Bell Stuck in the Halfway House

England's top-scorer Ian Bell admitted to having mixed feelings after top scoring on the first day of the fifth Test. It was his fourth half-century of the series, but Bell is aware that he has not converted any of those starts into centuries.

He made 71 out of England's total of 234 for four, a total trimmed down by a rain delay at the start of the day. England won the toss and chose to bat first as they began their effort to avoid suffering the first Ashes whitewash since the 1920-21 series. Bell shared a stand of 108 with Kevin Pietersen before both lost their wickets in quick succession - leaving Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood to bat through until bad light brought an early close.

Bell reflected with some satisfaction, as well as just a tinge of regret, after coming through some tough conditions early on only to lose his wicket when apparently well set. "It did a bit - and credit to Australia, because I thought they bowled really well," he said. "There was a period when Kevin and I were out there and they made it hard work, which we had to get through."

As for his own contribution, Bell conceded he once again had not quite finished the job. "It is something I will look back on and be pretty disappointed about," he said. "I wanted to go on and score hundreds here. Even though I am pleased with the way I have played, it is disappointing not to go on and get a hundred again. It is a nice problem to have, getting past fifty - but it is something I need to look at, because the top players in the world do go on."

The Australia coach John Buchanan confirmed that England had edged the play when he said: "We would have liked to have got one or two more wickets."

Glenn McGrath struck twice for the hosts; both his wickets (Bell and Pietersen) came after a tea-time tribute that featured a video montage of the highlights of his career and a rendition of "Time to say goodbye".

Justin Langer's recent announcement of his own retirement obviously took the caterers aback as, while his fellow retirees Warne and McGrath were both presented with cakes emblazoned with their photographs, Langer had to make do with a plateful of profiteroles.

Buchanan still harbours hopes of a celebratory victory, "England played resolutely through the day - but I think it is almost even stevens, " he said. "We are all scratching our heads at the plays and misses, but that happens on a wicket that is doing a bit. Bell hung around and did a good job for them."

England will be all too aware that a bad morning tomorrow could undo the success of the first day.