Bell's been England's 3rd most successful batsman in the past 18 months after Strauss and Pietersen. I don't see how people claim he's not cut out for International cricket. He's got a very decent record and has just got into a rough spell. He's ironed out the technical issues that plagued him last summer, and he's just gotta get over the mental issues which will come from scoring runs in County Cricket. He has to play in the Ashes, he averages 65 in England's first innings at home, and those are runs we're going to struggle without.
Michael Vaughan was successful opening the batting, and he and Bell are very similar players, Bell's probably better technically than Vaughan. I think Bell could do a fantastic job at the top of the order. He'd thrive on the quicks trying to get early swing by pitching it up and could get us off to a fantastic start alongside Strauss. He also scores hundreds, his 199 against South Africa is proof of that, was a fantastic innings against one of the best attacks in the world. I'd give him a go, could be a revelation, Simon Katich-esque.
Strauss has played beautifully, had abit of luck, but it's as good as I've seen him play for a long long time. He's been very negative with his batting for a while, putting alot of his strokes away, but this innings has been vintage 2004/5 Strauss. Really good signs coming up to the Ashes. Hope he makes a big hundred!
