Ian Bell has tipped England to carry their nerve and lean additional into the principals of ‘Bazball’ regardless of defeat within the opening Ashes Test to Australia.
Ben Stokes’ aspect misplaced a thriller at Edgbaston on Tuesday, with the vacationers triumphing by two wickets.
The match noticed Stokes proceed to make some aggressive strategic strikes, together with a untimely declaration on day one, but Bell is adamant England should keep loyal to the strategy that has remodeled the nationwide group.
“Australia were perhaps helped by that England declaration but I had no problems with it at the time,” former England batter and Betfair Ambassador Ian Bell stated. “It’s easy to criticise after the event but there was nothing in Ben Stokes’s captaincy that upset me or was off. Delaying the new ball in the fourth innings also made sense on that surface.
“The only query I had was whether a bit of rustiness from a lack of game time in preparation night have been the difference. Jonny Bairstow missed chances, for example, but he hasn’t kept for ages so will be far better for having done so in such intensity.
“And England’s bowlers, particularly James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, didn’t look at their best after injury. I expect that to change with England in the ascendancy from now on.”
Bell additionally believes Australia have to be cautious of their efficiency regardless of victory and look to make changes forward of the second Test at Lord’s, which begins 28 June.
“If anything, I expect England to come at Australia even harder,” Bell stated. “In the past when England have come unstuck people have questioned whether they should be reined in.
“McCullum’s response has been that they weren’t aggressive enough. He will applaud their effort, focus on being part of such a historical game and reinforce that they have no fear.
“As for Australia, despite getting the result, they need a rethink. Surely they now know they can’t be so negative and if they come with the same tactics at Lord’s I think England will come at them very hard.”
Ian Bell will characteristic on Betfair’s Cricket… Only Bettor podcast all through the Ashes
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk
