LONDON, England (AFP) — Ian Bell’s third hundred in successive Ashes matches saw England fight back against Australia in the second Test at Lord’s yesterday.
Ashes-holders England were 289 for seven at stumps on the first day, having been in dire straits at 28 for three when Bell came in.Yet just when it seemed England had regained control, part-time leg-spinner Steven Smith took three wickets for 18 runs in six overs late in the day.Tim Bresnan was seven not out and nightwatchman James Anderson four not out at the close.Bell’s 109 was the same score as he made in the second innings of England’s 14-run first Test win at Trent Bridge last week, with both these centuries following his 115 in the final match of the 2010/11 Ashes in Sydney.The 31-year-old was the fourth Englishman to score centuries in three consecutive Ashes Tests after Jack Hobbs, who did it twice, in 1911/12 and 1924/25, Walter Hammond in 1928/29 and Chris Broad, whose son Stuart was in England’s side yesterday, in 1986/87.Bell, together with Warwickshire colleague Jonathan Trott (58) and Jonny Bairstow (67), shared partnerships of 99 and 144.Yet England’s grip was loosened when Smith dismissed Bell, Bairstow and Matt Prior.“Today was about trying to get as many runs as we could and if that comes with it that’s good,” said Bell of his record-equalling century.“Credit has to go to Australia, (Ryan) Harris coming back into the team bowled well. Jonathan Trott and myself had to leave really well.After the teams were presented before play to Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of both Britain and Australia, it was the tourists who bossed the early exchanges.England were soon three wickets down with skipper Alastair Cook, opening partner Joe Root and dangerman Kevin Pietersen all out cheaply.Shane Watson got the ball rolling for Australia when he brought one back into Cook’s pads to have the left-hander lbw for 12.Harris, recalled after Australia dropped the wayward Mitchell Starc, then took two wickets in an over.The 33-year-old, playing just the 13th Test of his injury-ravaged career and first in more than a year, had Root lbw in his third over.England’s Ian Bell plays a shot off the bowling of Australia’s Peter Siddle during the Ashes Test at Lord’s cricket ground in London, yesterday. (PHOTO: AP)View the original article here
Bell chimes in with another ton
