The Gift Of Hurt Which Keeps On Giving

Bell guides the ball for four

With apologies to regular correspondents who may have been wondering what crack in the space time continuum I can crawled through at such an interesting time in world cricket. The better part of me and myself went driving for the weekend to traverse two of the truly interesting rough roads between the north coast and the inland tableland, slopes and plains. In the process, a migraine arrived Friday night in all its fractured vision and seeing stars splendour and I spent the weekend behind the wheel fighting it off. Well worth it for the company I keep. I haven't had one of those gogglecrunchers since the mid 1980's and will be very pleased if the next one chooses to adhere to the same timing.

Dravid congratulates Bell

To the task at hand ... England just never miss the chance to hurt you. Here at Nottingham, even with both sides missing first choice third seamers the game was even after two days. Both sides had been bundled out - India's last six for just 21 thanks to the wielding of the Broad axe - after England recovered from 8-124 ... again thanks to Stuart Broad. He seems determined to win the big bottle of champagne that Pietersen stole away from him in the first Test. Dravid did what Dravid does but the Indian tail wagged like Smithfield Heelers and the chance for a substantial lead was wasted.

England have been fighting back since tea on the first day but on the third, they applied Thor's hammer blow. Two down and still ten behind, their batting order a shambles thanks to Trott's injury, Bell finally batting in the position Ian Chappell has been calling for him to occupy since the last Australian summer and England were still scrapping. In the next 59 overs, Ian Bell, the man whose form and grace at the wicket has been supportive of others at No 5 and 6, finally took the centre stage among this cast of actors and played a virtuoso. In partnerships with Pietersen (162 off 36 overs) and Morgan (124 in 23 overs), he not only took the game away from India, he also knocked their world crown from their head and into the outfield. Sometime tomorrow, Andrew Strauss will retrieve it. When Bell finally went, he was quickly followed by Morgan and Trott (batting injured at No 7) but not to worry for Prior and Bresnan smashed the bewildered Indians in the last hour and add another 102. It was surprise enough to imagine anyone could bat above Broad in the England tail! 

England's 417 added in the day did more than enough to ensure victory but also provided such an effective statement of their dominance. They were shot ducks by tea on the opening day only to close the third with smoking guns and an appetite for more. A little more to do here but already they must be sharpening their sights on Springboks.

A word on MS Dhoni: while ever cricket can throw up this calibre of sportsmanship it will survive. Bell, runout fairly but in never the less advantage taking circumstances, should have stayed in the sheds after tea but Dhoni spoke with umpires and withdrew the appeal. It was the action of a custodian and thecricketragics  applauds him.