England can't afford to stick with Alastair Cook and Ian Bell again

10 April 2012

Kevin Pietersen would have taken a battering from England cricket fans had Andrew Strauss's team lost the First Test, but it is two of his fellow batsmen who should fear for their places in next week's second encounter in Durban.

Pietersen was criticised heavily for the barmy run-out that sparked the collapse which almost led to defeat against South Africa at Centurion.

As it was, England provided a repeat of their second-innings display in the first Ashes Test in July, when a final-wicket stand between Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar denied Australia.

This time, it was Graham Onions - who survived the final over from Makhaya Ntini - and Cardiff hero Paul Collingwood who were there at the end to ensure England go to Durban all square. The Durham pair were rightly commended for their fortitude, yet without Pietersen's 145-run stand with Jonathan Trott, to which KP contributed a fluent 81, England would now be 1-0 down.

Yes, the eccentric Pietersen took an unnecessary risk, charging like a bull towards the non-striker's end when there was clearly no single on offer, allowing Friedel de Wet to complete the run-out as Trott watched helplessly.

But Pietersen occupied the crease for three hours and 11 minutes, building the platform which enabled England to make their narrow escape.

Compare Pietersen's effort, and those of Trott and Collingwood, to the performances of Alastair Cook and Ian Bell, who scored a combined total of 34 runs in their four innings.

Even though he has managed only 249 runs in his last 11 Test innings at an average of 22.63, the England management appear to consider Cook fireproof. With no reserve opening batsman on tour, it is inconceivable that the Essex player will be left out of the Boxing Day Test at Kingsmead, which would be his 50th Test cap.

Strauss, coach Andy Flower and the selectors might, however, come to regret the decision not to bring a third opener, such as Kent's Joe Denly, to South Africa. Although Cook has hit nine Test centuries and still averages 42.09, he never looked convincing during last summer's Ashes series, and continues to look shaky against Graeme Smith's men.

Bell, meanwhile, was included in the XI for this Test only because England decided to field six specialist batsmen, and will surely lose his place should Strauss and Flower opt for an extra bowler on Saturday.

The Warwickshire man's quality has never been in doubt but there was a horrible inevitability to his brief innings yesterday.

Whatever his talent, Bell is simply not the man for a crisis, while if England are to win this series, they need more variety in their bowling.

Only 17 South African wickets were taken at Supersport Park, so Nottinghamshire's left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom should be the man to come in for Bell (right).

With his constant muttering at the opposing batsmen and frequent displays of exasperation with his team-mates, Sidebottom is the Victor Meldrew of the England cricket team, inspiring irritation and mirth alike among players and fans. When fully fit, though, he is a skilful bowler, capable of complementing Anderson, Stuart Broad and Onions, as well as adding aggression to an England seam attack that can occasionally appear too passive when the game is going against the side.

The conditions at Durban are expected to provide more assistance to swing bowling than those at Centurion, and, if this is the case, Sidebottom ought to be a shoo-in.

He will provide another test for South Africa's classy right-handers AB De Villiers - who took a stunning slip catch to remove Trott for 69 - Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla.

Trott might have played only two Tests but already he looks a proper Test match No3. Compared to Ravi Bopara's nervy presence during the Ashes series, the South African-born Trott is coolness personified.

Had it not been for De Villiers' brilliant piece of fielding and a fine lifting ball from De Wet, Trott would almost certainly have finished the job.

As it was, his stay at the crease, which lasted five hours and 16 minutes, proved sufficient, although the Warwickshire man left the field nursing a sore thumb after being struck by De Wet's vicious delivery.

Strauss and Flower will hope that it is not serious, because with Kallis likely to be able to make a decent bowling contribution at Durban after a rib injury restricted him to just three overs at Centurion, England will need more of the same from Trott and Pietersen.

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