It was really stupid on my part says Bell

Nottingham: After being at the centre of the run-out drama, England batsman Ian Bell admitted that it was "naive and stupid" on his part to walk off the crease, assuming that the tea break had been called on day three of the second Test against India here on Sunday.

"It was being naive on my part to assume the ball was dead and walk off for tea, it was stupid," stated Bell whose stupendous 159 was overshadowed by the run-out drama at the stroke of tea.


Bell was controversially given run out when he left the crease after completing a run, assuming that the ball is dead and tea had been called.

The batsman was, however, called back after the Indian team, in a fine gesture, withdrew its appeal. "Morgan had clipped one off his pads right down to the boundary, the fielder had dived, it looked like having gone for four, the fielders body-language suggested so. I had touched down for the third (run) and turned and saw Asad (umpire Asad Rauf) pull out the jumper and looked like he was going to hand it over to the bowler," Bell said.

"My initial reaction was naive and to walk off for tea. I walked up to Morgan. I wasn't attempting a run and everything was meandering towards walking off for tea. It wasn't until we reached the boundary ropes, we realised something had changed.

"We felt something was going on. But not thinking it involved us. We were waiting to understand. Even then it was a shock (when I was given out)."

Bell revealed that it was at the very last moment that he was told he could resume his innings. "It was at the very last minute. Prior had padded up to go. There was this last-minute knock on the door that I could go out and bat. After the captains and coaches had met, India had got back to us."

INDIA VS ENGLAND 2nd test 3 rd day Highlights

Nottingham: A magnificent 159 by Ian Bell and some uninspiring bowling by the Indians allowed England to march to an imposing total of 441/6 at the end of day three of the second Test at Nottingham on Sunday.

At stumps, Matt Prior was sitting pretty on 64 while Tim Bresnan was giving him company on 47 as the home team extended their lead to 374.

Prior and Bresnan stretched their unbeaten stand to 102 after India struck back with quick wickets in the post tea session.

Yuvraj Singh dismissed Bell who edged a rising delivery to first slip where VVS Laxman took a sharp catch.

Praveen Kumar then picked up Eoin Morgan's wicket for 70, and was unlucky not to get Jonathan Trott off the very next delivery.

It looked like a clear leg before wicket decision but the umpire ruled the batsman not out. Trott though did not survive long and was finally out in Praveen's next over for just two.

Earlier, in a magnanimous move, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni called back Bell after the latter was declared run out under bizarre circumstances off the last ball before tea.

Morgan flicked the ball off his legs and a sprawling dive by Praveen Kumar at the deep square leg boundary prevented the ball from touching the boundary skirting.

Bell assuming that tea had been called jogged up to Morgan and the two batsmen started walking off before the bails were whipped off at the batsman's end.

The decision was referred to third umpire Billy Bowden who gave the decision in favour of the fielding team which was reversed subsequently.

Bell and Morgan pressed on for England after the loss of Kevin Pietersen as the home team went into tea at 252/4.

Pietersen struck seven boundaries and scored 63 before nicking one to MS Dhoni off the bowling of S Sreesanth.

England progressed to 130/2 at lunch with Bell on 84 and Pietersen on 20 as the hosts moved ahead by 63 runs with eight second innings wickets still in their bag.

Sreesanth struck a crucial blow for India by sending back England skipper Andrew Strauss as the hosts carried on from their overnight score of 24/1.

India tour of England 2011 Schedule

England cricket board confirmed that India will tour England for four match test series, one T20I and five ODIs in the later part of July 2011. With India currently holding number one position in ICC test ranking, ECB thinks it will be great summer for English crowd to watch the battle between two good teams. The four test matches will be played at Lord's, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston and The Oval. First test match will begin from July 21st, while second will be played from 29th July, third will be from August 10th and final test will be played from 18th August to 22nd August 2011. India will play only one twenty20 internationals against England on 31st August 2011 at Old Trafford, Manchester. The ODI series will be played at Chester-le-Street, Southampton, London and Cardiff. India v England complete Fixtures Series 2011 Fixtures (All timings are mentioned in GMT+05:30) Timing Teams Venue Results Fri 15 Jul – Sun 17 Jul 15:30 PM Tour Game - Somerset v India County Ground, Taunton Match Drawn Thu 21 Jul – Mon 25 Jul 15:30 PM 1st Test - India v England Lord's, London England won by 196 Runs Fri 29 Jul – Tue 2 Aug 15:30 PM 2nd Test - India v England Trent Bridge, Nottingham England Won by 319 runs Fri 5 Aug – Sat 6 Aug 15:30 PM Tour Game - Northamptonshire v India County Ground, Northampton Wed 10 Aug – Sun 14 Aug 15:30 PM 3rd Test - India v England Edgbaston, Birmingham Thu 18 Aug – Mon 22 Aug 15:30 PM 4th Test - India v England Kennington Oval, London Thu 25 Aug 14:45 PM Tour Game - Sussex v India County Ground, Hove Fri 26 Aug (D/N) 19:00 PM Tour Game - Kent v India St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury Mon 29 Aug 19:00 PM Tour Game – Leicestershire v India Grace Road, Leicester Wed 31 Aug (D/N) 22:30 PM Only T20I - India v England Old Trafford, Manchester Sat 3 Sep 14:45 PM 1st ODI - India v England Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street Tue 6 Sep (D/N) 18:30 PM 2nd ODI - India v England The Rose Bowl, Southampton Fri 9 Sep (D/N) 18:30 PM 3rd ODI - India v England Kennington Oval, London Sun 11 Sep 14:45 PM 4th ODI - India v England Lord's, London Fri 16 Sep (D/N) 18:30 PM 5th ODI - India v England Sophia Gardens, Cardiff