Unexpected Hero

 

 

Ashes 2013

 

The Australians Learn to Respect Ian Bell

 

July 13^th

 

[10:15 CEST] It is not easy for an Australian to respect Ian Bell as a batsman. In fact, it is not easy for an Englishman to respect him as a batsman. When England lose, you can guarantee that if it is not KP’s fault, it will be Ian Bell’s. Australian images of him are marked by the 2005 series when, despite two brave 50s in the Third Test he looked out of his depth. It was not until his 18^th Test v Australia that he finally scored a century, despite having reached 50 nineteen times against them. “If he is batting at #5, just label it #4a on the scorecard because he won’t be around long enough to bother us” is a standard Australian way of looking at him.

Yesterday England desperately needed a century from someone. Even a pair of 80s were not going to be enough you thought.  It was a situation ready made for Alistair Cook, or for Joe Root to make himself a legend, or Jonathon Trott, or Kevin Pietersen, or for Matt Prior to show why sides fear him. But, as the wickets tumbled, it was Ian Bell, probably the last person who most fans would consider for the role of hero who held firm, who made the smart choices with reviews with others squandered them foolishly and who was still there at the Close, just short of only his second Test century against Australia. Bell’s last century against Australia was in the Final Test in 2010/11 at Sydney. Right now, his run is 7x50 and 1x100 in his last ten Tests against Australia; if that overnight 95* becomes 130*, surely England will win.

Yesterday there was a lot of speculation what score Australia thought that they could chase successfully. There was a feeling that they hoped to keep the target below 200: that though is long gone and to limit it to 250 would require a massive England collapse. Most people seem to think that 280 is about the limit and, should England push past a 300 lead, then the game is up.

We will know soon…

 

[1200 CEST] How will Australia react? Mitchel Starc starts with a beamer that has Michael Clarke diving for cover at first slip and went away for 5 No Balls, followed by a full toss that Bell hammered for 4 to go to 99*. It was a dreadful start. Nine off the first two legitimate deliveries of the day. Pattinson opened with a very wide second ball that Broad carved through the slips for a boundary to reach his 50 when he would, most times, have been caught.
 
Are those Australian nerves completely fried? Looks like it. It seems that they are still fighting but, inside, they know that it is probably in vain.

Telling stat for TMS’s Malcolm Ashton:

“In all Test history, teams have successfully chased 300 26 times in Tests out of the 554 times that a target of 300 or more has been set (4.7%). Teams chasing more than 300 have lost 336, drawn 191 and tied once.”

In other words, chasing 300 to win in the fourth innings, of 554 attempts:

• 4.7% of sides have won
• 34.5% of sides have drawn
• 60.6% of sides have lost

Even though England collapsed horribly from 356-6 to 375, Australia have been set a massive task.

[00:35CEST] A late clatter of wickets has revived England when the match seemed to be slipping away from them. At 161-3 the bookies had Australia favourites for the first time and England needed a wicket before the Close to stay in with a chance. That three wickets fell for three runs was bounty indeed. At 174-6 Australia need 137 more and, with Haddin and the wunderkind Agar at the crease, have two batsmen who can make them but, if England take a wicket in the first half hour you would have to think that it is finally curtains for Australia barring a spectacular final twist.

There was even a weird DRS drama where Michael Clarke edged through to the ‘keeper, did not walk (why should he?) and then referred the decision. HotSpot sent him on his way but, some people have speculated that his may have been a sporting gesture to deflect criticism from Stuart Broad. If it was, it was unusually generous because Australia are, once again, without reviews, while England retain both theirs: if the situation gets tight in the morning, judicious use of reviews may be the difference between defeat and victory.

Whatever happens now, this Test has had enough twists and turns for an entire series and it is just the first of ten Tests between these oldest of rivals. Maybe we will be tired of them in six months time but, right now, they are providing stupendous entertainment.