I'm gutted not to be selected for South Africa tour, says Ian Bell

Ian Bell has said that he was working tirelessly for the tour

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has axed Ian Bell from the national side for next month’s South Africa tour. The 33-year old English batsman opened up on twitter against this decision.

Bell feels he could have contributed well against South Africa. He said via his twitter account, “I'm absolutely gutted not to be selected for the tour to SA. I certainly feel I could have contributed out there & have been working tirelessly to get into the best possible condition for the tour. I'm going to enjoy a winter break with my family for the first time in 11 years and come back determined to win my place back. Wishing all the guys selected the best of luck.”

I'm absolutely gutted not to be selected for the tour to SA. I certainly feel I could have contributed out there & have been working...

— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) November 19, 2015

..tirelessly 2 get into the best possible condition for the tour. I'm going2enjoy a winter break with my family for the 1st time in 11yrs..

— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) November 19, 2015

..and come back determined to win my place back. Wishing all the guys selected the best of luck.

— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) November 19, 2015

Not just Bell, former English cricketer Kevin Pietersen has also spoken against this decision of ECB by calling it "pathetic," "insane" and "ridiculous." KP said told ESPNcricinfo, “England are playing the best team in the world with one of the best fast bowling attacks the game has seen for years. So not to take one of your most experienced players with a great record against that team is absolutely ridiculous. You have to take him for his experience.”

Pietersen said that Bell’s experience was needed in this tour and the management needs to stand by a player’s during his bad patch. Talking about Belly he said, “He's played 118 Tests and you need that experience on tour. He's probably got another five, six, seven or eight Test hundreds in him.

It is an insane decision to leave him out. Yes, Belly hasn't scored the runs he would have liked of late. But that happens to all players and it's at those times that the management need to stick by him. It's a disgrace they way they've dropped him now."

The 35-year-old cricketer also questioned the board’s decision to retain Alastair Cook despite of his poor performances. He said on BreatheSport, “Captain Cook himself can go two years without a Test hundred but he can play every single game. As for Belly, he struggles a bit - he got a hundred, what nine or 10 Test matches ago? - but he's not good enough to get to the South Africa tour? I think it's pathetic and I think he's been hard done by here. People need to start having a hard look at themselves.”

KP believes Bell will make a strong come back. He said, “Belly isn't over the hill. Of course he can fight his way back from this. I believe he will. He is a class player. You don't score 22 Test centuries without being a top class player. I'm very angry about this.”