England v Australia A

Tour match, Hobart (day four):
England 523 & 11-0 bt Australia A 230 & 301 by 10 wickets

England eased to a crushing 10-wicket win against Australia A in their final warm-up match ahead of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday.

Resuming on 128-3 in Hobart, the hosts were quickly in trouble as Chris Tremlett took three early wickets. Cameron White hit a nelson (111) but when he fell to the impressive Monty Panesar (3-63), Australian hopes were effectively over. Tim Bresnan's fourth wicket wrapped up the innings before the England openers knocked off the nine runs required.

Ian Bell's terrific 192 was ultimately the key innings in Tasmania, but with Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Paul Collingwood all looking in good nick, coach Andy Flower will be content with his side's batting preparations.

The bowling quartet of Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann may have enjoyed the luxury of a week lounging around in Queensland to hone their skills but the back-up attack's display in this game will have sent a timely reminder that team selection should not be taken for granted.

Once again, Tremlett, Bresnan and Panesar put the Australians under pressure throughout, and with injuries a common factor on lengthy Ashes tours, the two pacemen should be prepared to play some part in the Test series. Tremlett's pace and bounce did the damage early on the final day as he collected three wickets in eight balls before lunch.

Phillip “The new Bradman” (©The Sydney Daily Telegraph – 2009) Hughes (81), who opened in the first Test of the last series in 2009, added 23 to his overnight score before he was excellently taken by Strauss at first slip. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine hardly pushed his case to take over from Brad Haddin in the full Test squad when he was trapped lbw for two shortly after while Steve Smith - who has been included in the 13-man party for Brisbane – hilariously shouldered arms to his first ball.

Steve O'Keefe kept out Tremlett's hat-trick ball though and a 78-run stand with White held up England in the afternoon as the hosts fought to avoid defeat. However when O'Keefe miscued a drive off Panesar on 27 the hosts were in trouble, despite White bringing up a well-deserved century. He eventually edged behind for 111 and when Mark Cameron fell for a duck, an innings victory seemed a possibility.

Beanpole ‘quickish’ bowler Peter George and the Rugged Clint McKay just did enough to avert that particular embarrassment but Strauss and Cook still only needed nine balls to knock off the runs required and seal a hugely convincing win.

The Jardine Report – We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Hobart (excellent Sushi at Mures) and the impressive performance certainly gives huge encouragement for a successful series. Every England player looked comfortable and focussed, whereas the Aussie swagger was noticeable by its absence. Make no mistake it will be a very tough series but for once we head to the first test with Australia full of doubt and England full of confidence.

Not the Bell end?

England have recalled Ian Bell and Ryan Sidebottom for Thursday's second Test against West Indies at the Riverside.

Bowler Sidebottom is recalled at the expense of spinner Monty “monty” Panesar while Squeaky Bell is also included in a 13-man squad after making two centuries this season. Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan, who made their Test debuts in the emphatic 10-wicket win over the tourists at Lord's, retain their places in the squad.

Onions in particular impressed in the first Test, taking seven wickets, including 5-38 in the tourists' first innings, while Bresnan bowled just seven overs and had little chance to shine but he apparently makes a mean strawberry daquiri and impressed at the Canasta table after the 2nd days play.

Bell has not featured for England since he was rightly dropped after England's humiliating innings and 23 runs defeat by the West Indies in Jamaica three months ago. But the short and temperamentally suspect 27-year-old has been rewarded for excellent early season form which has seen him score centuries for the MCC and Warwickshire.

Monty "Monty" has lost his place as England's first-choice spinner to his old Northants team-mate Graeme Swann, the leading wicket taker in Test cricket in 2009.
"Monty Panesar is unlucky but it was always highly unlikely that we would play two spinners at Chester-le-Street," said Geoff 'Rusty' Miller, Chairman of selectors and occ. off-spinner.
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England squad: AJ Strauss (captain), AN Cook, RS Bopara, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, MJ Prior (wicketkeeper), SCJ Broad, TT Bresnan, GP Swann, JM Anderson, G Onions, RJ Sidebottom.

Jardine's Verdict: An interesting decision to recall Bell for the 2nd test when he had already hit a brace of tons before the 1st test, more concerns about Collingwood? Sidebottom's recall will also add a bit of pressure on Bresnan in light of Swann's potential as a test all rounder.

Jardine's XI:
AJ Strauss (captain), AN Cook, RS Bopara, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, MJ Prior (wicketkeeper), SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, G Onions, RJ Sidebottom.

Bell end?

The England selectors have left batsmen Owais Shah, Ian Bell and Michael Vaughan and fast bowler Steve Harmison out of the squad for the first Test against West Indies at Lord's.

The impact of this bold approach means that erstwhile number 6 and 20/20 slogger Ravi Bopara is set to take on the vital number three role. Something that should fill any England supporters heart with a small amount of concern. Bell was intriguingly overlooked despite clattering a couple of early season centuries, suggesting that England really do have concerns about him. Former skipper and “saviour of English cricket”™ Vaughan had only managed to notch runs in a 50 over game and selectors are looking for him to make a couple of big scores. The problem is that Vaughan’s test average is far superior to his county average and not unlike previous England number 3 David Gower he quite obviously relishes the big match atmosphere of the Test arena, rather than the humdrum task of smashing county bowlers to all parts of the ground.

In addition uncapped seamers Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions are surprise inclusions and they should provide adequate support for James Anderson and Stuart Broad. However, their selection highlights the very real need to get FF and Sidebottom back in the side. Fortunately England have resisted calling up Saj Mahmood and Matthew Hoggard which even in reliable old, shaggy old Hoggard’s case would have been a retrograde step.

Chairman of selectors Geoff Miller exclaimed: "This is very exciting for the two young fast bowlers to be included in the squad for a Lord's Test match and sends a message to all county players that if they put in consistently good performances they will get recognised. They have earned their place in the party."

Elsewhere in the squad Matt Prior keeps his place as wicketkeeper and is likely to bat at six at Lord's, which given Sussex’s use of him as an opener or number 4 will not be a stretch for the bald stumper. Chris Broad’s son or possibly newcomer Bresnan, who has hit three first-class centuries, will therefore be going in at number seven.

Monty ‘Monty’ Panesar and Graeme Swann are both in the squad but only one is likely to play in the first Test, with Swann appearing quite clearly to be in pole position. He was England's leading wicket-taker in the series in the West Indies earlier this year, with 19 victims at a very impressive cost of only 24 runs each. Despite the facts staring him in the eyes the lugubrious Miller stated: "We know where we stand, it was proven in the West Indies, but there's not a number one England spinner." A statement that could be read one of three ways 1) a reminder to Swann to keep on the straight and narrow, 2) a subtle arm around Monty ‘Monty’ or 3) he is already modelling his tenure in the Chairman’s role on Lord Ted Dexter.

England squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Chris Broad’s son, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Graham Onions, Monty ‘Monty’ Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann.

Jardine’s Verdict: Bold moves on the bowling front highlight paucity of options. Bopara at number three? Surely just keeping the number 3 spot warm for Vaughany. Who only needs to hit a couple square of the wicket to get the Ashes call up!

Ian Bell

An enigma or just not very good?

Ian Bell's hopes of returning to the England Test squad have apparently been boosted after he was named in the Lions team to play against the West Indies next week. So, is this a case of easing him back into the international fold or a final sip in the last chance saloon?

The diminutive Warwickshire batsman was finally dropped during the winter tour of the Caribbean after a string of unimpressive batting performances. Since his return to County Championship cricket he has responded with two centuries in two games. Does the brace of tons highlight his genuine quality or just underline the paucity of English county bowling attacks?

The county circuit has long been aware of Bell’s ability to grind out big scores, he is regarded as England’s best net batsmen and yet a huge question mark hangs over his ability to score big runs in difficult conditions for his country.

Jardine’s verdict: Two double tons against a spirited WIndies attack and he should be allowed to carry the drinks in the 1st test. However, if Vaughny manages to scrape a fifty between now and then he should get in ahead of the Bell”Meister”™ (Billy Cotton 1994).