Matthew Bell, like a lighthouse on a stormy night, communicated an unambiguous message to the national selectors with his second century of the Shell Trophy season on the second day of Wellington’s match against Central Districts at the Basin Reserve
Steve McMorran14-Dec-2000Matthew Bell, like a lighthouse on a stormy night, communicated an unambiguous message to the national selectors with his second century of the Shell Trophy season on the second day of Wellington’s match against Central Districts at the Basin Reserve today.Only 42.5 overs were bowled on a day first delayed, then truncated and continually hampered by poor light and persistent drizzle but Bell managed to advance his overnight score from 71 to 109 and to provide the shining light on a dull day.Wellington, with the additional assistance of Selwyn Blackmore, Chris Nevin and James Franklin, was cumulatively able to increase its overnight score from 153-3 to 297-5 in reply to Central’s first innings of 111.Rain delayed the start of play for 85 minutes, allowed only 31 minutes or 7.1 overs before lunch, then sent the players from the field again and for the last time two minutes before tea, with Nevin 52 and Franklin 23 not out. Stumps were finally drawn in increasing gloom and light rain at 5.45pm.Wellington were frustrated that for the second time in two trophy matches at the Basin Reserve this season, rain had hampered their attempt to capitalise on a strong position at the end of the first day. They led by 186 runs with five first innings wickets in hand but with only two days remaining and with the disconcerting threat of more rain mitigating against their struggle for outright points.Bell remained hopeful at the close of play today that there was enough time before Wellington to allow it to fully press its advantage, though the loss of further play tomorrow might give more urgency to their approach.”We’re pretty happy with the way things have proceeded over the past two days,” he said. “The game’s well advanced even though the weather didn’t help us today. We just have to turn up tomorrow and be prepared to be open-minded. Five sessions to bowl a team out is standard practice and hopefully we can get 300 ahead and take it from there.”Through the gloom today, Bell’s innings shone out as the achievement of a man in sustained, even unshakeable form – relaxed, assured, confident in his preparation and his technique.There has been no communication from the national selectors to Bell so far this season, nor is it in the nature of selectors to keep a fringe player such as the Wellington captain fully apprised of the status of his selection chances. And Bell has learnt from experience not to count on anything.But he is happy with his form and sanguine enough to play his hand and let the chips fall as they may.”There’s been no communication from the selectors,” he said. “I haven’t heard from them and I don’t really expect to. Whether they want me or not is totally up to them. I can only do what I’m doing, score runs, that’s what’s in my control. The rest is up to them.”The Matthew Bell who makes that statement is a very different player, a very different person from the Bell who was propelled into test cricket, perhaps too soon, a season ago and who wilted under intense applied and personal pressure.Bell admits that the discover of a life outside cricket has helped him relax and prosper in his cricketing life.The opener still has his wrapping on at only 23 and is prepared to let the currents of his career drift him where they may. He spent the past off-season coaching, working part-time and studying for papers in sports business and sports marketing which he recently passed.Observation of professional rugby players had shown him that too many top sportsmen become devoured by their sports and lose a sense of the value of the other aspects of their life. Some spend their down time from rugby almost under house arrest, watching videos and playing computer games.Bell became determined, chastened by that example, to “put the left side of his brain to use” and he believes he has grown with the expansion of his horizons. Relaxing and briefly retiring from cricket allowed him to hit this season “fresh and with my batteries recharged”.His recent form is tribute to that revision of priorities.”I’m enjoying it while it lasts,” he said. “I’ve had a bit of luck, admittedly, but you’ve got to get out there and chance your arm. At times last year I got bogged down and became too intense but now I feel much more relaxed.”His innings today took on a stacatto rhythm as he resumed at 71 and went on to 109 in a partnership of 101 with Blackmore for Wellington’s fourth wicket. He occupied the crease with a mixture of sound technique, flawless defence, and sudden, angry flights of aggression, crashing the ball to the boundary around square leg with a series savage pulls.His 100 came up in two minutes more than four hours, from 204 balls and included 19 fours, most on the leg side. His entire innings was of 271 minutes and was peppered by 20 boundaries.Blackmore, who batted at times with an almost glacial slowness, contributed 31 to their 100 partnership – Bell 67 – before going on to reach 41 and falling, lbw to Greg Todd, in the 75th over when Wellington was 223. The exacting medium pace of the 17-year-old Todd was responsible for the dismissal of both Bell and Blackmore 11 runs apart and he finished with 2-26 from 10 overs.Nevin played an important late role, hitting 11 boundaries in reaching a half century from 50 balls, to significantly advance Wellington’s position by stumps. He lived dangerously, popping catchable chances short of fine leg and over cover, but set a galloping pace which allowed Wellington to gain some advantage from the 42.5 overs bowled yesterday. Nevin added 74 in 61 minutes with James Franklin before tea.The players were unable to return in the final session because of rain and failing light, leaving Nevin 52 not out and Franklin 23.