England might recall Ian Bell for Tests in India and Bangladesh
With the English middle order failing to look reassuring despite the team's more than a decent run in Test cricket, head coach Trevor Bayliss is contemplating recalling the experienced Ian Bell, who last played for the national side in November 2015, for the Test series in Bangladesh and India later this year.
According to the Guardian, Bayliss had held talks with Bell recently during the latter’s county match for Warwickshire against Surrey.
Bell, 34, is one of the most experienced English cricketers around, having played 118 Tests for the national side in an international career that has spanned well over eleven years. More importantly, Bell’s ability to play spin bowling could come in pretty handy for the English side who will do well to learn from the mistakes Australia made in their squad selection for the Sri Lankan Test series before being whitewashed 3-0 by the hosts.
While England have exhibited an aggressive brand of cricket lately with the focus largely being on blooding in promising young cricketers, the likes of James Vince and Gary Ballance have failed to justify the faith shown by theEnglish selectors forcing them to move their thoughts back to Bell, who has not played for England since the 2-0 defeat by Pakistan in the UAE in November last year.
While the English selectors are expected to meet within the next fortnight to decide upon the Test teams for the Bangladesh series, Bell’s request for a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) amidst reports that he is close to signing a deal with the Perth Scorchers franchise to make his Big Bash League debut could force them to make a call on Bell within the next few days.
Even if Bell gets picked for the Test series in England, Bell would miss only the opening match for the Scorchers in the sixth edition of the BBL on December 23 which is only a couple of days after the scheduled end of the fifth Test in Chennai.
While Bell may not have the numbers to warrant a place in the Test side, having scored only one hundred in 16 first-class innings, Bell’s vast experience could come in handy as England hope to emulate the incredible success of 2012 when they won an away series against India for the first time in 27 years.
However, after going 21 Test innings without a century, Bayliss will have a lot of convincing to do to make skipper Alastair Cook give the go ahead for picking the veteran batsman.