Bell: the little batsman who does
Ian Bell's contributions are often overlooked, but according to Andy Bull in the Guardian , no player does more than Bell to adapt his batting style to suit the needs of the England team.
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Ian Bell's contributions are often overlooked, but according to Andy Bull in the Guardian, no player does more than Bell to adapt his batting style to suit the needs of the England team.
England were 22 for three [in the second Test], Strauss, Pietersen and Jonathan Trott all undone inside the first eight overs. Bell announced his arrival by cracking his first ball away square for four, as if to say "what have you lot been doing out here?" From that point on England began to retake control of the innings. His batting was steadfast and, one early edge past slip aside, secure. His fifty took 108 balls, his strike rate a third of what it was in the second innings.
These innings were miniature masterclasses in how to adapt your batting to the needs of your team and the situation of the game
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo