiney's eight.

you're such a hard marker. it was nine.

 

[Woodster]

Ian Bell was the major disappointment for me today, was really hoping he could come up trumps in this Test and dispel any fears of his place becoming under increasing threat. As I've said on previous occasions I'm a big fan of Bell, he is one of the most attractive batsmen to watch in world cricket, but I realise that doesn't guarantee Test runs.

I don't necessarily go along with the thoery that he cannot score runs when the team needs them most, and he can succeed in trying conditions, but not with the kind of consistency that means his place in the side never comes under serious scrutiny.

I did think after a few breakthroughs in the last couple of years that he really could kick on and become one of the world's very top batsmen, but he has failed to live up to those expectations so far and his struggles in Asia cannot be understated and are no coincidence. For someone with his talent, I would have expected him to learn lessons from the past and certainly improved his play in that part of the world if not necessarily conquer it.

 

[SeamUp]

Ian Bell was the major disappointment for me today, was really hoping he could come up trumps in this Test and dispel any fears of his place becoming under increasing threat. As I've said on previous occasions I'm a big fan of Bell, he is one of the most attractive batsmen to watch in world cricket, but I realise that doesn't guarantee Test runs.

I don't necessarily go along with the thoery that he cannot score runs when the team needs them most, and he can succeed in trying conditions, but not with the kind of consistency that means his place in the side never comes under serious scrutiny.

I did think after a few breakthroughs in the last couple of years that he really could kick on and become one of the world's very top batsmen, but he has failed to live up to those expectations so far and his struggles in Asia cannot be understated and are no coincidence. For someone with his talent, I would have expected him to learn lessons from the past and certainly improved his play in that part of the world if not necessarily conquer it.

You reckon the selectors will give him more time ? It will be difficult to throw another new bat into the team with new players in the opening and number 6 spot already surely ?

 

[SS1]

Ian Bell was the major disappointment for me today, was really hoping he could come up trumps in this Test and dispel any fears of his place becoming under increasing threat. As I've said on previous occasions I'm a big fan of Bell, he is one of the most attractive batsmen to watch in world cricket, but I realise that doesn't guarantee Test runs.

I don't necessarily go along with the thoery that he cannot score runs when the team needs them most, and he can succeed in trying conditions, but not with the kind of consistency that means his place in the side never comes under serious scrutiny.

I did think after a few breakthroughs in the last couple of years that he really could kick on and become one of the world's very top batsmen, but he has failed to live up to those expectations so far and his struggles in Asia cannot be understated and are no coincidence. For someone with his talent, I would have expected him to learn lessons from the past and certainly improved his play in that part of the world if not necessarily conquer it.

He clearly lacks the temperament for Test cricket. He has all the talent in the world and then some. However, far too often in pressurised situations he comes up short. I also don't buy the idea that under pressure he never succeeds; he has already done so. However, over a period of time, he seldomly does it when necessary and that isn't good enough. Look at KP, a guy that gets labelled constantly as someone who is not team orientated. He batted for time, reined himself in and settled England down yesterday. Bell was incapable and his wicket was just dire. That shot in that situation is just inexcusable to me.

 

[Pup Clarke]

It will be difficult to throw another new bat into the team with new players in the opening and number 6 spot already surely ?

You forgetting Faf?

 

[SeamUp]

You forgetting Faf?

Definitely not.

But England would introduce 3 newish batsman together instead of relying on Bell's experience to pull through. But then there is the other thought that he just isn't scoring runs so what does it hurt to put fresh blood into the team.

It seems the option of Prior at 6 has also fallen by the way side with Broad and Swann's batting regressing recently.

 

[Jono]

Kohli going to run into the crowd, Inzy-style?

Virat kohli abusing the spectators - YouTube

 

[Woodster]

You reckon the selectors will give him more time ? It will be difficult to throw another new bat into the team with new players in the opening and number 6 spot already surely ?

Yes I think they will stick with him for now, I certainly hope that's the case. His record in England is excellent, and he has also did very well in Australia last time out, so with that on the horizon and before that a trip to New Zealand, conditions should be more preferable to his style of play. I don't think England play a Test in Asian conditions for some time after this one.

As you say we are also integrating a couple of new players into the side at the moment, so ideally we will keep the experience of a Bell around the side. But I do think Bell should be much better than a guy that just manages to hold onto his place.

 

[Pup Clarke]

The phrase 'experience' is just so overrated and meaningless to the present. Bottom line is he isn't getting runs, doesn't look like getting runs and hasn't for ages. It's like should we be asking Bairstow to average 60 in FC cricket in order to displace a guy who is seriously struggling? Absolutely not.

 

[Woodster]

He clearly lacks the temperament for Test cricket. He has all the talent in the world and then some. However, far too often in pressurised situations he comes up short. I also don't buy the idea that under pressure he never succeeds; he has already done so. However, over a period of time, he seldomly does it when necessary and that isn't good enough. Look at KP, a guy that gets labelled constantly as someone who is not team orientated. He batted for time, reined himself in and settled England down yesterday. Bell was incapable and his wicket was just dire. That shot in that situation is just inexcusable to me.

I don't agree that he lacks the temperament for Test cricket, he is in his 83rd Test match now and still averages over 45, which is none too shabby, but for a guy that has the ability with the bat that he does, we just expect more! There is a certain amount of inflation in that average I suppose with his flaying of Bangladesh and the likes, but even so, it still reads pretty well.

Today's dismissal I would say was very tame, wouldn't say it was necessarily an inexcusable shot, but the execution of it he'll be disappointed with for sure.

Yes absolutely fair play to KP today for knuckling down and denying himself his usual flambuoyant game. Could be a crucial knock come the end of this series.

 

[Woodster]

The phrase 'experience' is just so overrated and meaningless to the present. Bottom line is he isn't getting runs, doesn't look like getting runs and hasn't for ages. It's like should we be asking Bairstow to average 60 in FC cricket in order to displace a guy who is seriously struggling? Absolutely not.

Disagree with you on the experience side of things, but I do agree that he has to score runs to earn his place in the team. A player that has put in enough good performances in the past (depending how far back the past is considered) deserves a bit of leeway when his form does dip.

When a team such as Australia were at their peak they were asking fringe Test players to average 60 in first-class cricket over a period of time, not just in one season, so I'd have no issues in keeping Bairstow on the sidelines for now, but Bell does need to get back to scoring big runs.