Pietersen, Bell and Morgan!

I'm not judging him solely on this SL series at all.
In SA he had two good tests and two bad tests which was a step forward. Then he had 4 high scoring tests against Bangladesh but missed a tough series against Pakistan through injury.
His ashes performances were outstanding and raised his status as a fine middle order batsman. However, I don't believe he can yet be called world class, his performance against India may well decide this question.

Not trying to be contentious, but out of interest hope, what is the definition of being 'world-class'. Is there one, or is it not subjective opinion?

All I know is that if I were to draw up a current world XI (as someone did on here several days ago), Bell would be in my team.

Agree with lydney,
bell an astute batsman would better be at no.4 and pietersen,as in his early successful days back to no.5.
May be they could experiment not against india but in the series after.

It is subjective as are all judgments of this kind including greatness. I see world class as a player who consistently performs well without producing regular match winning performances. Pietersen was world class but failed to step up to becoming great.
Cook is I believe currently a world class opening bat and I rank Anderson and Swann in the same category.

How would a nervous tendulkar averaging 46 look like?
I think bell WAS same type of player for the most part of his early career.
He got names like sherminator and eternal ???(forgot it)
he always crumbled under pressure.
But now we can see his maturity.now he doesnt become heavily influenced by external situation as he used to.
But again,there hasnt been that testing circumstance for bell of late because already the top order is in world class form and lower mid order too.
So he is not in pressure situation in this strong batting line up as he used to in the poor batting line up earlier.
But again ,i think bell is a fantastic,easy on eye player.certainly world-class,maybe not great...yet.

indiasox,

I agree with you. Bell's problems have been masked with the top order in excellent form. With the top order scoring heavely, he comes in when the opposition is on the mat.

But then again, he can only make runs against what is in front of him. He has done well, but we need to watch him for another couple of years before passing judgement.

Singh

Singh saab you're quite spot on mate.
But whether bell has improved his temperament, thats still to be seen.
Bell is a quality.i would say just like tendulkar....without temperament.
So, 1 question(harsa bhogle asked it),"what does talent(bell's quality) mean anything if not accompanied by consistency(temperament,nervousness,etc)?
So, i would think that bell is(atleast was) a smart, talented, intelligent student who though feels nervous in exam hall and doesnt get the high marks .
I hope thats not the case anymore.i hope that now he doesnt feel nervous anymore in exam hall and give the best answer.
I think he needs some yoga meditation.

Singh saab you're quite spot on mate.
But whether bell has improved his temperament, thats still to be seen.
Bell is a quality.i would say just like tendulkar....without temperament.
So, 1 question(harsa bhogle asked it),"what does talent(bell's quality) mean anything if not accompanied by consistency(temperament,nervousness,etc)?
So, i would think that bell is(atleast was) a smart, talented, intelligent student who though feels nervous in exam hall and doesnt get the high marks .
I hope thats not the case anymore.i hope that now he doesnt feel nervous anymore in exam hall and give the best answer.
I think he needs some yoga meditation.

Find it hard to disagree with your comments hope, especially about Anderson and Swann.

To those who say Bell needs to be tested in high pressure situations, from what I recall he did this several times in South Africa, twice (1st innings first test, and Perth) against Aus and came in at 22-3 at Lords not 2 weeks ago.

Playing the pressure situation was a percieved problem of his (not one that I generally agreed with), but I certainly think he's past that hurdle now.

The old Bell under pressure arguments should have been forgotten by now. He was under massive individual pressure when he came back into the side. He played well in south africa under difficult circumstances and fantastically well in oz which is the most pressure and scrutiny an english player can play under.

He's now the player his talent suggests he should be.