The Ian Bell conundrum

[TheParraboy]

And regarding hineyrulz's comment on Waugh's match-winning innings (of which only Michael Clarke could've hoped to have dreamed of playing), let's run through some of them and see if this jogs some memories:

vs West Indies, Antigua 1991

Australia in a precarious situation at 4/158 and on the verge of going winless in the test series, Waugh's 139* was the difference, helping Australia get a large 1st innings lead, which eventuated in a 157 run win. And remember, this was against Ambrose/Walsh/Patterson/Marshall on a typical, erratic West Indian wicket that the Windies were notorious of producing back in those days.

vs West Indies, 1992 Boxing Day Test

Against Ambrose/Bishop/Walsh, Australia again were very precarious at 4/115 before a gritty, grinding partnership between Waugh (112) and Border (110) got Australia out of trouble and again helped set up a healthy 1st innings lead on an MCG pitch that started to deteriorate quickly, allowing Warne to take his first test 5-fer to wrap up the game. This was back when the MCG pitch was variable, unlike the crap drop-ins they now produce so the AFL players don't get 'injured'

vs South Africa, Durban 1994

In Allan Border's final test, Australia were in trouble on the 5th day being 4-down after clearing off a 150 run 1st innings deficit. Waugh and the great AB himself batted out the last two sessions (Waugh producing a man of the match 113*) against Donald/De Villiers/Matthews to draw the test and the series 1-all.

vs West Indies, Jamaica 1995

Although Steve Waugh's 200 gets the attention and praise in this test, Mark's 126 and 231-run partnership with Steve when Australia were 3/73 in the series decider mustn't be underestimated. That partnership helped Australia finally break the West Indies 20-year dominance.

vs South Africa, Port Elizabeth 1997

Ah, this is one of my favourites, if not, my favourite Mark Waugh innings (in the context of a test match). Chasing 270 for victory, Waugh's MOTM 116 in the 4th innings helped Australia just get over the line by 2 wickets and win the test series

vs South Africa, Sydney 1998

Waugh's 100 against very hostile, brilliant fast bowling from Allan Donald on a lively SCG pitch (back when the SCG used to be a rank-turner, as well as offering a lot of seam movement for fast bowlers), was one of the best under pressure. The battle between Donald and Steve Waugh was quite memorable as well, with Donald getting the last laugh bowling him out

vs South Africa, Adelaide 1998

Although there was that controversial hit-wicket incident that was given not out (which was the correct decision from the umpires according to the rule book), Waugh's 115* held out South Africa late on the 5th day to win the series for Australia.

vs India, Bangalore 1998

Waugh's 153* in bloody stinking hot and humid conditions when Australia was on the verge of being clean-sweeped on a rather dismal tour of India salvaged some pride, battling nausea and stomach pain the night before, paved the way for Kasprowicz to clean up in the 2nd innings and sealing a hard-fought, consolation win.

vs England, Sydney 1999

On a rank-turner against quality seam bowling from Gough (who got a hat-trick) and Headley, Waugh's partnership with Steve once again at 3/52 proved the difference. Mark Waugh scored 121, Australia won by 98 runs courtesy of MacGill's 12 wickets in the match.

That 1997 Port Elizabeth dig was my favourite as well, I thought for sure lose that test

 

[hineyrulz]

Love your work Undertaker, that hundred he scored at PE in 1997 was one of the best 100's under pressure by an aussie in the last 30 odd years.

 

[undertaker]

Haydos better than Richards :lol: (love your work Undertaker)

Bell better than Junior :lol:

What are you talking about? Of course Haydos is better than Richards. After all, he did score more runs and have a higher average, right?:lol: Which therefore means Ian Bell is better than Mark Waugh.

That 1997 Port Elizabeth dig was my favourite as well, I thought for sure lose that test

Here's your chance to relive the brilliance of that innings (as well as the mouthwatering, on-the-edge-of-your-seat commentary from Dennis Commetti, Drew Morphett, Terry Jenner, Greg Chappell and Carl Rackemann.....haha, boy oh boy didn't Ch7 (who had an agreement with Fox Sports to simulcast the whole tour, as this was Fox Sports first test series involving Australia overseas) scrape the bottom of the barrel with those commentators during that tour. Talk about the worst combination of monotonous, boring voices in one match. Commetti and Morphett were AFL commentators for Ch7 and were called up at the last minute when Ch7 got the FTA rights for the tour and the AFL season hadn't started:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGkWtlIu9s

And look at the scorecard:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63743.html

Australia won after being rissoled for 108 in the 1st innings. South Africa only made 209 and 168 in their innings. Port Elizabeth has traditionally been a difficult place to bat. Lots of below-average scores there during the 2003 World Cup. And look at the pic of Ian Healy after the win? Still remember that winning pull shot off Hansie Cronje that went for six. Undoubtedly, if I had time to think and compile a list, Port Elizabeth 1997 would be one of Australia's top 5 test wins since I started watching cricket.

 

[undertaker]

Love your work Undertaker, that hundred he scored at PE in 1997 was one of the best 100's under pressure by an aussie in the last 30 odd years.

Unfortunately, in that list of Mark Waugh centuries, I was too young to remember those first few at the time (although, I've seen highlights of those matches in the past on tv and also on the internet). I wish I was your age to really have appreciated it at the time:lol:

However, after officially getting into cricket at the start of 1995/96 season (after the victorious 1995 West Indian tour), I watched nearly all of the Sydney 1998/Adelaide 1998/Sydney 1999 test matches, and at least the first session of the 1997 tour of South Africa tests (even though I was in primary school, my parents allowed me to stay up to watch it, and got to watch pretty much the whole days play on the weekends). Regarding the 1998 Bangalore test, although it was on Fox Sports and didn't have Fox at the time as it wasn't available in the Hunter until the following year, Ch9 televised one hour highlights of each days play in the afternoon (at least that's how I remember it, as I definitely remember on the Sundays it was on at 3pm before the NRL coverage started at 4pm). Between the 1995 and 1999 West Indian tours (when Ch9 stopped showing highlights), during the early years of Fox Sports, Ch9 had an agreement - outside of Ashes tours (which were televised live) - to show highlights of other overseas tours. So, IIRC, highlights of our disasterous 1996 tour of India (shown late at night), 1998 tour of India and 1998 tour of Pakistan were shown (also shown late at night, and the ODI series was the last time Australia wore white clothing and used a red ball).

On the topic of that '97 tour of South Africa, lets not forget the ODI series which followed. That 7-match ODI series is probably one of the best bilateral ODI series I've seen. Again, the topsy-turvy nature of the series, and the quality of the cricket played was second to none. So many memorable moments from that series, and the way I remembered ODIs back in the '90s (now I don't give so much of a stuff about them these days): most memorable being the Bevan-Steve Waugh partnership in the series winning 6th ODI chasing down nearly 300 at Centurion Park on my birthday.

 

[hineyrulz]

Unfortunately, in that list of Mark Waugh centuries, I was too young to remember those first few at the time (although, I've seen highlights of those matches in the past on tv and also on the internet). I wish I was your age to really have appreciated it at the time:lol:

However, after officially getting into cricket at the start of 1995/96 season (after the victorious 1995 West Indian tour), I watched nearly all of the Sydney 1998/Adelaide 1998/Sydney 1999 test matches, and at least the first session of the 1997 tour of South Africa tests (even though I was in primary school, my parents allowed me to stay up to watch it, and got to watch pretty much the whole days play on the weekends). Regarding the 1998 Bangalore test, although it was on Fox Sports and didn't have Fox at the time as it wasn't available in the Hunter until the following year, Ch9 televised one hour highlights of each days play in the afternoon (at least that's how I remember it, as I definitely remember on the Sundays it was on at 3pm before the NRL coverage started at 4pm). Between the 1995 and 1999 West Indian tours (when Ch9 stopped showing highlights), during the early years of Fox Sports, Ch9 had an agreement - outside of Ashes tours (which were televised live) - to show highlights of other overseas tours. So, IIRC, highlights of our disasterous 1996 tour of India (shown late at night), 1998 tour of India and 1998 tour of Pakistan were shown (also shown late at night, and the ODI series was the last time Australia wore white clothing and used a red ball).

On the topic of that '97 tour of South Africa, lets not forget the ODI series which followed. That 7-match ODI series is probably one of the best bilateral ODI series I've seen. Again, the topsy-turvy nature of the series, and the quality of the cricket played was second to none. So many memorable moments from that series, and the way I remembered ODIs back in the '90s (now I don't give so much of a stuff about them these days): most memorable being the Bevan-Steve Waugh partnership in the series winning 6th ODI chasing down nearly 300 at Centurion Park on my birthday.

I'm not that old mate

Been watching cricket since i could remember,was lucky my pop and dad were cricket tragics and even my dear old Nan loved her cricket. So i never really had a hope, was hooked my earliest Memory was AB opening the batting and scoring an amazing 100 against the Windies at the SCG to win the 2nd final and take it to a third game in the B&H finals series. Most of todays front foot wannabes would have barely lasted an over against their attack.

 

[umina panther]

M. Waugh was also one of the best one-day openers of all time

 

[Twizzle]

This is why stats are just so misleading.

You'll learn a lot more by watching the games not reviewing the stats.

 

[JJ]

Surprised Ian Bell warrants so much attention to be honest - good player, nice to watch, ultimately unfulfilling...

Poor man's Mark Waugh perhaps

Can we never again mention Viv in the same sentence as Hayden, or indeed in the same thread and Waugh or Bell... Richards was a different beast altogether

 

[JJ]

M. Waugh was also one of the best one-day openers of all time

Care factor on that one is pretty much zero

 

[Tommy Smith]

This is why stats are just so misleading.

You'll learn a lot more by watching the games not reviewing the stats.

I agree. And i certainly don't think Bell is better than Waugh.

Just pointing out that their 100+ test career records are remarkably similar.

And whilst that doesn't tell close to the whole story, it at least makes it a worthy comparison. Rather than one being mocked and the other viewed as a great of the game.

As for Viv, he is along with Lara and Sachin the best batsmen of the past 40 years, and yet all three average less than Steve Smith ffs. So clearly there's more to it than averages.

 

[JJ]

Who views Mark Waugh as a "great of the game"?

 

[Timbo]

Mark Waugh was elegant but lazy. Always threw it away when well set.

 

[hineyrulz]

Mark Waugh was an Australian great IMO, and could have been an all time great if he had his brothers concentration and mental toughness.

 

[TheParraboy]

Who views Mark Waugh as a "great of the game"?

Tommy Smith from what I can see

 

[vvvrulz]

vvvrulz, Id like a comment from you. On Bells legacy and also the comment "he made difficult batting look easy"

Over to you man

Damn I totally missed this mate lol
Just ran into it randomly now.

Unfortunately this ship has long sailed, but rest of the guys have nailed it

 

[TheParraboy]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-england-2015-16/content/story/942217.html

Compton recall could signal top-order rethink


Ian Bell faces the end of his England career after being dropped for the Test series against South Africa. Nick Compton and Gary Ballance have earned recalls while the uncapped left-arm quick Mark Footitt has been included after injuries to Mark Wood and Steven Finn.

England Test squad

In Nick Compton, Gary Ballance, Chris Woakes, Mark Footitt

Out Ian Bell, Mark Wood, Steven Finn, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid

Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Nick Compton, Mark Footitt, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Samit Patel, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Chris Woakes



Samit Patel, who was called in as a replacement for Zafar Ansari for the Test series against Pakistan, has been retained while Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan are both in the 16-man squad but Liam Plunkett has not been able to find a spot despite being in the squad for the Pakistan series. Wood will undergo ankle surgery next week.

Adil Rashid, who played the three Tests against Pakistan, has been omitted with the selectors feeling that he would be surplus to requirements on the pitches in South Africa. Instead he is expected to get a Big Bash deal in Australia, with the Adelaide Strikers, coached by Yorkshire's Jason Gillespie, one of his likelier destinations. Moeen Ali is likely to slip back down the order to No. 8 after his failed try at opening in the UAE.


Alex Hales remains favourite to open alongside Alastair Cook in the Boxing Day Test in Durban, but that position could yet go to Compton to revive the partnership which was the first combination used after Andrew Strauss retired. The Cook-Compton alliance remains the most successful of the seven pairings used by England since Strauss, averaging 57.93 in 17 innings together with three century stands. Otherwise, Compton will vie with Ballance for the No. 3 berth vacated by Bell.

Bell tweeted that he was "absolutely gutted" to miss out on selection but staved off thoughts of retirement, saying he was "determined to win my place back".

 

[vvvrulz]

Pietersen chimed in with his usual garbage calling the Bell drop a disgrace.
Has he even watched Bell in the last two years?

 

[JJ]

Only if he saw Bell in the mirror

 

[Mr Bean]

Pietersen has a hide clucking his wings considering he is a director of the management company that looks after Bell's interests.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-england-2015-16/content/story/942329.html

Bells been off the boil since the conclusion of 2013 Ashes series in England and averaged 34 from the past 4 years. He was lucky he didn't get dropped after the series against NZ.

 

[Mr Angry]

The Sherminator

That is all.