Recalling Ian Bell would be a backwards step for England Cricket, says Nasser

[quote author=dillinger10 link=topic=105872.msg710508#msg710508 date=1471995687]
Three ex-England captains (Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and Michael Vaughan) think otherwise. All three feel that going back to Bell would be a mistake.

As to your other points, I am not sure what you consider to be a meaningful level, but I was in and around the minor counties set up for a number of years as a youth and then progressing on to play and captain in the DCB first division. I have seen and played more than enough cricket to a standard that I am comfortable on relying on my eyes to form my own opinion. The numbers just help to back them up.

I know that Belly is your guy, but he has under performed for a great number of years now. You can't just live off past glories. At some point, you have to deliver. As the old saying goes, what have you done for me lately. In Bell's case, not much. It's hard to defend a guy that is averaging 25 over the last 2 years, 29 over the last 3 and 34 over the last 4. We should also not forget the number of dropped catches he was responsible for during his last year in an England shirt. Not only has his batting form dipped, but so has his fielding. To the point where he was actually removed from the slip cordon

While I understand your point that numbers aren't the be all and end all - Gary Ballance being a prime example - excellent Test numbers but some glaring flaws in his technique - by contrast, Ian Bell is one of the most pleasing batsman to watch at the crease. Although his performances in the UAE were very much in stark contrast - every innings was a real struggle that was at times painful to watch.

Much like baseball, cricket is still very much a numbers game. Steve James writing in The Telegraph had a great article delving deeper in this, and the weight they carry.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket...-game.html

Bell's average over the last 2 years is right in line with Shane Watson, Michael Clarke and Marlon Samuels - two players that have since retired and a third in Samuels that has been the worst top order batsman over this period.

To put Bell's woes into further context, his average over the last 2 years is almost identical to the career averages of Eoin Morgan, Nick Compton, Sam Robson and Michael Carberry - all players that have been discarded. It's not as though Bell has gone back to County cricket and racked up the runs either. It's more of the same mediocrity.

While Bell has been an excellent player of spin throughout his career, lets not overlook the fact that he has a career average of 27 in India (across 16 innings) and didn't fare much better on those flat decks of the UAE last winter, averaging 31 with just the 1 fifty in 6 innings.

S Rajesh at ESPN sums up Ian Bell's career:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/con...02675.html

As mentioned above, I would rather give one of the youngsters a chance.
[/quote]

I can see your point Dilly. Suppose I am a big Bell supporter and we are struggling bit with the lack of experience in the middle order.

At the same time if you are to progress then these younger players have to have their failures and improve.

The experience factor is a concern. I do think there is some merit to the intangibles a veteran can bring to the side, especially in testing conditions. Provided the veteran can produce something tangible - whether that be runs, wickets or being a difference maker in the field.

I am very much a firm believer in players being selected on merit for future production and not on past performances. Teams get in trouble when they continue to stick with aging veterans that can no longer produce - a good example of this is South Africa's Test struggles in recent years. Australia have always been ahead of the curve in this regard, dropping players a year too early as opposed to a year too late.

It took a long time for the England selectors to start afresh with the limited over sides. The old guard was finally phased out after the disastrous World Cup in 2015, and that has paid great dividends. The younger players have made a huge difference and suddenly England's limited over teams can compete with the best in the world. I can only hope that the selectors take the same viewpoint when it comes to selecting the Test side for the forthcoming tour. Be brave and build for the future.

Points duly noted and I think we have done well with giving players a run. Maintaining some experience is what they tried to do with Trott's return and that failed.

Bell deserved to be dropped at the time but feel we have no experience in that middle order and it is really our lower order who have contributed mainly.

In terms of selecting on merit I am a believer in that but your record has to count for something.

I do not think Bell will return and now the selectors have selected ateam, stick with it and allow them time to develop.

However you did mention about Bell or another experienced player should be able to bring and add a range of things and as an ex VC I think he would.

What we did with the OD team is not necessarily get rid of the old guard rather select players whose games are more suited to the current game and the 'old guard' did not prove their worthiness to be selected.

We can do worse than recall Bell.

[quote author=Mail link=topic=105872.msg710507#msg710507 date=1471992599]

but I fell you have not played cricket to any meaningful level hence

your reliance on statistics to enhance your views, which I am never far.
[/quote]
no apologies for this bullsh!t comess ?  :-\

[quote author=dillinger10 link=topic=105872.msg710508#msg710508 date=1471995687]
As to your other points (Mail), I am not sure what you consider to be a meaningful level, but I was in and around the minor counties set up for a number of years as a youth and then progressing on to play and captain in the DCB first division. I have seen and played more than enough cricket to a standard that I am comfortable on relying on my eyes to form my own opinion. The numbers just help to back them up.
[/quote]

Mail still has not apologised after he was exposed as an Idiot !!

Instead he looking for anodda Chin..... in Kwami ?  ::LOL::