‘Looked scared’: Great’s wild claim England ‘inside the heads’ of Aussies despite loss

Regardless of an exhilarating victory within the First Take a look at at Edgbaston, Pat Cummins and co have been branded as “scared” by ex-England batter Ian Bell.

Bell, who scored nearly 8000 runs in a distinguished 11-year profession for England averaging 43 with the bat in Take a look at cricket with 22 centuries, spoke out after the First Take a look at and backed Ben Stokes to guide England to sequence victory.

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“I wouldn’t be in the slightest degree shocked to see Ben Stokes’ workforce come from behind and win the sequence,” Bell instructed a betting company, proclaiming the Poms had been “contained in the heads” of the Aussies.

“I do know a factor or two about coming from behind to win a house Ashes sequence – and I do know a factor or two about Edgbaston epics.”

This week’s thriller at Edgbaston mirrored the 2005 Take a look at on the similar floor to an nearly spooky extent – in 2005, Australia had been set 282 for victory, and this week had been set 281.

Each featured aggressive England batting within the first innings, and each featured wars of phrases between gamers – 18 years in the past, it was Ricky Ponting and Andrew Flintoff, and this week it was Usman Khawaja copping it from Ollie Robinson.

Nevertheless, in contrast to 2005, Australia would emerge victors, with Pat Cummins ending off the job with a gritty fourth-innings 44.

“Again in 2005, once I was proper firstly of my England profession, the tight outcome went our manner,” Bell mentioned.

“If it had gone in opposition to us, possibly we wouldn’t have come again however this England workforce have a lot aggression and are relentless of their strategy that Australia will probably be extraordinarily cautious.”

Bell attacked Australia’s perceived defensive discipline settings, criticising the early use of boundary riders within the first innings.

“I’d go as far to say that Australia have extra to work on,” he mentioned.

“After the primary two days at Edgbaston I used to be amazed how passive Australia had been. It was like England used to play Ashes sequence within the actually dangerous previous days. Australia appeared scared. I noticed that in two examples.

“First, within the discipline setting for England’s batters within the first innings. That they had sweepers out on the off- and on-side after three overs. I’d by no means seen something prefer it and as somebody who has skilled the strain cooker of an Ashes sequence – I received 5 out of seven – being afforded a simple possibility for a single as a batter like that might have been extraordinary.

“It was additionally fascinating how nervous Steve Smith was. Why didn’t he launch himself at Harry Brook? Why did he barely play a stroke in anger?

“As I mentioned, I believe England’s intent has unnerved Australia and the one time they confirmed any aggression themselves was when Alex Carey was out in that extraordinary ultimate innings. Mainly, they solely performed in England’s fashion after they knew they had been crushed they usually had nothing to lose. Psychologically that’s fascinating. Brendon McCullum will decide up on that.

“Within the aftermath of the epic at Edgbaston England will really feel exhausted and vastly disenchanted. However as soon as the mud settles they might come to grasp that regardless of being 1-0 down on this Ashes sequence, they’ve a psychological grip on Australia.”

Bell additionally backed Ollie Robinson’s controversial send-off for Usman Khawaja – the seamer appeared to shout “f*** off, you f***ing p****” on the affable 36-year-old after dismissing him for 141, and despatched the cricket world into meltdown.

“It’ll be spicy on the sphere at occasions – rightly so – and that’s the reason I’ve no subject with Ollie Robinson giving Usman Khawaja a send-off,” he mentioned.

“I had loads of send-offs once I was taking part in this lot, imagine me. It’s a part of it. Perhaps I used to be a bit shocked that Ollie doubled down within the press convention however each phrase he spoke was true. Should you can’t deal with it …”

It comes as Matthew Hayden, who performed in opposition to Bell within the 2005 and 2006/07 Ashes, ripped into Robinson on morning radio in Queensland.

“Then the opposite bloke, he’s a forgettable cricketer,” Hayden mentioned on air with former Take a look at wicketkeeper Ian Healy.

“A quick bowler that’s bowling 124 (km/h) nude nuts and he’s acquired a mouth from the south.”

The Second Take a look at kicks off at Lord’s on June 28.