Bell's a pretty tidy batsman really.... just needs experience at test level. I think its good we've stuck with him.
Every fornicating time we get 10 mins from lunch.... some fornicator gives their wicket away.... concentration at the beginning and end of sessions is one of the only things you can slate england for in this series.....but theres been several times when people have got out needlessly before and after breaks etc.
dalek wrote:bell bats as if he's a rabbit frozen in front of a cars headlights.his temprement isn't up to it i'm afraid.
Whilst he has looked poor this series, apart from his pair of fifties.... I still think he's worth sticking with, and he'll turn into a very good batsman down the line.
Can't Warne have one off day? Just one? Australia are going to have a massive job on their hands replacing him and McGrath. I see a few lean (by Aussie standards) years ahead for them.
Bell is not upto the job imo. Its alright performing against Bangladesh but you need something special against Australia.
Come on Strauss and Freddie put a big stand on.
leforge wrote:Bell is not upto the job imo. Its alright performing against Bangladesh but you need something special against Australia.
Come on Strauss and Freddie put a big stand on.
He's only young though, and very inexperienced at test level. People underestimate the difference between test bowlers, and first class county bowlers.... even when test bowlers play for their county, they rarely put it in like they do for their country anymore.
I genuinly think Bell will mature into the role.... but like anything, he'll have to get used to the level he's playing at first and agin the experience.
leforge wrote:Bell is not upto the job imo. Its alright performing against Bangladesh but you need something special against Australia.
Come on Strauss and Freddie put a big stand on.
He's only young though, and very inexperienced at test level. People underestimate the difference between test bowlers, and first class county bowlers.... even when test bowlers play for their county, they rarely put it in like they do for their country anymore.
I genuinly think Bell will mature into the role.... but like anything, he'll have to get used to the level he's playing at first and agin the experience.
One for the future no doubt, should he have been in this Ashes series? I'd say no, you don't play ones for the future in an Ashes series.
Will be interesting to see how Collingwood gets on against Warne, according to the paper he was the best England batsman against Merlin in the nets. For those who dont know Merlin is a leg spinning machine that mimicks Warne's bowling.
nickd wrote:Well done Strauss, your Mrs has a great set of baps on her.
lol..... well done to both of them (Strauss and Flintoff, not Straussy's mrs' shirt potatoes!)
Back in the game a bit now... need to rescue the day still.
Back to Bell.... I agree NickD that maybe he should have been left for the series. With Hindsight, Thorpe would have been the better bet.... but i guess its easy to say that now. Butcher was unfit, and Key is not up to scratch at this level.... Other than Thorpe, the selectors didn't have much choice.
I wish they wouldn't keep replaying all the wickets of the day every half hour or so. I've been caught out about half a dozen times today thinking another wicket had gone!
Collingwood gone, 289-5. The ball is really swinging which is good for England, if the Aussies are getting swing we should be able to move it our boys have got a lot more swing than them this series. Shame Jones isn't fit his reverse swing would have them in fits.
Good first days play, the match looks fairly evenly poised at this stage. Hopefully we can knock over the tail within the first 45 minutes and go about reeling in the total. Was very impressed with Strauss today, he showed a lot of mettle against a bowling attack that finally looked on song.
Warne was as good as I have seen him in a long time yesterday, a spinner getting 5 wickets on the first day at the Oval must be pretty much unheard of. On the turning wickets in India perhaps but on a flat wicket at the Oval? Amazing. He will he a huge loss to cricket when he finally retires
I think the Aussies have a slight edge, I would have liked 450 plus on that pitch at the least. Its still possible I guess lets see how much the tail can add to the total. Anything in the region of 400 has got to be good from here.
Will be interesting to see how the Aussies bat, England have been excellent with the ball this series.
