Saved by the Bell?
Yesterday I was Ivan’s guest at Hove. Sussex entertained Warwickshire the second division leaders, a game they had to win for any chance of promotion. In chilly and gusty conditions Warwickshire closed play at 308 for 2 with Ian Bell scoring a century.
Conversation turned to picking him for Sri Lanka. My initial reaction was that this was a retrograde step as he is 36 but one Sussex member argued a persuasive case supported by former player Tony Cottey.
Bell is a natural number three, a position the selectors have a problem filling, he has a Test average of 42 with 7727 runs, a first class average of 43 with 20,129 runs and is second this season in the batting averages only to Rory Burns with 986 runs averaging 58.
If he was 10 years younger and played for Surrey he would be a shoe-in. It’s only the age that bars him.
Hold on though. Cyril Washbook, by then a selector, was recalled in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in 1956 aged 41. Eddie Paynter who has almost identical averages to Bell was recalled aged 36.
With Cook retiring – Keaton Jennings not up to it, James Vince tried tested and failed – the case for a dedicated run scorer at three becomes stronger. Time after time the opening order has failed and it’s rearguard action with 4 wickets down. Rory Burns may replicate his Surrey county form at Test level or be another Mark Stoneman. It’s shame there is no Alec Stewart promoting Bell – the former strongly recommended Gareth Batty on the India tour when he was three years older than Bell.
Despite the T20 Final loss Ivan put a brave face on the proceedings. By the end Trott and Bell were going strong on 108 and 86 not our respectively so Sussex’s promotion chances looked greatly diminished. I consoled him with the fact that at least Chris Woakes was not playing for Warwickshire.