3rd Test : The Countdown: For Whom The Bell Tolls

I never was hard or self-sufficient enough. Soft people, soft people have got to court the favour of hard ones.
- Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire

Second chances are a rarity in international sport. Failure is seldom rewarded with anything other than a permanent farewell. But, there are some men and women that confound that fate. It may be an injury or a suspension that enables them to return. In other words, by default. But, whether through coincidence or providence, these athletes are blessed with a new start, a new chapter, a second act in their careers. Fitzgerald was wrong when he said “there are no second acts in [human] lives”. The Third Test sees the much maligned Ian Bell begin anew. The stage is set for The Sherminator to reintroduce himself to the cricketing world.

Bell has suffered from enduring the career path of the prodigy. Ever since he was a teenager, the batsman was earmarked as a Future England Captain and he is yet to shake that albatross from his shoulders. He is an unassuming young man and such expectations have acted as a crippling burden. He burst into the national side against the West Indies in 2004 and started the 05 Ashes with a ridiculous average of 297 having excelled against the might of Bangladesh. However, Belly averaged only 17.10 against the Aussies in 05 and, despite producing in the interim series against Pakistan, also suffered in our Whitewash in 06/07. He recovered to become one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2008 but the Warwickshire batsman has been unable to shack off the nearly man moniker. He is seen as a bloke who is unable to convert fifties into hundreds and his much lamented lack of mental fortitude was epitomised by his dismissal on 199 against South Africa at Lord's last summer. It was no surprise that it was The Sherminator who was the scapegoat after our capitulation in Jamaica in February. His removal was labelled the catalyst for our 51 all out collapse and he was dismissed from the test side.

It is the gulf between Bell’s talent and application that is most galling for England fans, the management and, most of all, the man himself. His test average is a respectable 40.59 but he has long been acknowledged as the most naturally talented batsman in the team. Yes, including Pietersen. Bell should be delivering 100s consistently and averaging much nearer 50 but he has never fulfilled his promise. This frustration has led to character assassination upon character assassination. The Sherminator has been chided for his lack of passion, his vacant eyes, his boyishness, his lack of stature at the crease etc. When he was dropped earlier this year, the selectors called for him to show more "hunger". Ian has duly spoken of his "hunger" at any and every opportunity. I have found this whole process a futile one. There is no use throwing Sherm a script and anticipating a transformation. People essentially do not change. We can be divided into “the hard” and “the soft”. Some characters, like Bell, will always be "soft" regardless of whatever lengths they go to reconfigure themselves. He will always be a "soft" man devoid of a protective "hard" shell and will never be able to manifest his passion like a KP. This does not mean that Belly doesn't care.

"Soft" characters have to be indulged in some ways. They need attention, to feel loved, yet without imposition, without pressure. In other words, unconditional affection. Michael Vaughan actually once saw this need in Pietersen at the beginning of his career. KP and Bell are not entirely dissimilar. The problem for The Sherminator isn't that he hasn't developed a hard shield like Kevin but that he hasn't accepted his fate. Ian is railing against nature. He is too simple a character to conceal his softness. When he was shown boxing on the beach in Windies on Sky Sports News in Spring it was a tragicomic scene. Bell the Boxer is an incredulous image. He would do better to align with the "hard" men and embrace his need for protection. As we have seen throughout this series, partnerships of opposites work well. Cricket remains a team sport and individuals can prosper in favourable environments. Belly and KP have always worked well together because, on the outside at least, they are poles apart. Now we await to see if Kevin's bessie mate Bopara can protect Bell and the pair can compliment each other and lead the team to glory.

The Second Act of The Sherminator will be an intriguing one. Ian has become a contentious figure and there is fury in some quarters that he has been given this chance at all. Many are wary of using him as a direct replacement for KP and batting him at no. 4 because Bell's batting average increases exponentially the lower down the order he bats. Some have called for Colly to be promoted to no. 4 with Bellbeforce at no.5. But, Our Lord has made the correct decision by showing his faith in Sherm and electing to play him at No. 4. If Bell realises this confidence and believes in himself, we have nothing to worry about. In total, Ian averages 25 in 10 tests against the Baggy Green. Things can only get better.

In response to my reader who claimed that "we're still gonna lose the Ashes", I'd like to ask them to elaborate on their pessimism. We didn't "get lucky" at Lord's. We outplayed the Aussies across the five days with sterling performances from several members of the team not just His Fredness. You claim that "our victory don't mean shit". Would you rather be one nil down in the series and in disarray? The Australian bowling attack, with the exception of da Hilfenmesiter, looks limp and lifeless. The curious case of Mitchell Johnson is farcical. MJ's mum is being blamed for his loss of form and leaving Oz' ownership of the urn in jeopardy. Only Down Under... We may have lost KP but their batting line-up outside Punter and Pup is far from intimidating. Hughes is a walking wicket, The Kat is no superstar and North is ordinary.

The series, like Bell, is at a cross-roads now. This is the most important test of The Ashes. Let's get behind the team.