England’s batting ahead of the Ashes (part 2)
Jonathan Trott
He might become the best number 3 batsman England cricket has seen in the last 30 years. An aggressive and compact right hand batsman, who was brought up, on South Africa’s bouncy wickets. His sound technique to play fast men has earned him success in his
short Test career of 13 Tests.
Trott can play shots, both off the back foot and the front foot. Mainly, he is an on-side player, who can hit any bowl that is pitched on his middle and leg stump. Moreover, his on-drives are a treat to watch.
He is the only in-form English batsman this summer. Subsequently, he has played 6 Test matches at home and has piled up an impressive 669 runs at an average of 83 with the best of 226. His tally of runs includes 2 centuries.
However, all of his success has been in home conditions. His numbers have suffered overseas. Outside England, he has played 6 Test matches, scoring just 326 runs at an average of 29 with only 2 half centuries.
Trott is one of the few English batsman to score a century on Ashes debut. He did it in his debut match at The Oval during the 2009 Ashes. He just featured in one match and gathered scores of 41 and 119.
This time around, it will be his first Ashes trip to Australia. As a result, he will be eyeing an opportunity to do well on the tour Down Under to register his name in Ashes history.
Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen is the best batsman in the English side. He announces himself on the crease because of his ability to dominate quality bowling attacks at will. Whenever, he is on song the opposition bowlers cover for shelter.
Mainly, Kevin is a front foot player and has the ability to play all the shorts in the book. Moreover, he is a great on-side player as he drives every ball to mid-wicket and mid-on, which is directed towards his legs. You don’t want to be bowling bad deliveries
to him because he dispatches good balls to the boundaries.
In the last year or so, Kevin has struggled to impose himself on the opposition. In this year, he has played 10 matches, gathering just 507 runs at an average of 29 with the best of 99.
Definitely, he is an Ashes hero. In all, he has played 12 Test matches and has piled up significant numbers of 1116 runs at an average of almost 51 with the best of 158. His Ashes stint includes two centuries.
Last time, in Australia, in 2006/07, he really stamped his authority against the great bowling attack of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. In his 5 appearances Down Under he piled up 490 runs at a very impressive average of 54 with a best of 158 at the Adelaide.
Kevin Pietersen’s return to form is very crucial as he is England’s best batsman. His form can be a decisive factor in England’s successful Ashes campaign.
Paul Collingwood
Collingwood perhaps, is the gutsiest batsman in the current English side. He is a batsman of his own kind. Perhaps, he is not as talented as his other team members are, but very effective through his hard work and determination.
Most of the time, he plays straight and can easily surprise a quick bowler by coming down the wicket and hitting him over his head.
Currently, he is also carrying some batting woes. In his last series, he only managed to score 119 runs in 4 matches at an average of 19 with a single half century.
Though, he has a modest Ashes record, he has made some important contributions. In the 11 matches he did play, he scored 700 runs at an average of 35 with a best of 200.
His numbers improved in Australia. In his last series he gathered 433 runs at an average of 48 with a best of 200. Resultantly, at the Adelaide in 2006/07, he became the second Englishmen to score a double century in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
England needs an in-form Collingwood in Australia. He is one of the few English batsmen, who have done well in Australia.
Ian Bell
Bell is a touch player, who is technically well equipped to play both pace and spin. He is England’s best player of spin bowling as he uses his wrists and feet to good effect.
There is no such trademark short for Ian Bell as he treats every delivery on merit.
This year, Bell has played 6 Test matches and has scored 572 runs at an average of 71 with a best of 138. Though, he missed most of the summer due to his calf injury.
The Ashes series hasn’t been great for him. Overall, he has played 13 matches, scoring 642 runs at an average of 25 with a best of 87.
Down Under, his numbers are better. In Australia, he played 5 matches, scoring 331 runs at an average of 33 with a best of 87.
Bell has to correct his record against Australia to earn his name in the Ashes.
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