Simple: class. On footwork alone Bell knocks spots of Tresco, Strauss and Flintoff. He's better organised than any of the others, looks more composed than any of the others, brings his bat down straighter than any of the others, leaves outside off stump better than the others and at just 23 years of age he generally looks to have the foundations in place to become one of the best players of his generation.

He is also as sharp a fielder as any of the others, a decent enough occasional bowler and the sort of bloke any decent cricket follower should love to see succeed: none of the arrogance of Pietersen, none of the in your face attitude of Geraint Jones, none of the complete character bypass of Flintoff - a chap worth championing.