Amidst reports of England coach Trevor Bayliss holding talks with Ian Bell for a possible Test comeback, former captain Nasser Hussain feels that Alastair Cook’s team should look to blood in promising batsmen instead of the veteran.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the 48-year old termed recalling Bell as a ‘backward step’ and wanted the selectors to consider younger personnel despite the right-hander’s vast experience in Asia.
Hussain quipped, “There is no doubting Ian Bell's class and his record in the sub-continent. I think he averages over 40 in the sub-continent. But, he didn't have a good time of it in the UAE recently and that is why he was left out.”
He added, “I would personally like to look to the future especially with the tour of Bangladesh. I don't see the mileage of taking Bell, albeit a fantastic player, so I would look to the future.”
Even though the Bangladesh tour is under security cloud, England would want to acclimatize to subcontinental conditions during the 2-Test series there before they embark on a grueling 5-Test trip to India.
Bell has scored 1,479 runs from 24 Tests in Asia at an average of 36.07 with three centuries and nine fifties. In the recently completed series at home against Pakistan, England’s middle-order struggled to negotiate Yasir Shah with the likes of James Vince and Gary Ballance not looking convincing at all.
Pointing out to the upcoming crop of cricketers in the County circuit, Hussain postulated, “But, they have gone for a couple of players like Vince who haven't done much and might want that consistent solidity that Ian Bell would bring. I personally would look to, especially in Bangladesh, blood a youngster and give a youngster an opportunity.”
“Whether that youngster be (Ben) Duckett who has not just done it in one-day cricket or other lads like (Tom) Westley, (Daniel) Bell-Drummond, (Scott) Borthwick, there are other lads who have done fine things this summer.”
Although Bell has 118 Test caps to his name, the selection committee might have to decide if he offers substantial viability at 34. During England’s previous Test tour of India, the Warwickshire batsman had totaled 172 runs from 3 matches at an average of 43 with one century.
Acknowledging the situation at hand, Hussain asserted, “It would be a bit of a backward step. But, I understand that they keep giving people chances and they are not taking them. So, there is that temptation to go back to Ian Bell who is a very fine international cricketer.”
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