The Bell tolls for Bopara

Two England batsmen will go into the third Ashes Test feeling the pressure of the nation on the shoulders, Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell, and they can help each other get their international careers back on track.

All the focus has been on Warwickshire star Bell in the last few days, after he was announced as the replacement for the enigmatic Kevin Pietersen, and the spotlight is something which he has struggled with in the past.

Even though he has played 46 Tests for his country, the 27-year-old has struggled to establish himself at international level but will be given the chance to play in a third Ashes series.

Bell, who has been handed the number four spot in the batting order, averages 25.10 in 10 Tests against Australia, and the Aussies have known how to get under his skin in the past.

But there is no Warne, McGrath and co this time around and with over 3,000 Test runs to his name, Bell would be forgiven for thinking that he now has the experience to cope with the pressure.

Andrew Strauss believes Bell is now a ‘tougher cricketer’ than in days gone by, but the skipper will be well aware that the pressure on Bell will be lifted if the man ahead of him in the batting smashes a big score.

After a brilliant home series against West Indies, Bopara has scored just 81 runs in four Ashes’ innings and how he needs a decent knock in the Edgbaston Test to calm his nerves.

Either way, this looks like it could be Bell’s last chance to cement a place in the thinking of the England selectors and a competent display is needed to convince the doubters.

It’s also a crucial time for Bopara to deliver the goods on the big stage or, should Australia level the series in Birmingham, he could also find himself out in the cold with Owais Shah and Robert Key standing in the wings.

Ponting claims mental advantage

Despite England’s confidence-boosting draw in the first Test, Ricky Ponting feels it's Australia that have the psychological advantage going to Lord’s.

The Ashes series started with a thriller in Cardiff, with only last-day batting heroics from Paul Collingwood, James Anderson and Monty Panesar helping the home side avoid a heavy defeat.

The gutsy fifth-day display though seemed to lift the England fans and they can only hope the result had a similar effect on the players, as they prepare for the second Test at the home of cricket.

England’s Ashes record at Lord’s is appalling though, having not beaten Australia there since 1934, and Ponting has been talking his squad up ahead of what looks like a crucial second Test.

When asked whether the impetus had swung in England’s favour, Ponting insisted: "They can be happy with what they have done, only losing seven wickets in 98 overs on the final day, but I am not sure they will look at it like a win.

"They are not 1-0 up and had been outplayed for four days in this Test match. We know what we have done well here.”

The Aussie skipper added: “We did so many things really well and we've got to take the confidence from that down to Lord's and make sure we start there on the same note.”

The main worry for the England selectors is that the bowlers don’t look like taking ten wickets, let alone twenty wickets – with their cause unlikely to be helped by the flat, non-spinning pitch expected at Lord’s.

Ponting though only needs to look back to 2005 before getting overly confident, when after being outplayed in the first Test – at Lord’s – England bounced back to win the series and win back the urn.

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