Ian Bell under consideration for England tours in subcontinent
Apr 6, 2019 at 2:16 PM
England Test batsman Ian Bell is being considered for a possible Test recall this winter, having already been sounded out by the England head coach, Trevor Bayliss, regarding his desire to return. England is preparing for a gruelling trip to the subcontinent next month. Bell has a chance to select in Test squad for the tour.
Ian Bell, 34, has not played for England since the 2-0 defeat by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in November last year. But England’s middle-order problems can make a possible return for Bell. 118 Test caps and 11 years of international experience of this right-hand batsman could yet see him win a place for the tours to Bangladesh and India.
Bell has played 24 Tests in Asia and boasts centuries in both Bangladesh and India and was part of England’s drought-breaking win in India in 2012. While the veteran’s county form hasn’t been spectacular in 2016 – 520 runs at 37.14 with one century for Warwickshire – his output has been far greater than the newcomers to England’s fragile batting unit.
James Vince and Gary Ballance each failed to register a Test century this northern winter in England’s 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka and 2-all draw with freshly crowned world No.1 Test team Pakistan.
Vince, in particular, struggled at the top level, scoring just 221 runs in 11 innings with a top score of 42. After he was dismissed for a three-ball duck in England’s second innings at The Oval this month, Vince was slammed by former England captain Geoffrey Boycott, who called for an end to the 25-year-old’s Test career.
While Bell could be playing the five-day format again next month, he’s also been linked with KFC Big Bash League club Perth Scorchers for the upcoming summer. The elegant stroke player was the leading run-scorer for his T20 side Birmingham Bears this summer, amassing 489 runs, and five half-centuries.
The first of England’s two Tests against Bangladesh starts on November 20 in Chittagong.