The KP-Bell show
Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen dominated the Indian attack on the second day at The Oval with their 350-run third-wicker partnership
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen dominated the Indian attack on the second day at The Oval with their 350-run third-wicker partnership. Theirs is a double act that has left India as the hapless fall guys, writes Paul Weaver in the Guardian: Ian Bell plays the straight man while Kevin Pietersen offers audacious entertainment.
Of the two, Bell is surely the better batsman, for he has a touch, a timing and a refined technique that are all foreign to Pietersen. But Pietersen, the wildest of wild cards, is the more unsettling opponent for any bowler. Once he starts hitting boundaries there is almost nowhere to bowl to him. Against Bell, a bowler can maintain some semblance of self-respect; against Pietersen, he can easily become ragged.
On most days Pietersen would have been the dominant partner in the partnership, but this time it was Bell who wrote down the agenda - and quite exquisitely so, writes James Lawton in the Independent.
The best of Ian Bell, we saw here again, seems unstoppable now. It was remarkable enough that he should produce his 16th Test century so soon after his superb 159 at Trent Bridge. More striking still was the sheer quality of yesterday's performance.
In the Telegraph, Simon Hughes analyses RP Singh's poor performance and asks India if these are the best bowlers they've got.
On Friday Singh’s speed and threat declined further, worn down by the burden of bowling more than four overs in a match, and by the excellence of England’s third-wicket pair. There was barely enough pace for Ian Bell to play his favourite late cut, while Kevin Pietersen chose a more forthright approach, coming down the wicket to him in the latter part of his innings and once pulling him for four off the front foot several strides down the pitch.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo