Injury Scare For England

Ian Bell
By Tom Bason
November 21 2006

England’s Ashes preparations were potentially sent into disarray today as Ian Bell emerged from a session in the nets with a bruised wrist, after being hit by a James Anderson delivery.

With the opening Test just days away, England can barely afford another drop-out following Marcus Trescothick’s withdrawal and Michael Vaughan still sidelined with injury. Trescothick’s replacement, 28-year old Irishman Ed Joyce is in line for a debut in the hostile Gabba stadium.  However, Joyce’s Middlesex team-mate and England’s vice captain Andrew Strauss claimed that Joyce would be able to handle the pressure.  Strauss told the BBC that “Ed is probably one of the coolest, most laid-back people I know. He's proved for Middlesex a lot of times that under pressure is when he's at his best. So if he does have to come in he will do very well but we're still very hopeful that Belly will be fit.” Bell is set to receive treatment and his fitness will be assessed on Wednesday before Freddy Flintoff and Duncan Fletcher make the final decision about Thursday’s line-up.  Should Bell not make the opening Test, Ashley Giles may play ahead of fan’s favourite Monty Panesar, as Fletcher aims to make the bating line-up as solid as possible to cover for Joyce’s inexperience.