Did you see Ian Bell’s innings?

Question

Today I'm sat in the glorious sunshine at Edgbaston watching day 3 of the LV County Championship match between Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. I'm just so happy I had to quickly use the wireless and tell you all the great news!

The previous day Ian Bell walked to the crease when Warwickshire were in trouble at 13/1, a whole 323 runs behind Gloucestershire’s innings. At the end of the day he was poised to get his century on 95*. When play resumed today, not only did Bell reach his century, he went on to get 215 runs! By the time he was walking back to the pavilion Warwickshire were on 334/3 (only 2 runs behind). He hit 32 fours, had a strike rate just under 75 and put on 221 runs for the third wicket partnership with Trott.

Now surely the critics can’t say he got off to a good start yet failed to convert it into a decent score?

If only he could play like this for England on a regular basis :)

Answer 1

i didnt see the inningsm but i think i just need to tell you something

Kinney, you are not an "Ian Bell-aholic"

i think its beyond that now, i think your just straight out obssessed!! i'm worried your gonna turn out having an obssession with him like Selma and Patty on the simpsons do with MacGuyver! dont tell me you have a ball of his hair as well LOL!

Answer 2

No.

Answer 3

ian bell is agressive quality batsman .

we saw it in under 19 world cup also

ian bell remember this name is going to be greatest batsman for england has ever produced , his strokes play , his temprament , his timing  is outrageous , simply superb.

Answer 4

yes i know that ian bell is a good batsman but still it was a first class match

Answer 5

1 Word- LUCK!! lol

I'm kidding dont worry! :P, i dont know what the pitch is like or the overhead conditions, but anytime a player scores a double century in a game it has to be a great knock. I mean to score a double hundread against an amazing attack like ours is just unbeliavable!! lol! well i may be exagerrating but Kirby and Lewis are good bowlers.

Your exactly right, Belly proved that he has the temperament to score big runs, now scoring for Warwickshire and scoring for England are 2 different things, but we know he has the talent and we know he has the temperament so its just about him finding his form!

Hope you enjoyed your favourite player, get one over on MY team!! arghh!

Answer 6

I didn't see it as I am at work all day, and also live nowhere near Birmingham!

However, I have seen his score. It is obviously a temendous innings, and the reason why he is picked in the England team.

Bell undoubtedly has his retractors, but the England selectors don't seem to number amongst them: he is always picked in the side.

As I have said to you before, Ian Bell is still a very young man, who has had a lot of pressure heaped on him for years. He is still a couple of years away from the age where batsmen reach their peak (28-32). Bell has the temperament, the technique, and the class to shine at the highest level.

I would like to compare him to Graham Thorpe. Thorpe for years was a very consistent batsmen, who never went on to make a big score. Eventually he matured, both as a cricketer and a person, and he went on to become our best batsman.

I feel confident that Ian Bell will develop along similar lines.

He has all the talent, he just needs the maturity.

Answer 7

We did not see it. You sound good.

Answer 8

There is no doubt that Ian Bell is a quality batsman and it was a superb, classy innings (and I have always maintained that he is very talented, even if I think he sometimes lacks depth and concentration), he probably rescued the game after the two openers went for low scores (10 and 26 respectivly).

Now all he has to do is replicate it in the Test series against South Africa and convert his scores in that arena to silence his critics.

But well played to him. :-)

Answer 9

You hit the nail on the head when you say if only......

Graham Hick was similar at test level, though his FC average outweighs Bells whilst his test average is less. Interestingly Bells average against Australia is only about 25 and against India only 26 whilst against Pakistan it is 73 and the WI its 58 , and I think that this shows his limitations , another indicator being that his top score is against Bangladesh early in his career.

I hope he does become more consistant as there is not much waiting in the wings, but am not convinced that he has it against high quality sides in the test arena. The coming series against SA will be interesting !!!