‘Australian team looked scared at Edgbaston…’, former England legend’s big statement

England vs Australia, The Ashes 2023, Ian Bell: Former England batsman Ian Bell believes that Australia looked scared in the first two days of the first Ashes Test played at Edgbaston. Along with this, he said that despite winning the match by two wickets, the team led by Pat Cummins still has a lot of work to do.

Captain Pat Cummins scored an unbeaten 44 and stitched a match-winning 55-run ninth-wicket partnership with Nathan Lyon (16 not out) to guide Australia to a thrilling victory in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Australia successfully chased 281 runs on the last day.

Australia looked scared at Edgbaston – Ian Bell

Wisden quoted Ian Bell as saying, “I would go so far as to say that Australia have much more work to do. After the first two days at Edgbaston, I was surprised to see how passive Australia were. It was like England actually playing an Ashes series in the old days. Australia looked scared. I saw it in two instances.”

The former stylish batsman further added, “First of all, in the field setting for the England batsmen in the first innings. They had sweepers on the off and on side after three overs. I had never seen that and as a person Who has experienced the pressure of the Ashes series.”

‘Steve Smith was nervous’

Bell said Australia only seemed to match England’s aggression when Alex Carey was batting in the first innings. He added, “It was also interesting 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 said, I think England’s intent troubled Australia and the only time they showed such aggression themselves was when Alex Carey was dismissed in that extraordinary final innings.”

He further added, “Basically they only played in the England style when they knew they had lost and had nothing to lose. Psychologically it’s attractive. Brendon McCullum will pick up on it. At Edgbaston “England will feel tired and extremely disappointed after the defeat. But once the situation settles down, they may realize that they have a psychological hold over Australia despite being 1-0 down in this Ashes series.”

Ian Bell has backed Ben Stokes to steer England to a series win as the hosts aim to bounce back from being 1-0 down through the second Test starting at Lord’s on June 28.