Ian Bell’s 74-ball 31 was an excruciating, unassertive innings against willing but limited opposition. He was incapable of hitting boundaries, despite batting primarily during the Powerplay overs. Had he seamlessly given the strike to the more obtrusive Kevin Pietersen that would have been fine; instead, he proved incapable of even picking up singles, leaving Pietersen with just a ball or two an over. It was not an isolated incident; rather, the latest disappointing showing from England’s top three. Ed Joyce and Michael Vaughan, meanwhile, contributed just seven runs between them.

So England’s top-order problems are twofold. Save for Joyce against Kenya and Canada, they have recently been incapable of making substantial scores at the top of the order. To compound this, the few runs they have been making have been scored far too slowly. While other top nations are routinely 100-1 after 20 overs, England tend to be nearer 80-3.

Vaughan, given that he is captain and is doing little worse than Joyce and Bell, must be persevered with, and told to bat through the innings, rather than attempt to exploit the opening overs and succeed only in getting himself out. Joyce scored a fine hundred against Australia two months ago but, save for some runs against the minnows, still appears unsure of himself. Bell was England’s finest ODI batsman in 2006 but has regressed of late; as highlighted against Ireland, he can find it very difficult to consistently score singles.

Andrew Strauss was rightly dropped at the start of the World Cup but the time has come for his return. He has palpable class and pedigree and, though hardly explosive, probably utilises the fielding restrictions better than any other member of the top three. Hopefully, the break will have reinvigorated him.

Who should he replace? Probably Joyce, though it is a very marginal decision. What England really need, of course, is a Marcus Trescothick-like figure to attack from the off. At the risk of saying ‘I told you so’, the answer is Mal Loye. Thrown into tough circumstances in Australia, Loye fared reasonably well, giving England momentum with his audacious cameos and playing his finest innings in the second final; even when not making huge scores, his fearless stroke play was vital in giving the side momentum and the run rate an early boost.

Mike Selvey, writing on Shaun Tait’s World Cup impact to date, asked: “Would England select such a maverick in similar circumstances, one wonders, or would they concentrate on what a player cannot do - Monty Panesar, say, or Mal Loye - rather than what he can?” Alas, the answer is in the question; England will just have to hope Strauss is out to make for loss time and the top order can learn from Paul Collingwood’s risk-free accumulating.

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third-umpire.com

Top post as usual feverpitch.

What strikes me about the selection and planning about Englands top order is that its totally at odds with the way all of the other leading teams play. We are playing a style of cricket that was obsolete 10+ years ago.

The fact is the leading team in the tournament by a long, long way (Aus) is taking full advantage of the powerplays our openers are looking to survive!

As for Bells innings, to me that showed that the guy has some serious temprement issues - he is unable to impose himself on the opposition and unwilling or unable to up the tempo. He's becoming Englands Kallis - but without the runs!

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Mark.

The ODI side is just for players auditioning for the Test side. I would rather see Solanki opening the batting than Joyce. I was a big fan of Joyce in county cricket but in ODIs his batting is a diluted version. He only opened the batting recently in the A team tour of the West Indies and is not a natural opener. His fielding is not very good either. After the World Cup I think Joyce, Vaughan, Strauss and Bell should be dropped from ODIs. No players should be considered that don't have a strike rate of 80. It would be nice if we had Trescothick and Knight opening.

I wouldn't be surprised if those four aren't picked for the 20/20 World Cup.

England to be a serious contender for the World Cup has to seriously shuffle its batting order. I'd retain Joyce and Vaughn opening. I think Joyce showed some encouraging signs in Australia opening the batting but as for Vaughn i thinks its only his captaincy that really merits him a position in the team. I would promote Kevin Pietersen to No.3 as it is a waste of his immense talent to bat any lower. He would be the ideal batsmen to come in at 1/0 or 1/100. Collingwood at No.4, Flintoff at No.5 and I'd recall Strauss to bat at No.6. He could re-invent himself as a Mike Hussey stlye finisher in the last few overs. I think its essential in a World Cup to have your best batsmen(KP) having the bulk of the overs to build an innings rather than coming in when the team is in trouble.

The answer isn't Mal loye, who can score a match winning ninnings but not often enought to merit a fag end career England place on a regular basis.

Knight no longer plays international cricket, so that isn't the answer either. Strauss is having a recharge the batteries break and will probably not tour until winter 2007.

Bell looked like a player struggling for touch and form. Either give him time in the middle or send him home to rethink.Ive thought he doesn't deserve his place for a long time.

I cant think what Robert Key did wrong or Solenki either. the odi side needs to be moved away from a 'test' rehersal team. That's what the A team is for.

We really need a new coaching set up and it shows.

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I have a dream.... (Martin Luther King)