Ian Bell

[J]

is this the end of his england and national cricket career? certainly hope so.. he has not performed at all

[MrB]

Cricket section.....

[J]

nah.. that never get's read

[Uncle Leo]

I doubt it is the end of his career. I'm far from his biggest fan, but the selectors are certain to keep patience with him at least until the end of the domestic summer.

And whether people read it or not, this is going in the cricket forum...

[canveyshrimper]

People either know nothing about cricket or have very short memories, considering Bell was the top scorer against Pakistan before Christmas. He is under pressure for his place as Cook, Collingwood & Shah have performed well.

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Mar. 20 2006,12:29)]considering Bell was the top scorer against Pakistan before Christmas.
That's true and I certainly hadn't forgotten that, but he still has a frustrating tendency to give away his wicket cheaply at key times.

As an aside, he's an excellent fielder - not that it should determine his place in the team of course.

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Uxbridge Shrimper @ Mar. 20 2006,12:35)]
Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Mar. 20 2006,12:29)]considering Bell was the top scorer against Pakistan before Christmas.
That's true and I certainly hadn't forgotten that, but he still has a frustrating tendency to give away his wicket cheaply at key times.

As an aside, he's an excellent fielder - not that it should determine his place in the team of course.
Agree that he does throw it away at times, in particular the 1st innings in Mumbai.

He will struggle to get in the side this summer if Vaughan & Trescothick are back.

[Museshrimper]

He nicks it a hell of a lot, judging on this test I'd much rather have Owais Shah than him in the side, as he looks very very good.

[C C Csiders]

However, it all shows the fantastic strength in depth we now have in our batting ranks. The likelihood is the top 4 in our batting line-up, if all fit, would be:

Strauss
Trescothick
Vaughan
Pietersen

Then for a 5th batsman we can choose between: Bell, Shah, Collingwood, Cook (and I don't think it ends there either.......)

The last 5 specialist batsman to make their debuts for Enfgland have all scored at least a 50 in their first innings: Strauss, Bell, Pietersen, Cook, Shah. If that was Australia we would be very worried.

[Museshrimper]

Indeed, even if we lose this tour of India some of the player discoveries have been a major plus point, especially in the "spinning" pitches against Kumble and Harbhajan. Finding Shah, Cook, Panesar and in this test (in a way because he's not played much) Anderson. The squad has good depth now.

[The Flying Scotsman]

Bell had a good tour of Pakistan, or rather he had a good tour compared to everyone else who batted like amateurs!

Bell was shown up against the Aussies and has failed in this tour. I would much rather have someone who can stick around in an innings, especially when you have the big hitters of Trescothick, Strauss, Pieterson, and Flintoff. Someone such as Thorpe who was dropped far too quickly for my liking.

I said it last June and I'll say it now, The debate should not have been between Thorpe and Pieterson, but between Bell and Thorpe. I would have picked Thorpe and I've seen nothing since to suggest I would have been wrong to do so. It's all very well saying about giving youth a chance, but you need experienced heads at times. "You don't win anything with youngsters" http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (The Flying Scotsman @ Mar. 20 2006,17:18)]Bell had a good tour of Pakistan, or rather he had a good tour compared to everyone else who batted like amateurs!

Bell was shown up against the Aussies and has failed in this tour. I would much rather have someone who can stick around in an innings, especially when you have the big hitters of Trescothick, Strauss, Pieterson, and Flintoff. Someone such as Thorpe who was dropped far too quickly for my liking.

I said it last June and I'll say it now, The debate should not have been between Thorpe and Pieterson, but between Bell and Thorpe. I would have picked Thorpe and I've seen nothing since to suggest I would have been wrong to do so. It's all very well saying about giving youth a chance, but you need experienced heads at times. "You don't win anything with youngsters" *http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
We won the Ashes with youngsters.

[Matt the Shrimp]

I have to agree with Shagster ( http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif ) the "Bell or Thorpe" question is a no-brainer for me. *Sad though it is to say it, Bell really hasn't made the grade recently.

The only question for me is which of the "lads most likely" (Bell, Collingwood, Shah, Cook, Key, Afzaal, Prior) is worth a crack full time at number 5 - since I see no reason to disrupt the current top 4:

Strauss
Banger
Vaughan
KP

Whoever comes in at 5 needs to be coming in as a specialist batsman first and foremost. *That said, in current form, Colly may well be good enough on that ground alone; his bowling and fielding then merely add to his overall appeal.

It's not a bad dilemma for Fletcher to have.

Finally, although GO Jones has answered his critics so far, I'd love to see Fozzie really push him for that wickie-batsman place this summer...

Matt

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Mar. 21 2006,09:55)]Finally, although GO Jones has answered his critics so far, I'd love to see Fozzie really push him for that wickie-batsman place this summer...

Matt
Massive season for James Foster. If he can get off to a flyer with the bat he must surely challenge Geraint Jones for the gauntlets.

If he gets runs and keeps wicket well, and Jones is still fluffing the occasional easy chance, and not performing with the bat, then I can only summise there must be another unknown (behind the scenes) reason why Foster won't get a chance.

[MrB]

Not a bad days play all in all. Could have done with scoring a bit quicker but 320 will be very tough for India to get the way the pitch is playing now, particularly with a wicket down already.

[canveyshrimper]

I thought it was odd that India decided on two nightw&tchmen, and glad to see the back of Pathan who can be a very dangerous hitter.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Mar. 21 2006,13:11)]I thought it was odd that India decided on two nightw&tchmen, and glad to see the back of Pathan who can be a very dangerous hitter.
Perhaps it was an early signal of their intent - namely, that they'll be doing a rain dance tonight, and have absolutely no intention of chasing the target. After all, India have absolutely no need to win this game - in fact, all they need to do is to avoid defeat. 1-0 for them is incomparably better than 1-1.

I suspect that the next man in (given Sehwag's current injury) will be Rahul "the Wall" Dravid, who will put in a performance to make Chris Tavare look like Shahid Afridi...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/oops.gif

Matt

[The Flying Scotsman]

Pathan was pushed up the order because opener Virender Sehwag can bat no higher than seven after spending most of the day off the field with back trouble.

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Mar. 21 2006,13:45)]
Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Mar. 21 2006,13:11)]I thought it was odd that India decided on two nightw&tchmen, and glad to see the back of Pathan who can be a very dangerous hitter.
Perhaps it was an early signal of their intent - namely, that they'll be doing a rain dance tonight, and have absolutely no intention of chasing the target. *After all, India have absolutely no need to win this game - in fact, all they need to do is to avoid defeat. *1-0 for them is incomparably better than 1-1.

I suspect that the next man in (given Sehwag's current injury) will be Rahul "the Wall" Dravid, who will put in a performance to make Chris Tavare look like Shahid Afridi...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/oops.gif

Matt
If India avoid defeat or win they go up to number 2 in the test rankings. If England can square the series then we will stay at number 2, which will be a great effort by a fairly inexperienced team.

Take the point about Dravid it may be a case of how the other batsmen face up. Or Tendulkar will come in and make it all look ridiculously easy as he smashes an overdue ton.

[The Flying Scotsman]

And that is how to wrap up a test match!

[South Benfleet Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ Mar. 21 2006,10:11)]
Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Mar. 21 2006,09:55)]Finally, although GO Jones has answered his critics so far, I'd love to see Fozzie really push him for that wickie-batsman place this summer...

Matt
Massive season for James Foster. If he can get off to a flyer with the bat he must surely challenge Geraint Jones for the gauntlets.

If he gets runs and keeps wicket well, and Jones is still fluffing the occasional easy chance, and not performing with the bat, then I can only summise there must be another unknown (behind the scenes) reason why Foster won't get a chance.
I think Chris Read is the more probable replacement if the selectors go for a specialist wicket keeper, and if they replace Jones with a like for like batsman/wickie, then Matt Prior is probably in the box seat...

[number11]

The wicket keeper spot will be under scrutiny this summer.....Fletcher picked Jones based on his ability to get runs at number 7, and this just has happened often enough....one test century, almost two years ago from Jones.

I actually like Jones but do feel he has to get some big scores soon...Both Read and Foster are capable of getting the 20's and 30's that Jones is getting at the moment and with better glovework...

Imagine if Alec Stewart had been born 10-15 laters.....him and Freddy filling the 6 and 7 spot would give us a great batting line up.

Its a shame that the previous generation of players ultimately had unfilled careers, as in the likes of Ather, Stewart, Hussein, Thorpe, Gough, Caddick there was a core of a good team...whether through lack of beleif, direction, management, they could never produce as a team on a consitent basis. From that generation, who would you pick to have in the team now..I think Stewart would assist this team the most...

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (number11 @ Mar. 22 2006,16:53)]Imagine if Alec Stewart had been born 10-15 laters.....him and Freddy filling the 6 and 7 spot would give us a great batting line up.

Its a shame that the previous generation of players ultimately had unfilled careers, as in the likes of Ather, Stewart, Hussein, Thorpe, Gough, Caddick there was a core of a good team...whether through lack of beleif, direction, management, they could never produce as a team on a consitent basis. *From that generation, who would you pick to have in the team now..I think Stewart would assist this team the most...
Right from those you name, and assuming at the peak of their careers, and the current/Ashes teams my line-up would be:

Strauss, Trescothick, Vaughan, Pietersen, Thorpe, Flintoff, Stewart, Giles, Gough, S.Jones, Hoggard

Actually, it was quite difficult to find no room for Nasser or Steve Harmison - I just edged Vaughan in ahead of Nasser, but not by much, and Simon JOnes ahead of STeve Harmison, with Goughy to take the new ball.