Cricket: Bell Urges the Return of Mcgrath

Surely Ian Bell's first major Test series has been stressful enough. Shane Warne has given him a mental going-over and Brett Lee has tested his courage. But if that was not enough to be going on with, England's most inexperienced batsman is now calling for Australia to bring on Glenn McGrath for the final Test.

Bell has experienced more than some Test batsmen do in a lifetime, but it seems that he cannot get enough punishment. "In a way it would be nice to see Glenn McGrath playing. If we can retain the Ashes and the best Australian team is on the park then that's the best thing for us," he said.

Well, in a way it would, but in a way it would not. Most England supporters are not that idealistic. Ask them if they want McGrath to have recovered from ankle and elbow ailments next Thursday and, without wishing ill on one of the great fast bowlers, they would take a recall for Jason Gillespie any day of the week.

While most of the rest of us grab lucky breaks wherever we can, England's cricketers are programmed to expect the toughest challenge of all. There is no psychological advantage to be had in hoping that McGrath does not make it for The Oval and then scratching guard against a fast bowler seeking to retain the Ashes for Australia.

But it does not mean that they really want it. When Bell states that he would like to face McGrath, he would say that, wouldn't he? He is a talented and wholesome sort, reading from the Michael Vaughan manual of positive thinking.

Talk of McGrath's "great aura" did not cause him to blink. "We have our game plans and we are wary that he is a fantastic performer, but there is no talk about any of that," he said. "Whichever XI is on the park, we will go out and play good cricket just like the guys have throughout the series."

Bell used the words "on the park" a lot, a disturbing indication that cricket really does imagine that it is the new football.

Happily, he did display one traditional English weakness - few can resist talking about the weather. "I'm pretty sure that there is something in store at The Oval and it will be another nail-biter," he said. "But I would not argue if it rained all week."