Collingwood and Bell fire in Ashes warm-up
Kevin Pietersen may have declared himself “on fire” following scores of 58 and 35 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Western-Australia-c865 in England’s first pre-Ashes tour match, but the flamboyant batsman could still stand to learn a thing or two from the steady heads of teammates Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell.
KP flamed out for 33 in the first innings of England’s second warm-up match in Australia, against state side http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844, as the visitors made a shaky start at the Adelaide Oval, losing Andrew Strauss for four in the third over, the skipper caught behind off the bowling of Peter George.
The bowler had his second scalp when Jonathan Trott (12) delivered the ball back into his hands, and then a third as the struggling Alastair Cook supplied the edge to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Graham-Manou-c1504 behind the stumps to depart for 32 from 91 balls.
Pietersen was next to go, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aiden-Blizzard-c958 managed to take the catch on the boundary line, as the Ashes holders were tested by the home team, but while there will surely be concerns over Cook’s form after another mediocre knock, team director Andy Flower will have liked what he saw when Collingwood and Bell came together in the middle order.
Like Pietersen and Cook, Collingwood largely underwhelmed during England’s home summer of Test cricket, while injury kept Bell out of action for the entire Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, but the pair took control of the innings against the Redbacks with a 131-run fifth wicket partnership.
Collingwood finally departed for 94, while Bell notched 61 before his stumps were rattled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ben-Edmondson-c1134.
England ultimately declared at 288-8, providing pace duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad the chance to get stuck into South Australia’s top order late in the day, but openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daniel-Harris-c1310 ensured the Redbacks made it to stumps with 26 runs on the board and all wickets in hand.
Meanwhile, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tasmania-c854.
The news was not so good for Australia’s first-choice Test spinner Nathan Hauritz in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Victoria-c859’s first innings, while his teammate and potential challenger for his place in the Test side, young leg-spinner Steven Smith finished with figures of 2-45.
Australia’s Test vice-captain, Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 managed just 20 and Brad Haddin was bowled for two.
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