Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Ian won't be a Belly flop again - The Sun

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The stylish batsman got it badly wrong at the tournament four years ago ? like England overall ? making just one 50 in eight innings.

That flop followed the 5-0 whitewash Ashes tour, in which Bell averaged just 33 and was cruelly dubbed 'The Sherminator' by the Aussies after the geek in the film American Pie.

But having corrected one mistake against Australia with 329 runs at 65 in the recent 3-1 Ashes triumph, Bell is keen to do the same in one-day cricket's main event.

He said: "I played in the World Cup last time and it didn't go to plan. It was a little bit like going and playing in Australia and losing 5-0.

"It was nice to go back and put that right.

"This is another opportunity for the guys who played in the last World Cup to do the same."

Bell admits he and his fellow batsmen must buck their ideas up when the tournament kicks off against the Netherlands in Nagpur on Tuesday.

The Warwickshire star believes they let down their bowling chums in the recent 6-1 one-day reverse Down Under, with only Jonathan Trott consistently converting good starts.

Once that department clicks again, then Bell feels one of England's strengths will return ? applying the squeeze in the field.

He added: "I think with the batting we didn't quite get those big partnerships we needed. People were playing well but we were getting a lot of 20s and 30s. They won't win you many one-dayers.

"But we'll get to our strongest side again soon, in completely different conditions.

"With the bowling attack we have, if we get runs then we have the people to win us games of cricket with the ball. We need to score big runs ? and we'll find a way of doing that.

"If we can do it as a batting unit, we'll have some good success in this World Cup."

Bell was down to start in today's warm-up against Canada in Fatullah, along with reserve fast bowler Chris Tremlett. England sought special dispensation to use the 6ft 8in paceman, despite him not being part of their squad.

Stuart Broad has been hit by a bout of sickness, while Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad are yet to be passed fit with calf and hamstring injuries respectively. Despite Broad's tummy bug, Bell is delighted to see him return to the selection mix after 10 weeks on the sidelines with a torn stomach muscle.

He declared: "We have a few niggles but, hopefully, everyone is coming along in time for the World Cup.

"It is not ideal for us. But we'll get on with it. We knew that was the case coming here.

"Broady's not feeling too good but I'm sure, over the next couple of days, he'll be back on his feet.

"He is as keen as anyone, having missed a fair bit of the winter, to make a real statement in this World Cup.

"We're looking forward to getting him back on the field."

England have been informed by the ICC that Eoin Morgan can return to their squad only if another batsman goes down injured during the tournament.

The Irish-born left-hander was replaced by Ravi Bopara after fracturing a finger, but has since been told it is nearly healed.

a.martin@the-sun.co.uk




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Sunday, 6 February 2011

Schumacher won't be much better than last year, reckons Hamilton - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

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Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he doesn?t expect record-breaking multiple F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher to be noticeably stronger in 2011 than he was in 2010 ? as he himself vowed not to change his famously uncompromising driving style regardless of whether circumstances require it.

Schumacher was far from the invincible force he had once been when he made his much-hyped return to the grid with Mercedes Grand Prix last season ? finding himself routinely outpaced, outperformed and outscored by young team-mate and compatriot Nico Rosberg. Cue a number of raised eyebrows when Ferrari?s Fernando Alonso mischievously pinpointed the German legend as his greatest threat this year [see separate story ? click here].

Whilst Jenson Button warns that it would be unwise in the extreme ever to write the 91-time grand prix-winner off, his own McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Hamilton does not seem to think he will have much to fear from ?Schumi? over the coming months.

?I think when Michael gets the car around him that he feels he has been a part of, he will be competitive,? Button mused. ?With Ross [Brawn ? team principal] at the helm, they?ll produce a competitive car and give Nico and Michael a chance to have good results. They?re definitely a team that will be fighting for victories this year.?

?He?s a seven-time world champion, so you have to assume he will be at his best this year if he wants to be, and if his car and his team have done a good job,? reflected Hamilton, before adding: ?Personally, I don?t think it?s going to be much different to the previous season, but he can easily prove us wrong.?

As to his own preparations, the 2008 F1 World Champion conceded that whilst his hard-charging, balls-out on-track manner might feasibly have cost him greater success during his fledgling top flight career to-date ? with Shanghai, 2007 the most obvious example of paying the price for pushing just too hard, an error that arguably lost him the crown in his maiden campaign ? he will not be moderating his approach.

?I?d love to have won more races, more championships, especially that first year,? the 26-year-old confessed, in bullish spirits at the Berlin unveiling of McLaren?s MP4-26 contender. ?I look back and it?s ?could have, should have, would have? ? [but] I didn?t get where I am today without driving this way. I?ve been able to win championships throughout my life, in every category I have ever competed in ? and that?s a lot of championships.

?There have been times when my driving style has not suited the car, the tyres or the tracks where I?ve raced ? but I?ve always driven like this and always will. I?ll always be the last to brake ? it?s how I am, that?s what makes me who I am.?




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