Tiger chimes back in
EMERGING Tigers quick Gabe Bell refuses to look back and think about what he missed through injury last season.
Instead, the 23-year-old is determined to rejoin the starting XI and help Tasmania go one better after last year’s Sheffield Shield final appearance.
Bell was beginning to establish himself in the state’s pace arsenal before he broke the fifth metatarsal of his left foot against Queensland in the first match after the Big Bash, abruptly ending his campaign.
If selected for the opening Shield match of 2018-19 starting today, Bell will be hoping for some better luck when he returns to the Gabba.
While he was sidelined, the Tigers stormed into the final, but there is no sour grapes from Bell.
“I was more focused about getting my foot right for this year, I didn’t really think about what I was missing out on,” he said.
“I was just looking forward to the next year. It was good to see the boys do really well, it is always good to see them succeed but only positives from me.
“I started my rehab a month or two before training started, that was just to make sure my foot was right and ready to go day one.
“I didn’t have any preseason targets or anything like that … it is hard to compare where I am at now compared to last year but I am feeling really good, the body is holding up well and they are coming out pretty well in the nets.”
With 31 wickets in seven matches at an average of 20.4, Bell caught the eye of national selectors last summer when he was named in the Cricket Australia XI for a pair of tour matches against England.
He made one appearance in the One-Day Cup — snaring 2-47 against Queensland in the semi-final — and is confident he can hit the ground running with the red ball.
“It was a long pre-season which was good, lots of bowling and lots of physical stuff. The body is feeling good,” he said. “The surgeon filled me with confidence that it won’t happen again. There is still a metal rod in my foot, so it should be stronger than normal bone anyway.”
I didn’t have any pre-season targets or anything like that … it is hard to compare where I am at now compared to last year but I am feeling really good, the body is holding up well and they are coming out pretty well in the nets. GABE BELL