Pietersen lauds Bell for wresting initiative

Jul 14, 2013 |

Kevin Pietersen hailed Ian Bell for wresting the initiative from Australia in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge and defended Stuart Broad from allegations of bad sportsmanship.

It was a potentially decisive partnership, with the most runs ever scored by a side in the fourth innings to win a Test at Trent Bridge the 284/6 England made against New Zealand at the Nottingham ground in 2004.
Yet throughout his career Bell has faced accusations he doesn’t score runs when England most need them.
However, there was no doubting the importance of his near five-and-a-half hours at the crease on Friday and Pietersen said: “He is backed incredibly well in our dressing room. He has proven why we think he is a fantastic player.
“He has come out there and played a very mature innings on quite a tough wicket. He had to play with a lot of discipline.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Peter Siddle, asked if he’d ever seen a bigger edge than Broad’s not given out, jokingly replied: “I don’t know, maybe in the backyard off my brother!”

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