Bell hailed as Englands answer to South Africa

Ian Bell has been hailed as Englands answer to Jacques Kallis and the batsman South Africa will be targeting next week.

London, July 5 : Ian Bell has been hailed as England's answer to Jacques Kallis and the batsman South Africa will be targeting next week.

The accolade comes from legendary former South African fast bowler Allan Donald.

Donald insists that it is only a matter of time before England's flame-haired No 5 delivers consistently on the world stage.

With the First Test at Lord's looming on Thursday, The Sun quoted Donald as saying: "A lot has been said about Belly not producing when the heat is on. But his time will come. He is a quality player and I know South Africa hold him in high esteem - they see him as a bit of a Jacques Kallis and will try to target him."

Bell's Test place came under pressure early in the summer and he again frustrated during the one-dayers against New Zealand with four scores between 20 and 46.

And he is tainted by the statistic that all his seven Test centuries have come when another batsman has already reached three figures in the innings.

He plundered a dazzling 215 from 288 balls against Gloucestershire last weekend - an innings that had Donald drooling.

Donald revealed: "He made it look like a walk in the park, it was fantastic. I don't know why he hasn't done quite as well for England. He has so much time, flair and quality that it's hard to believe he doesn't score consistently for England.

ANI