The Ashes 2013 - First Test, Trent Bridge: Five talking points for Day 3

2. Bell’s Heroics

While all hell was breaking loose at Stuart Broad’s end, Ian Bell went about doing his job in an understated manner. The middle-order batsman has been chastised for his inconsistency, but he has truly paid off all debts with this innings that has come in a critical situation in the Ashes opener.

He could not have scripted it better himself. As he stands at the verge of the first hundred that would be scored in this match, Ian Bell can be proud of the fact that England lead by 261 runs and have a real chance of going 1-0 up in this series. His innings was all the more remarkable as he was able to find the right balance. He did not go into a shell and released the pressure by scoring off the loose deliveries. He was helped by the fact that the Australian bowlers began to crack by the last session of the day.