BELL: KP NOT NUTS
Ian Bell has backed new captain Kevin Pietersen to help England emulate the Ashes glory of 2005 when the Australians tour next summer.
Swashbuckling batsman Pietersen was named as Michael Vaughan's successor as skipper for the final Test against South Africa at the Oval. England won the match on Monday - their only victory of the series - and KP impressed in the field and at the crease.
After the six-wicket win, and despite England losing the series 2-1, KP claimed that England could reclaim the Ashes urn next year.
And Warwickshire batsman Bell says the South African-born Pietersen is the right man to lead England.
The 26-year-old No3, who was England's second highest scorer behind Pietersen in the South Africa series, said: "I think KP is dead right - we can beat the Australians next year.
"I think that we have the ability in the dressing room to regain the Ashes urn, without a doubt. You only have to look at the players we have in the team - there is certainly enough there to win the Ashes again.
"We have the ability to do it but we have to put that together with consistency. We have to perform how we know we can a lot more regularly.
"We just need to make sure that we produce the cricket that we did at the Oval in the last Test against South Africa on a much more consistent basis.
"One thing we haven't done for the last 12 months is produce that standard of cricket in back-to-back games. We have done the business occasionally, in one-off matches, then put in a couple of poor performances."
Bell dismissed claims that the Oval Test was a dead rubber match, with the Proteas having already sewn up the series, and believes that England should take great confidence from the win.
He continued: "Every time you play a Test match for your country you have pride. I'm sure the South African guys were trying to win - everyone does as soon as you put that shirt on.
"It was a full Test match and it was important that we improved. As a player you never know when your last Test match is. Everyone was dying to play in that game and it was great that the result went our way."
Bell, who has played 43 Tests and has an average of more than 42, praised Pietersen, adding: "KP had a great week - not just with the captaincy but with the bat too. That is exactly what you need in a leader.
"As a team everyone is behind him and I hope we can move forward and start putting in good, consistent performances more regularly now."
In the new ICC Test rankings, which were published on Tuesday, England dropped one place to fifth in the world, having lost to second-placed South Africa. Sri Lanka moved up to fourth after beating India, who remain third.
England spin king Monty Panesar, who had the best bowling average of the series - 13 wickets at 31.69 - moved into the world's top 10 for the first time.
The 26-year-old is now equal with Indian legend Anil Kumble. Jimmy Anderson also moved up to a career-best 15th, while Ryan Sidebottom dropped a place to sixth.
Ian Bell has backed new captain Kevin Pietersen to help England emulate the Ashes glory of 2005 when the Australians tour next summer.
Swashbuckling batsman Pietersen was named as Michael Vaughan's successor as skipper for the final Test against South Africa at the Oval. England won the match on Monday - their only victory of the series - and KP impressed in the field and at the crease.
After the six-wicket win, and despite England losing the series 2-1, KP claimed that England could reclaim the Ashes urn next year.
And Warwickshire batsman Bell says the South African-born Pietersen is the right man to lead England.
The 26-year-old No3, who was England's second highest scorer behind Pietersen in the South Africa series, said: "I think KP is dead right - we can beat the Australians next year.
"I think that we have the ability in the dressing room to regain the Ashes urn, without a doubt. You only have to look at the players we have in the team - there is certainly enough there to win the Ashes again.
"We have the ability to do it but we have to put that together with consistency. We have to perform how we know we can a lot more regularly.
"We just need to make sure that we produce the cricket that we did at the Oval in the last Test against South Africa on a much more consistent basis.
"One thing we haven't done for the last 12 months is produce that standard of cricket in back-to-back games. We have done the business occasionally, in one-off matches, then put in a couple of poor performances."
Bell dismissed claims that the Oval Test was a dead rubber match, with the Proteas having already sewn up the series, and believes that England should take great confidence from the win.
He continued: "Every time you play a Test match for your country you have pride. I'm sure the South African guys were trying to win - everyone does as soon as you put that shirt on.
"It was a full Test match and it was important that we improved. As a player you never know when your last Test match is. Everyone was dying to play in that game and it was great that the result went our way."
Bell, who has played 43 Tests and has an average of more than 42, praised Pietersen, adding: "KP had a great week - not just with the captaincy but with the bat too. That is exactly what you need in a leader.
"As a team everyone is behind him and I hope we can move forward and start putting in good, consistent performances more regularly now."
In the new ICC Test rankings, which were published on Tuesday, England dropped one place to fifth in the world, having lost to second-placed South Africa. Sri Lanka moved up to fourth after beating India, who remain third.
England spin king Monty Panesar, who had the best bowling average of the series - 13 wickets at 31.69 - moved into the world's top 10 for the first time.
The 26-year-old is now equal with Indian legend Anil Kumble. Jimmy Anderson also moved up to a career-best 15th, while Ryan Sidebottom dropped a place to sixth.
Labels: England, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Monty Panesar, South Africa
