Ian Bell for captain

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

a long way from being an England regular IMO.

Thanks Ern, any chance to knock Bell and you take it. For me, and for anyone else who knows about cricket, Bell is a talent and should be an England fixture for along time

You said if he did well, you would eat humble pie, along way to go, but a 50 first up, and the only batter who looks in good touch (every batsman gets an early one occasionaly), all I can say is the pie I am baking is staring to smell good!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by acker

50 came in the heat of battle when others faltered around him.
I rated that 50 more highly than the 2 x 90's that followed after the sting had been taken out of the game.

I think we disagree on this one - in the first innings Bell had nothing to lose, he shone because all the others failed, the second innings Bell could have contributed more to save the gave - along with Flintoff et al.

Originally Posted by acker

Ian gave his all in the first innings while everything crumbled around him. Collingwood and Peitersen both played good innings but niether saved the match and niether was under the same pressure as Ian Bell's 1st Innings 50 was.

He may have gave his all - but really the pressure was on England AFTER Ponting had declared IMO, the pressure was on to save the game, bell and most of the others failed.

Originally Posted by acker

An analygy I will attempt with an English slant is
World Cup final 2010 Brazil v England
Brazil scores first 4 goals within 1st half hour
Rooneys goal was in the heat of battle
Crouches were after the fat lady sang, thats how I view the England second innings.

Yes but this is different - at the start of Englands second innings the 'fat lady' had not sang until until England had lost their 5th wicket.

If others had had hung arround with Pietersen and colly - England could have earned a draw, the pressure was more on in the second innings IMO, because of the failures in Englands first innings.

[acker]

Ernest

New at the crease sometimes ducks or single digit scores happen thats cricket even Sir Don succumbed to thats why batsmen are considered to be more of a chance early (lbw Warne 4th day) geez Ian is in good company with 600 odd others.
But getting out in the teens or low twenties is more unforgiving in my opinion because that shows more of a mental defiency at that stage you should be reading the wicket pretty clearly.
And in my humble opinion he was reading the wicket more than twice as much better than his other 10 teamates in the first innings before Warne became a factor.
Let's not forget Shane Warne will be retired the next time Ian Bell captains England in the ashes.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by acker

Let's not forget Shane Warne will be retired the next time Ian Bell captains England in the ashes.

In my knightmares I still see a balder, whiter (greyer) Warne, coming in off three or four paces at the age of 90, still tormenting English batsmen!!

On a serious note, I think this will be last Ashes for Langer, Hayden, Martyn, Gilchrist, McGrath and possibly even Lee. But I get the feeling Warne has one more in him, in England in 2009.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Thanks Ern, any chance to knock Bell and you take it. For me, and for anyone else who knows about cricket, Bell is a talent and should be an England fixture for along time

I am not knocking Bell, , I was making a point that the England second innings was more important that the first, because it depended on the batsmen wheather England could force a draw or not.
I also said "Flintoff et al" so not singling Bell out, but as an England captain he has to first prove he is a reliable player against all teams.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

You said if he did well, you would eat humble pie, along way to go, but a 50 first up, and the only batter who looks in good touch (every batsman gets an early one occasionaly), all I can say is the pie I am baking is staring to smell good!!

I did indeed say I would "eat humble pie" and that still goes, howeven he is averaging 25 after the first Test, so I can't say I can even see the pie ever being baked.
To be honest as an England supporter I don't care who gets the runs - If Bell gats the runs that keep the Ashes in England, then your pie will be as good as any al a carte offerings.

[flanflinger]

Ern,

I agree he is very unlikely to skipper England, but that doesn't mean he won't be our best batter. Yes he does average 25, but if we were to have this debate after the 1st innings, he averages 50, there are still 4 Tests to go, and I feel he will come out a lot better than he did last time..

PS the pie is veggie and the crust is very light one!!

[flanflinger]

Another 50 today, poor shot which got him out. But already he has demonstrated that he is a very different player than the version who played in the last Ashes...

[acker]

Batted a lot better than California govenor Arnie Schwarzenegger's Austrian love child and supposed occasional England captain.

Johann Strauss

[Collyisamackem]

Bell is a tremendous cricketer and has more batting talent than anyone in the team, but just took a while to start making responsible and confident use of it. For me Strauss is the long term captaincy option, then in a few years' time Bell or Cook will be mature and experienced enough (albeit that they are both very mature now) to succeed him.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by acker

Geez this bloke reminds me of Allan Border.[...]Good luck Ian.

Well do you still think this player reminds you of Allan Border after his form in Australia 2006?.