The Ashes 5th Test. The Oval. August 20-24.

[Dr Cricket]

was some comment in the first few test against nz when Cook didn't take strike.

[rich1uk]

I was slightly suprised there was no comment about Cook not taking the first delivery in the Ashes series, as the Captain and senior batsman surely that is something you should be doing.

I made a couple of comments about that elsewhere , was a bit of a surprise with lyth's continued struggles that he kept facing the first ball

maybe a superstition thing, I don't know but not really "leading by example" from steely

[backfootpunch]

He is in the last chance saloon, if he doesn't make a significant contribution and England lose he will be dropped

If we win they may persist with him in South Africa just to avoid exposing an inexperienced batsmen to Steyn and philander

He needs a big score and he needs it fast but so does everyone else in our batting line up other than root

He looked so good in that hundred in the west indies I can't believe how poorly he has played since

[Making_Splinters]

I was slightly suprised there was no comment about Cook not taking the first delivery in the Ashes series, as the Captain and senior batsman surely that is something you should be doing.

I did actually notice that, but then thought Strauss was always number 1, so has Cook ever been lead striker?

He was for a while after Strauss retired, in India for example.

[Dr Cricket]

Guessing lyth had the option then

[Dr Cricket]

He is in the last chance saloon, if he doesn't make a significant contribution and England lose he will be dropped

If we win they may persist with him in South Africa just to avoid exposing an inexperienced batsmen to Steyn and philander

He needs a big score and he needs it fast but so does everyone else in our batting line up other than root

He looked so good in that hundred in the west indies I can't believe how poorly he has played since

expecting him to play his last test in South Africa be surprised if he plays next summer.
Although all dependent on his form, if he score big runs he might still play next summer but he would have to have two brilliant tours.

[yorker_129-7]

Since KP left the side, Ian Bell seems to have become the next player that divides fans. Despite his fairly poor Ashes series he actually scored three fairly important 50s. Not a bad return from 10 innings.

And averaged 10 runs fewer than Gary Ballance in the process.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Isn't three fifties in a five Test series, not a bad return for a number eight, but a poor one for a number three?

[Making_Splinters]

Isn't three fifties in a five Test series, not a bad return for a number eight, but a poor one for a number three?

Compared to the rest of the batting in this series from England?

[hopeforthebest]

Bell is 33rd on the world list of career run scorers and 8th on the list of English players. To suggest that he is a weak minded failure is pathetic.

[backfootpunch]

He is in the last chance saloon, if he doesn't make a significant contribution and England lose he will be dropped

If we win they may persist with him in South Africa just to avoid exposing an inexperienced batsmen to Steyn and philander

He needs a big score and he needs it fast but so does everyone else in our batting line up other than root

He looked so good in that hundred in the west indies I can't believe how poorly he has played since

expecting him to play his last test in South Africa be surprised if he plays next summer.
Although all dependent on his form, if he score big runs he might still play next summer but he would have to have two brilliant tours.

I hope he returns to form and plays for another few years as he is great to watch but as every series goes by his future is looking bleaker

As I said earlier if he doesn't score runs vs Pakistan and we lose he is gone

And he will still have mental demons after the last tour to the UAE so it will be a big triumph if he manages a significant contribution

[The Waugh Twins]

Bell is 33rd on the world list of career run scorers and 8th on the list of English players. To suggest that he is a weak minded failure is pathetic.

If Bell goes it will mess my whole kitchen up, not to mention no more one liners of "saved by the bell".

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bell has announced he's carrying on. Given the response to his equivocation, I think we can ink him in for UAE.

[hopeforthebest]

Bell has announced he's carrying on. Given the response to his equivocation, I think we can ink him in for UAE.

Equivocation is strange choice of word to describe his statement that he would be taking stock.

[Arthur Crabtree]

His ambivalence over whether he should carry on.