Ian Bell: Time for a change

Thats is why we should put him right at the top.He has always been used as a explosive batsman or like a pinch hitter.We should try his temperament by sending him 1 down.He can have a free stroke play and can possibly be a pinch hitter with the liberty to swing the bat without much pressure.Just a thought though :0

Putting players in positions they have never batted before is just setting them up for failure. Not to mention the fact that Morgan does not have the skills required to bat at number 3. Furthermore, in his career, he has really struggled against left-arm fast bowlers, this alone makes him a poor choice to play against Australia. Joe Root is England's long term solution to batting at number 3.

www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2015/content/story/903711.html

A fine career, he has had, too: 112 Tests, 22 centuries and an average of 43.18 is impressive by any standards.

He has also played a part in a team that went to No. 1 in the world and won four Ashes series.

If this is the end, he can look back with pride.

Absolutely, Ketch. He has a lot to be proud of and his contributions will not be forgotten. He is still one of only four English batsman to score a century in three successive Ashes matches. He was by far and away England's best batsman in the 2013 Ashes series. Sadly, Father Time catches up to everyone.

Still, not everyone feels this way, and many of Bell's defenders claim that his poor run of form has just been a temporary blip and point to his career average of 43 as a reason why he still warrants inclusion in the team. The numbers definitely suggest otherwise:

Bell's average by calendar year since 2012.

2012: 33.60 in 14 matches
2013: 41.87 in 14 matches
2014: 34.76 in 8 matches
2015: 20.84 in 7 matches

To take this a step further, since 2012, Bell has played in 14 Test series. He has averaged 40+ in just 4 of those series, and 50+ in only 2.

2012
3 matches vs Pakistan - 8.50 average
2 matches vs Sri Lanka - 27.66 average
3 matches vs West Indies - 111.00 average
3 matches vs South Africa - 28.80 average
3 matches vs India - 43.00 average

2013
3 matches vs New Zealand - 38.36
2 matches vs New Zealand - 18.25
5 matches vs Australia - 62.44
5 matches vs Australia - 26.11

2014
2 matches vs Sri Lanka - 34.25
5 matches vs India - 42.42

2015
3 matches vs West Indies - 31.00
2 matches vs New Zealand - 10.75
2 matches vs Australia - 18.25

In reality, Bell has put together just 2 great series since 2012; the 2012 series against West Indies where he scored 3 fifties in 4 innings and the aforementioned 2013 home Ashes series where he scored 3 centuries and was the backbone of the England team. There is no denying or downplaying his contributions to that series.

He had a solid start to his Test career, averaging 39.79 in his first 49 Tests. He went on an absolute tear over his next 20 Tests, averaging 81.86 with 8 centuries, when he was in the form of his life, but since then, over his last 43 Tests, he has averaged just 34.28.

That average of 34.28 since 2012 is a large sample size and not indicative of a temporary loss of form, it is his true talent level. To put this into some historical context, since 1990, there have been 94 top-order batsman (1-6) to have played in 43+ Test matches. An average of 34.28 ranks him at 83. That is woeful.

How much long can the selectors stick with Bell? His average over the last 12 months is a paltry 24.29. He averaged 26.87 against Australia this series. The only top order batsman to have played 5 matches and have a lower average over this period are Adam Lyth, Devon Smith and Mitch Marsh.

Stretching it back further, Bell has averaged just 29.24 over the last 2 years.

For comparison, the struggling Michael Clarke has averaged 25.18 over the last 12 months and 34.03 over the last 2 years.

Analog is back ! 

                                     

He should retire, or at least go away until he can bat again

Please get Bell out of the team. He no longer belongs on an international cricket pitch. Two big dropped catches and a below average score on one of the flattest wickets ever produced in the first Test, and now dismissed for 4 in the second Test. With England still in search of an opening partner for Cook, they can't keep carrying Bell and Buttler, who at this point are walking wickets. Buttler at least adds value behind the stumps with his keeping. Get James Taylor in the team.

tick tock tick tock.  clock ticking away on his career

Great Bell fan but it would appear time has come to thank him for his sterling service.

To average about 20 in his last 20 innings is not good enough for such an exceptional talent.

I suspect he will get the last test, unless he announces his retirement.

I think it is good we have given players a good run and even have Mo open and I am grateful we have ceased making wholesale changes of the past. However I think it is time to take stock.

Mo is wasted at 8 but opening has proven to be unsuccessful so I would get Halo in for the next test to test his temperament in these conditions.

I would suggest Bairstow keeps, although I do not think his keeping is as good as Jos', and Jos' takes a break as he is all at sea and has been for quite some time. My only concern with this suggestion is the net worth of a good keeper is invaluable, especially in these conditions.

Belly is in the twilight of his career but if either of or both Cook and Root does not score, we are in serious trouble. Even Stokes is proving to be very inconsistent and Mo being moved up and down is no good for anyone. Mo has to bat in the top 5 but no lower than 6.

1. Cooky
2. Halo
3. Root
4. Taylor
5. Mo
6. Bairstow
7. Rashid
8. Stokes
9. Broad
10. Woody
11. Jimmy

As a general point, you simply cannot play meaningful cricket on such pitches, it does not make sense.