Bresnan lauded after India tie

Bell, who shared a stand of 170 with his captain after Indian master Tendulkar had become the first man to make five World Cup hundreds, believes Bresnan’s 5-48 on a near perfect batting pitch deserved the most praise.

Bresnan, on his 26th birthday, managed to bowl a maiden to Tendulkar in full flight at one stage and returned at the climax to take three wickets in four balls as India faltered slightly to 338 all out.

England’s bowlers will be back at the same venue, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, to face Ireland in their third Group B match today.

“The wickets have been very hard to bowl on,” said Bell. “To have a guy who gets 5-48 in 10 overs for me is the outstanding performance, not someone who scores at six an over or more. His was the performance of the day on that kind of surface. It was an incredible effort.”

Bell is wary of the threat posed by unheralded Ireland, but is confident England have the potential to perform even better.

“We haven’t played our best cricket yet – and we have just tied with India, chasing 338.

“That has got to be a good sign.”

Bresnan had to carry the England attack, in the absence of the ill Stuart Broad and with James Anderson conceding more than 90 runs in under 10 overs.

Broad had to miss Sunday`s match because of a stomach upset but the fast bowler’s condition has improved.