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England has moved up a place while South Africa has dropped a position in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship table at the end of their series on Friday.
England’s 2-1 series win with washed out matches in Johannesburg and Durban, has earned it three ratings points which has helped it go ahead of Pakistan in fifth position while the series loss has pushed South Africa behind India into third spot.
World champion Australia continues to enjoy a comfortable eight-point advantage over second-placed India but the middle of the table is quite congested with only 13 ratings points separating third-placed South Africa with seventh-placed Sri Lanka.
And with India to go head to head with Sri Lanka in the five-ODI series in Rajkot from 15 December, there could be more reshuffle depending how the series pans out.
A 5-0 clean sweep will take India to 126 ratings points, four behind Australia, while Sri Lanka’s 5-0 series win will put both the sides on 115 ratings points. Sri Lanka’s 3-2 series win will lift it to 110 ratings points and will drop India to 119 ratings points but ahead of South Africa.
In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, South Africa’s AB de Villiers and Paul Collingwood of England have achieved career-best rankings to date.
De Villiers, who scored 145 runs in the three ODIs, has climbed two places to third position while Collingwood, who won the player of the series award for his 193 runs, has rocketed six places to 12th position in the latest rankings which were released on Friday.
However, the news is not so good for South Africa captain Graeme Smith and former England captain Kevin Pietersen. Smith, after scoring just 68 runs in the series, has dropped five places to eighth spot while Pietersen has fallen four places and out of the top 20 in 21st position after managing just 52 runs.
The batting list is still headed by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni while Mike Hussey of Australia is in second position.
In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, England fast bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson have stormed up the order.
Broad, who took six wickets in two matches, has leaped eight places to seventh position while Anderson, who was the most successful bowler of the series with eight wickets, has rocketed 13 places to share ninth spot with Dale Steyn of South Africa who has slipped two places.
South Africa off-spinner Johan Botha has returned to the top 10 after climbing three places to 10th position.
The bowlers’ list is still headed by New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori with Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan in second spot and Ray Price of Zimbabwe in third place.
In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, Collingwood has climbed three places and now sits just outside the top five in seventh position.
Shakib Al Hasan leads the field with Shane Watson of Australia second, India’s Yuvraj Singh third and a three-way tie for fourth spot between Jacques Kallis of South Africa, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and New Zealand’s Jacob Oram.

Rank Team Rating
1 Australia 130
2 India 122
3 South Africa 119
4 New Zealand 112
5 England 109
6 Pakistan 108
7 Sri Lanka 106
8 West Indies 76
9 Bangladesh 55
10 Zimbabwe 26
11 Ireland 25
12 Kenya 2

Michael Clarkes unbeaten century guided Australia to a draw against England in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston here on Monday. The result kept Australias defence of the Ashes alive, although it also meant England remained 1-0 up in the fivematch series ahead of the fourth Test at Headingley , which starts on Friday.
The Australian vice-captain was 103 not out in a second innings total of 375 for five, a lead of 262, when a draw was agreed in the fifth days final session without England needing to bat again in this rain-marred match.
Together with left-hander Marcus North (96) he shared a fifth-wicket stand of 185 that made the game safe. The duo had come together with Australia just 48 runs in front at 161 for four and still in danger of defeat after Michael Hussey was caught behind for 64 off paceman Stuart Broad before lunch.
North was in sight of his second century of the series when he was brilliantly caught right-handed by a leaping James Anderson in the gully off Broad to end a 159-ball innings featuring 15 fours. But Clarke, who made 136 in Englands 115-run second Test win at Lords , pressed on to a hundred in 192 balls in nearly five hours with the match ending when he pulled occasional medium-pacer Ravi Bopara for his 14th four to go to three figures.
Clarke did have two lucky breaks in the 90s. On 92, a ball from Broad flicked the outside of his off-stump without disturbing the bails. And Clarke was caught by Anderson at slip on 96 off a Bopara no-ball . Hed previously been dropped on 38 off a difficult chance by Andrew Strauss. That England had a shot at winning was remarkable given that, in effect, two days play had been lost to bad weather, including Saturdays wash-out . But the swing that had been so potent for them earlier in the match proved elusive and, in good batting conditions , Englands attack struggled. Clarke, whose footwork was a feature of his innings, stiffened Australias resistance with several driven boundaries off Graham Onions.

England have named their 30-man preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy, which begins in South Africa in September.

The squad, which must be reduced to 15 men by 23rd August, includes uncapped players Joe Denly, Michael Lumb, and Graham Napier with the likes of Ed Joyce, Rob Key and Jonathan Trott rewarded for good form in domestic cricket.

England are in Group B of the eight-team tournament alongside South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka and they kick off their campaign against Sri Lanka on 25th September in Johannesburg.

“The ICC Champions Trophy is an opportunity for the England One-Day side to compete for a global trophy and we are confident we have the talent to make a strong claim,” national selector Goeff Miller commented.
 
“We have an exciting blend of youth and experience in this preliminary squad and we’ll continue to watch the limited overs form of all players involved over the coming month.
 
“With the exception of Hampshire’s Michael Lumb, who has been in excellent form for his county this year, each member of this preliminary squad has experienced playing for England on the international stage. It is pleasing to see such genuine competition for places as we look to half the squad later next month.”

The squad includes Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, both of whom are struggling at the moment with knee and Achilles injuries respectively.

England provisional Champions Trophy squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Gareth Batty, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Steve Davies, Joe Denly, Andrew Flintoff, James Foster, Stephen Harmison, Ed Joyce, Rob Key, Michael Lumb, Sajid Mahmood, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Eoin Morgan, Graham Napier, Graham Onions, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Luke Wright

The last one year has been all about Gautam Gambhir proving everyone wrong. TOI checks the rise and rise of the gutsy Indian opener, after the early bumps…

THE EARLY YEARS

From the time he made his Test debut, at Mumbai against Australia in 2004, Gambhir didnt look like he could translate his domestic highs on the international stage. He was in and out of the squad until the Lankan tour last July. 2004-July 2008: 14 Tests, Runs: 692, Avg: 32.95, 100s: 1 July 2008-April 2009: 11 Tests, Runs: 1579, Avg: 75.19, 100s: 5

IN SRI LANKA, JULY 2008

3 Tests, 6 innings, 310 runs, 3 50s, HS: 74, Avg: 51.66

IMPACT ON THE SERIES:

Along with Sehwag , Gambhir was the only batsman to come out with flying colours. Both were in cracking form, but couldnt help India from losing the series 1-2 . Gambhir finally showed he belonged at this level.

QUALITY OF THE ATTACK:

Spin twins Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, destroyed India. Except Sehwag and Gambhir no batsman was able to handle the duo, particularly Mendis, whose unpredictabilty left Indias Fab Four in a spin.

AGAINST AUSTRALIA AT HOME, OCT-NOV 2008

3 Tests, 6 innings, 463 runs, 1 50, 2 100s, HS: 206, Avg: 77.16

IMPACT ON THE SERIES:

This series saw Gambhir coming into his own. The Australians struggled to get the Delhi left-handers number throughout their Indian sojourn. Strokes flowed freely from the 27-year-olds blade, with a 206 at Delhi being the standout knock. Gambhirs batting display was a factor in India pocketing the home series 2-0 .

QUALITY OF THE ATTACK:

The Aussies had a more-than-decent pace attack in Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson and Peter Siddle. Cameron White and off-spinner Jason Krejza manned the spin department. Though Krejza enjoyed a dream debut at Nagpur, taking 12 wickets, he didnt have to bowl to Gambhir!

AGAINST ENGLAND AT HOME, DECEMBER 2008

2 Tests, 4 innings, 361 runs, 2 50s, 1 100s, HS: 179, Avg: 90.25

IMPACT ON THE SERIES:

If his 67 in Indias fabulous fourth-innings chase at Chennai was valuable, the second Test saw Gambhir conjure up scores of 179 and 97 in a drawn affair. India won 1-0 and once again Gambhir had essayed a central role.

QUALITY OF THE ATTACK:

Slightly better than the Aussies. Pacer Steve Harmison flopped, but Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson were difficult to negotiate . The spin attack was respectable, with Monty Pa n e s a r and Graeme Swann not that easy to get away.

IN NEW ZEALAND, MARCH-APRIL 2009

3 Tests, 6 innings, 445 runs, 1 50, 2 100s, HS: 167, Avg: 89

IMPACT ON THE SERIES:

Cynics may have predicted his end on the seaming wickets and cold conditions of New Zealand, but the Delhi lad pleasantly surprised everyone. It was perhaps one of the finest performances by an Indian outside the subcontinent. The most amazing effort came at Napier, a solid 137 in 643 minutes, that saved the Test. This was followed by a free-flowing 167 at Wellington. The Gambhir Wagon wheel was thus complete.

QUALITY OF THE ATTACK:

The only bowler who could have caused any concern was New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, but the slow left-armer was dealt with easily. The rest of the pack Tim Southee, Chris Martin, James Franklin and Ian OBrien was anything but lethal.

Ricky Ponting’s rant about England’s alleged lack of respect for the spirit of the game rings hollow because Australia is the team which violates it most, said Ashes winning coach Duncan Fletcher.
Writing in ‘The Guardian,’ the Zimbabwe-born Fletcher, who guided England to 2005 Ashes victory, said Ponting’s homily on spirit of the game was a manifestation of his frustration after Australia failed to separate the last English pair in the first Ashes Test and settled for a draw.
“England will be delighted they left Cardiff with a draw and no doubt amused that they head for Lord’s with a lecture about the spirit of the game from Ricky Ponting, of all people, still ringing in their ears,” Fletcher wrote.
“If any side in the world doesn’t play within the spirit of the game it’s Ponting’s Australians, yet here he is sitting in judgment on England because he’s frustrated that his bowlers failed to complete the job,” he said.
James Anderson and Monty Panesar batted out the last 40 minutes, during which England twice sent in physio Stev McCaig and 12th man Bilal Shafayat in an obvious attempt to waste time, much to Ponting’s exasperation.
Fletcher said he did not condone what England did even if it was not really illegal.
“But let’s not get carried away. What England did ate up maybe an over at most. If the batsmen had wasted the same amount of time talking between overs, no one would have batted an eyelid. Instead we’re left with the ridiculous situation of being told off by an Australian captain for transgressing cricket’s spirit a notion he seems to only vaguely understand himself,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher counter-attacked, saying Ponting set even a worse example for the “schoolboys watching at home.”
“…can the Australians really argue that England’s tactics are worse than the way Ponting places pressure on the umpires and makes them look bad in front of a huge crowd and TV audience? And we haven’t even mentioned Australia’s sledging.
“The way he objected after Aleem Dar rightly turned down a catch at silly point off Paul Collingwood was typical. Back in 2005 Ponting and his team were over-aggressive towards the umpires on a regular basis, and he was at it again here,” Fletcher said.
“Ponting has to be careful. Someone needs to sit down and ask him what he understands by the spirit of the game. The way he plays is definitely not in the spirit. And if the Australians would have you think that they’d have done things differently on Sunday evening, then pigs might soon be spotted in the skies above St John’s Wood,” he quipped.

James Anderson and Monty Panesar staged one of cricket’s great escapes as England clung on for a dramatic draw in the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens here on Sunday. England’s last-wicket duo batted together for 40 minutes to deny Ashes holders Australia what seemed a certain victory. The left-handers’ stand of 19 spanned 69 balls after England had been in desperate trouble when all-rounder Paul Collingwood, the last of their recognised batsman, was out for 74 after a gutsy innings lasting nearly five-and-three-quarter hours.
Collingwood’s exit left England on 233 for nine but the 10th-wicket duo held firm as England ended the match on 252 for nine. The teams now head to Lord’s, where Australia have not lost a Test since 1934, for the second match in this five-Test series starting on Thursday. When Collingwood was eventually out, caught at the second attempt in the gully by Michael Hussey off aggressive fast bowler Peter Siddle, having faced 245 balls with six boundaries, it seemed England had lost all hope of avoiding a convincing defeat.
There were a minimum of 11.3 overs remaining when Anderson and Panesar came together. But both left-handers demonstrated a defensive technique worthy of top-order batsmen although England let themselves down by sending on their physiotherapist and 12th man in a blatant attempt to waste time. Apart from Collingwood, no other top-order batsman made more in the second innings than England captain Andrew Strauss’s 17. Each ball England Anderson and Panesar survived was cheered to the echo by the crowd at what was the first Test match ever played in Wales. And when Anderson steered Siddle through the slips for four it meant Australia would have to bat again to win the match.
Australia’s progress was first checked on Sunday by a determined eighth-wicket stand of 62 lasting 81 minutes between Collingwood and Graeme Swann. But when Swann was plumb lbw to Ben Hilfenhaus for 31,England were 221 for eight and the game seemingly over.
The sight of Australia spearhead and leftarm quick Mitchell Johnson bowling wides with the new-ball gave England fans hope that the draw, which had seemed for beyond their side’s reach at 70 for five, was coming into view.
England, at lunch, had been 102 for five. Collingwood was 35 not out and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff unbeaten on 11. After lunch, they both looked to be getting down to the task at hand. But a stand of 57 was ended when Flintoff fell on 26. Stuart Broad was plumb lbw to Nathan Hauritz for 14 as the off-spinner took his third wicket of the day.

The last wicket pair of Monty Panesar and James Anderson played 69 balls without being separated to enable England to cling to a dramatic draw against Australia on Sunday in the face of defeat in the opening Test of the five-match Ashes series.
England having conceded a first innigns lead of 239 runs was in deep trouble when Panesar joined Anderson at the wicket in the final session of the fifth and final day. The two tailenders kept the Australian bowlers at bay till the scheduled end of the match in the opening Test at Sophia Gardens.
The last wicket stand of 19 in 69 balls between Anderson (21 not out in 53 balls) and Panesar (seven not out off 35 balls) helped the hosts to a draw as they finished on 252 for nine. Earlier, Paul Collingwood scored a painstaking 74 in nearly six hours to set the stage for the heroics by the last wicket pair.
England, who had made 435 runs in the first innings, reached 252 for nine at the close of play. Australia had scored 674 in the first innings. The second Test of this five-match series starts at Lord’s – where Ashes-holders Australia have not lost a Test since 1934 – on Thursday.
When Collingwood was eventually out, caught at the second attempt in the gully by Michael Hussey off aggressive fast bowler Peter Siddle, having faced 245 balls with six boundaries, it seemed England had lost all hope of avoiding a convincing defeat.
There were a minimum of 11.3 overs remaining when Anderson and Panesar came together. But both left-handers demonstrated a defensive technique worthy of top-order batsmen although England let themselves down by sending on their physiotherapist and 12th man in a blatant attempt to waste time.
Apart from Collingwood, no other top-order batsman made more in the second innings than England captain Andrew Strauss’s 17.
Each ball England’s Anderson and Panesar survived was cheered to the echo by the crowd at what was the first Test match ever played in Wales. And when Anderson steered Siddle through the slips for four it meant Australia would have to bat again to win the match.
England had let the game get away while making 435 in a first innings where three batsmen, Collingwood included, got past fifty but did not go on to a hundred. Australia then showed England how to bat on a slow pitch by piling up 674 for six declared.

Record Stride
For the first time Australia scored four hundreds in the same Test innings against England with captain Ricky Ponting (150), Marcus North (125 not out), Simon Katich (122) and Brad Haddin (121) all reaching three figures.
Australia’s progress was first checked on Sunday by a determined eighth-wicket stand of 62 lasting 81 minutes between Collingwood and Graeme Swann.
But when Swann – who made 47 not out in the first innings – was plumb lbw to Ben Hilfenhaus for 31, after missing an attempted pull, England were 221 for eight and the game seemingly over.
The sight of Australia spearhead and left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson bowling wides with the new-ball gave England fans hope that the draw, which had seemed for beyond their side’s reach at 70 for five, was coming into view.
England, at lunch, had been 102 for five. Collingwood was 35 not out and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff unbeaten on 11. After lunch, they both looked to be getting down to the task at hand.
But a stand of 57 was ended when Flintoff fell on 26 to the first ball he faced after the drinks break.

Opener Simon Katich has credited his maiden Ashes century to former , who he said, gave him the time and opportunity to come up with an impressive batting display.

Katich’s century, which helped him erase bitter memories of 2005, came on the second day of the first Ashes Test against England before he was plumb off James Anderson, when Australia was on run to chase the first innings target of 435.

 The 33-year-old left hander said he owe a lot to Simpson, who he believes, has made him a more confident player with the support and time the former skipper handed him.

 ”Coming into the series was huge for me — you can’t hide from the past, and there’s nowhere to hide in Test cricket,” Katich said. ”The last time around I wasn’t playing very well and I struggled to hit the ball straight. ”I owe a huge amount to Bob Simpson, who gave me the time of day when I got dropped four years ago and was wondering if I would get back. ”His help and support has been enormous. I’m always going to be grateful for that. His help, technically, turned me into a more confident player,” the opener was quoted as saying by ‘The Australian’.

A veteran of 33 Tests and 45 ODIs, Katich savoured the sweetest moment of his career when he reached triple figures by hooking Andrew Flintoff for a single to fine leg. The Yorkshire batsman has also hit six centuries in 16 Tests, after he won back his baggy green cap in the West Indies last year.

 ”Having played the last 12 months on the trot, I’ve gained confidence from every Test I’ve managed to string together,” he said. ”Batting at the top of the order has probably helped me — that’s where I’ve played most of my first-class career. ”When I did get my chance I jumped at it, because that’s where I’ve been most comfortable. In the past 12 months I have felt I’ve got a role to play in this team, given that we’ve lost so many experienced players in the last three or four years, a lot of greats of Australian cricket. ”As an experienced player with a lot of young guys coming into the team, I realise I’ve got a fair bit to offer,” the batsman added.

VENUE:

Cardiff will stage its first Test. Capacity: 16,000.

CAPTAINS:Australia: Ricky Ponting, 34. Right-hand batsman; 131 Tests, 10,960 runs at 56.20. A quick-footed free-scoring batsman in the best Australian tradition who has been rebuilding his side after the loss of several great players. England: Andrew Strauss, 32. Left-hand opening batsman; 62 Tests, 4,792 runs at 43.96. After a brief period in the wilderness, Strauss returned to the team last year. Subsequently he has been England’s most prolific batsman.

KEY PLAYERS:Mitchell Johnson (Aus), 27: Intimidatingly quick and increasingly hostile, Johnson has become the complete package as a left-arm fast bowler by adding a late inswinger to his repertoire. He may also be the world’s next great all-rounder after averaging 85 in South Africa this year, including a first Test hundred. Kevin Pietersen (Eng), 28: The batsman Australia fear the most. Has 963 runs at 53.50 in 10 Tests against the old enemy. His fearlessness and range of strokes make him formidable.

WEATHER FORECAST:Unsettled with showers

ODDS:England 2/1, Australia 7/4, draw 6/4

SQUADS:Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Graham Manou, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle.

England: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann.
Umpires: Billy Doctrove (West Indies) and Aleem Dar (Pakistan) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand)

How is the England’s 16-man training squad, named today, shaping up for the challenge of facing Australia in the Ashes this summer?

England Team in Ashes series

Andrew Strauss
The England Test captain has had the chance to take a break since the West Indies Test series playing two Championship matches for Middlesex with limited success. His highest score? The 97 against Essex a month ago.

Alastair Cook
Another England player to spend a month away from the international scene. England’s openers should at least be refreshed when the Ashes begins. Cook has had a handful of Twenty20 matches for Essex, with a top score of 80, as well as two championship outings with moderate returns since his hundred against the West Indies at the Riverside.

Kevin Pietersen
There are no concerns about Pietersen’s form (there haven’t been really since he arrived on the scene) but KP’s Achilles heel is an apt injury for a team so reliant on his runs. Pietersen will be nursed through the Ashes but the likelihood of him appearing in all five Tests appears remote.

Paul Collingwood
His form during the World Twenty20 was poor – he managed 63 runs from five innings – as once again his batting crumbled under the burden of captaincy. Collingwood has enjoyed his best run in the Test side with three hundreds in his last 12 innings but will be the most vulnerable of England’s middle order.

Matt Prior
Has seen James Foster enjoy plenty of acclaim for wicket-keeping skills during the World Twenty20 but Prior is the number one choice for the Test side. Has been in good form for Sussex – he averages over 50 in the championship – but has not kept wicket due to the hand injury he sustained against the West Indies.

Andrew Flintoff
Freddie is back and a nation sleeps easier. Flintoff has slipped easily into the groove with the ball taking six wickets in his first match back for Lancashire and several county batsmen are nursing bruised ribs and fingers. As for runs, well, Flintoff made a fifty against Hampshire but has not scored a century in any form of cricket since the Trent Bridge Test of 2005.

Graeme Swann
Swann took five wickets and bowled tidily during the World Twenty20 while showing the passion for playing for his country that endears him to England supporters. Swann will play at Cardiff. The question mark hangs over the identity of his spin partner.

Stuart Broad
Despite his last over meltdown against the Dutch, Broad showed further evidence of the top class international cricketer that lurks within. His bowling, particularly the variety he has added to his game, makes him a potential Ashes star and he averaged 18 during the West Indies walkover.

James Anderson
Anderson had a mixed World Twenty20. When he bowled well – against India and Pakistan – England won. When he bowled badly – West Indies – they lost. Anderson’s ability to swing the ball, evidenced by the near unplayable spell against the West Indies at the Riverside – is genuinely feared and respected by the Australians.

Ryan Sidebottom
Sidebottom was the third member of England’s trio of seamers that they built their strategy around during the World Twenty20. It remains to be seen if Sidebottom’s fitness is up to Test match standard. The three-day match against Warwickshire will be a key gauge but sources suggest the England management are quietly confident Sidebottom will be ready.

Monty Panesar
Tough times for Monty. Before Northamptonshire’s match against Glamorgan Panesar had taken just six wickets this season. His championship average stands at a scarcely believable 86.66 and the promotion of Adil Rashid represents a real threat to Panesar’s place behind Swann as England’s second spinner. All eyes will be on Monty when he plays against Warwickshire.

Adil Rashid
The Yorkshire leg spinner is on roll thanks to Twenty20. He performed well during the World T20 showing guts and guile to get wickets at key times for England impressing none other than Shane Warne.

Tim Bresnan
Bresnan has ticked along quietly since the West Indies series with five wickets in three championship innings for Yorkshire. Bresnan will be named in the expanded Ashes training squad but Sidebottom’s return will push him off the scene.

Graham Onions
Onions is the country’s leading wicket-taker with 32 this season, largely made up of the 20 he took against the West Indies. His ability to get bowl close to the stumps and get bowleds, lbws and caught behind wickets will be key against the Aussies.

–

Missing out

Michael Vaughan
Out of the side and mulling his future after being left out. He has a top score of 43 from eight championship innings.

Steve Harmison
Lions call up gives him a chance. Harmison has 28 first-class wickets this season at a very reasonable 18 apiece and even managed to extract life out of the dead Edgbaston pitch this week with a five-for against Warwickshire. Is Harmison peaking at the right time? We will find otu more when he bowls at the Aussies for England’s Lions team at Edgbaston, July 1-3.

Ian Bell
Named captain of the Lions side Bell averages in the 80s for championship cricket but has more or less written off his Ashes chances. The flat tracks at Edgbaston may provide false returns but Bell has done more than any other fringe batsman to maintain consistent form. He scored 79 in the first innings of the current championship match against Durham.