England fightback papers over the cracks
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
AFP
It hasn't been the best of winter tours for England but their fightback on the third day in Mohali was quite a welcome relief. However, the reputations of Monty Panesar, Ian Bell and Steve Harmison are on the line and Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores will be anxiously computing the pluses and minuses of a chastening winter before the team is picked for the West Indies tour, writes Simon Wilde in the Times.
Bell’s character as much as his technique is under scrutiny. If he doesn’t make runs here, he could lose his place for the Caribbean to Michael Vaughan. The former England captain hasn’t done anything on the field to merit a recall but Pietersen and others are thought to be keen to have him back
In the Independent, Stephen Brenkley is equally worried about Bell's form and says the ghosts of Mark Ramprakash and Graeme Hick are starting to haunt England's No.3.
But he still contrives to look less like a world-class batsman when he goes to the wicket than a wolf cub about to sing the pack mantra ("I'm a wolf cub, I'm a wolf cub, I'm a wolf cub yes I am and I'd rather be a wolf cub than I'd be a pot of jam" for those who have forgotten). This is demonstrated in his play.
In the Guardian, Vic Marks feels Andrew Flintoff's half-century was more significant compared to Pietersen's ton, especially after he had grown increasingly desperate about his lack of runs.
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo