Ashes 2023: Australia Looked Scared - Ian Bell Takes A Unique Stance
Published - 22 Jun 2023, 02:42 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM
The opening test match between England & Australia was an exhilarating one as the Aussies chased down the target of 281 quite narrowly. Ian Bell though feels that Australia wasn’t at its best. Ian Bell though said that the Aussies played in the style of England.
Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins played a stellar knock of 44 runs in 73 balls and struck 4 fours and 2 sixes. Pat Cummins displayed immense mental application as the Aussies don’t have the luxury of having a deep batting lineup as England.
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It won’t be wrong to say that the wicket-keeper batter Alex Carey was the pick of the batters for Australia. The batter in the 1st innings played a stunning knock of 66 runs in 99 balls and took Australia’s total close to the hosts.
The form of Marnus Labuschagne could be a concern as he was dismissed in quite a similar fashion in both innings. David Warner looked like a different batter, he may have scored 36 runs and 57 balls in the 2nd innings but it seemed as if the old vintage David Warner is back.
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England’s batting collapse in the 2nd innings hurt the team as a target in excess of 320 would have made the difference in the end for the side. England fans would be hoping the finger injury of Moeen Ali is not a severe one.
Australia have more to work on – Ian Bell
Ian Bell was having an interaction with Wisden and said that the Aussies were quite passive after the first 2 days and pointed out that Australia looked scared and gave the example of 1st innings when Australia had sweepers after 3 overs. Ian Bell said that England’s intent has unnerved Aussies
“I’d go as far to say that Australia have more to work on, After the first two days at Edgbaston I was amazed how passive Australia were. It was like England used to play Ashes series in the really bad old days,” said Ian Bell.
“Australia looked scared. I saw that in two examples. First, in the field setting for England’s batters in the first innings. They had sweepers out on the off- and on-side after three overs,” he stated.
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“I’d never seen anything like it and as someone who has experienced the pressure cooker of an Ashes series – I won five out of seven – being afforded an easy option for a single as a batter like that would have been unheard of,” he added.
“As I said, I think England’s intent has unnerved Australia and the only time they showed any aggression themselves was when Alex Carey was out in that extraordinary final innings, Basically, they only played in England’s style when they knew they were beaten and they had nothing to lose. Psychologically, that is fascinating. Brendon McCullum will pick up on that,” he concluded.
