Ian Bell for captain

[acker]

Geez this bloke reminds me of Allan Border.
Stood resolutely and held his head up high in a pile of fertilizer around him.

His innings reminded me of the early - mid nineties when Allan Border, Steve Waugh, David Boon and Justin Langer wearing a lot less body armour than nowadays stood up to the then serious pace battery of the West Indies and made runs with a resolve seldom found in todays cricket.

That was a truly gutsy knock he made in Englands disastorous first innings.

Good luck Ian.

[Rachael]

One day, surely, but in the short run I'm still hoping for five more years of Vaughan (or Strauss).

[acker]

Bell reminds me of Allan Border
unfortunately
Strauss reminds me of Kim Hughes

Be carefull it might end in tears.

[Mike]

Kevin Pietersen(26) is more likely to be England's next captain after Flintoff(28) and Strauss(29) retire. Bell(24) is gutsy but not quite inspirational enough to lead the team. I think Alistair Cook (21) is the long term choice to captain.

[acker]

Alistair Cook 21 ?

are you talking about his highest score ?

Ian Chappell and Allan Border were tarred with the same brush, and that paint was'nt "inspiration" that paint was "determination"

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by acker

That was a truly gutsy knock he made in Englands disastorous first innings.

Yes but what happened in the 2nd innings when a decent stay at the wicket was needed, a long way from being England captain IMO - a long way from being an England regular IMO.

[Mike]

Cook has failed to reach double figures on three occasions only in 16 innings. That's a determined player. Already three centuries and three fifties at age 21. I admire Bell's mental strength and his ability to keep improving but I like Cook's calm demeanour under pressure. I think a good captain needs to give off an aura of calmness to appear in control which, in turn, shows confidence in his players.

[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.
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.
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
Wayne Rooney through a lot of hard work gets a well deserved goal on the stroke of half time
Brazil scores another 2 goals in the 1st half hour after half time
Peter Crouch scores 3 goals via headers after the Brazil defence is in party mode in the last 10 minutes.
Brazil wins 6-4
Rooneys goal was in the heat of battle
Crouches were after the fat lady sang, thats how I view the England second innings.

[flanflinger]

Good to hear an Aussie impressed by one of our players.

I too feel Cook will be the long term skipper, and although he did not impress too much in the Brisbane game, I feel he will have atleast one significant innings.

Bell is a great asset to have and we are very very lucky that he is English..

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Bell is a great asset to have and we are very very lucky that he is English..

I like Bell. Always have done. I am generally left dumbfounded by the hostility directed at him by English supporters. Bizarre.

Is that 'cos he is ginger? ;-)