For Whom The Bell Tolls

First Test
India v England Chennai (day three, stumps):
England 316 & 172-3 v India 241

Well played to Strauss and Collingwood. They have put England firmly in control here and just one more session of good batting will take it away from India. Let us hope now our bowling attack can get 10 wkts. There are rumours of Flintoff and Harmison being unwell/injured. Early to bed for the bowlers I think.

Though you could quite happily 'bowl' to a field to Strauss (eg no mid on for instance or extra cover for instance) there is no doubt that since he has come back in the side, though he is less pleasing on the eye, his provides a steady hand at teh top of the order. His slip fielding was also missed, esp now Tres has left us.

As for Colly, everytime you begin to worry for him he comes up trumps. My wife upon hearing about his fifty told me that she found him curiously attractive in a Catherine Cookson type way (whatever that means). All I know he that he is a very underrated cricketer.

Looking ahead though, as England cricket fans always seem to do, there is no doubt we need to up our scoring rates if we are to challenge Australia and give our bowlers time to bowl Ponting and co out twice.

That leaves Bell in a tricky position if he is to keep his place in the side. This guy has so much talent however he is a bundle of nerves everytime he goes out to bat. With Shah and Vaughan breathing down his neck he needs runs. To my mind he needs to remember life is great...he is being paid to do something most of us would give our back teeth for - play for England. So why not relax, back his ability and have some fun...