Bowlers, blunders and Bell focus of UK press

Ian Bell’s form, the bowling of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali, and England’s efforts in the field have dominated the UK press after England’s second Test loss to New Zealand.

England crumbled against the Black Caps bowling attack on day five at Headingley, dismissed for 255 to surrender a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Bell departed for one and has now scored 55 runs from his last eight innings, however the veteran batsman – who scored a century in the Caribbean in April – has plenty of people backing him to return to form against Australia in the Ashes.

Broadcaster Jonathan Agnew said Bell’s problem was more a matter of mentality and confidence than poor form.

“Though he is clearly struggling, Bell will start the Ashes,” Agnew told the BBC. “Alongside Alastair Cook, he provides the experienced backbone to the England batting line-up and he had an outstanding series when Australia last visited in 2013.

“However, between now and 8 July, he must go back to Warwickshire and score some runs, to rediscover the rhythm of batting.”

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan held the same view, saying the 33-year-old needed to look at the example of his captain, who has returned to form after two years without a Test century.

"Ian Bell has got to do what Alastair Cook has done,” Vaughan told the BBC. “He has a lack of confidence for a really high-class player.

“He's got to get his mind back and arrive at Cardiff calm, knowing that he's done everything he possibly can. He's falling for the opposition trap at the moment."

Image Id: ~/media/0499555CDBF1412FAEA8614F4014E80EIan Bell is caught by Kane Williamson // Getty Images

Gary Ballance's output at No.3 may also be a concern for England, after the 25-year-old produced scores of 1, 0, 29 and 6 against New Zealand, and both he and Bell were left out of the England one-day squad to face the Black Caps.

But former batsman Geoffrey Boycott joined the chorus of former players backing Ballance and Bell for the Ashes, albeit due to a lack of viable alternatives.

“Ballance and Bell will be picked for the first Test in Cardiff mainly because there is nobody else crying out to be selected apart from Kevin Pietersen,” Boycott wrote in the UK’s Telegraph.

“The other names being bandied around do not stand out as Test material.

“After more than 100 Tests (Bell) should be self-assured and giving advice to the younger players, not needing that reassurance himself.

“Gary Ballance is a young player making his way in the game and after so much success last year Test cricket has given him a big kick up the backside just when he thought he had worked it out.”

Both Boycott and Agnew questioned the approach of Anderson and Broad in the second Test.

“Stuart Broad is an experienced bowler but our bowling at the tailenders was awful. The tactic and length of trying to bounce out nine, 10 and jack was pathetic,” Boycott said.

Agnew agreed, writing: “There are plenty of things going right for England's pace attack, not least because James Anderson is so potent when the ball swings and Stuart Broad continues to improve after knee surgery.

“However, it is concerning how quickly they wilt when they come under attack, which is what Australia are bound to do.

“Tailenders are at the bottom of the order because they are not as good as the men that bat ahead of them. Why bowl one way to get the best players out, then a totally different way to get the lesser batsmen out?”

Broad and Anderson were also left out of the England ODI squad, while off-spinning allrounder Ali will be rested for the series and return to county cricket.

“I'm sure that Moeen Ali will begin the Ashes as England's first-choice spinner, but he is giving England a problem because he is not providing control,” Agnew said.

“If that is set to be Moeen, then he needs to get back to Worcestershire and bowl, bowl, bowl. It is very difficult for him to learn his craft in the Test arena and is surely one of the reasons why he has been rested from the one-day squad.”

Image Id: ~/media/7F6C2C83C62F4EA1A85FBEA1AFB877AFAlastair Cook's form has been a positive for England // Getty Images

Boycott said England’s slip fielding must also improve.

“There were too many dropped catches at Headingley. England have no chance against Australia if, in every innings, our bowlers have to create 13 or 14 chances to get 10 wickets.”

England legend Sir Ian Botham believes England will be better for the Headingley defeat.

“England were given a bit of a hiding at Headingley – but I’m not sure they could have done too much about it,” Botham wrote in The Mirror.

“I think New Zealand played exceptional cricket.

“(England) have the ability to play at a higher level than this and they will need to against the Aussies, who will come at them just as hard.

“They will be better for this test by New Zealand and they must come up with some better answers.”

Veteran Telegraph reporter Scyld Berry was less generous in his assessment of England’s chances.

“One country in the two-Test series is all ready and equipped to take on Australia. If only it were England,” Berry wrote.

“They could hardly have played more wretchedly than they did in losing the second Test by 199 runs, with all but two of their guns misfiring.

“If England play the same way in the opening Ashes Test at Cardiff on July 8, they are not going to inspire much Welsh support.”