Cricket: Botham's verdict - All a buzz as Bell shows his promise.

Byline: Ian Botham 

IAN BELL'S sharp catch at short leg to make the breakthrough for England yesterday continued a fine individual display which augurs well for the future.

Amid all the tributes to Michael Vaughan's century and Shane Warne's 600th Test wicket on Thursday, perhaps Bell's 59 did not receive the accolades it deserved.

For a young player, who must have felt under some pressure after four low scores in the first two Tests, it was a gritty, gutsy performance which spoke volumes for his temperament.

To weather the storm, when Glenn McGrath and Warne were seeking to make inroads into the England middle order, Bell deserves enormous credit.

Even when he was stuck on 18 for 37 dot balls in a row, he kept his composure when it would have been easy for him to become impatient and throw away his wicket.

And when he broke free of the shackles, Bell played some high-class strokes, including a cover drive off Warne which was as good as anything we have seen in the match.

England may wish they had pressed on to reach 500 yesterday, but the Aussies bowled well in helpful overhead conditions - and Vaughan's men are still very much the side calling the tune.

Freddie Flintoff and Geraint Jones effectively had to build their partnership twice - once when Bell was out, and again when they had to re-boot the innings after a break for rain.

Clearly the game plan was to see off McGrath and Brett Lee with the second new ball and to go after Jason Gillespie, and to some degree it worked.

But Warne was in his element, and he will be a big threat in the later stages of the game when the footmarks are worn and craggy.

After Warne had taken his 600th wicket, I said there would be plenty more batsmen following the first 600 back to the pavilion before he called it a day, and he kept chalking up the milestones yesterday.

We are only halfway through the series and already he has taken 20 wickets, including his 150th in Ashes Tests alone.

CAPTION(S):

BRAVE: Geraint Jones; UNLUCKY: Ian Bell was given out caught behind