Cricket News sort by Ian Ronald Bell

155, 158, 257 – these are England’s scores with the bat in the last three ODIs against India which they ended up losing, perceptibly demonstrating that this is where they lost the series.

England defeated India by 9 runs in the opening ODI at Rajkot. It was a high scoring contest with England setting up India a target of 326 and then winning it by 9 runs.

A Delhi team without four of its big international players went onto upset England in a warm-up One Dayer at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. It was a high scoring game in contrast to the recently played Indo-Pak third ODI. England batting first piled up 294 for 5 on the board in 50 overs with opener Ian Bell top scoring with 108 (from 125 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes).

England have won a Test Series in India after a long gap of 28 years. The Alastair Cook led team defeated India 2-1 following a draw in the dull Nagpur Test.

England’s woeful first innings batting performance brings to the surface, once again, their seemingly insurmountable ineptitude against good spin bowling.

The India-England series, which kicks off on Thursday will not only be a big one for both teams overall, but will also be crucial for certain individuals from both sides for different reasons.

Kevin Pietersen on his comeback for England found some form by scoring a cracking century on the opening day’s play of the tourists’ warm-up match against Haryana at Ahmedabad.

Hosts England have taken a crucial 2-1 lead by defeating South Africa comfortably by 6 wickets with 20 balls to spare in the Fourth ODI at Lord’s on Sunday.

A fighting stand of 124 between Ian Bell and Jonny Bairstow rescued England in the Lord’s Test. By the close of play on Day 2, England are decently placed at 208 for 5 in 72 overs in reply to the visitors’ total of 309. Jonny Bairstow is still batting with a career best knock of 72*.