Give me a Bell
IAN HOPES TO GET ENGLAND CALL AGAIN
IAN BELL would love new chief selector Ed Smith to give him a ring and open the door for a Test return against India.
The Warwickshire ace has been in red-hot form during the heatwave and is now keen to get stuck into the Indians if asked.
Bell, 36, made the last of his 118 Test appearances three years ago but his ability to play spin could push England into giving him a shock recall. He has already smashed more than 1,000 runs for his county in all competitions this season and looks back to his very best on the dry, flat wickets. Smith has kept Bell on his radar despite being keen to build a young Test team. The classy righthander, who amassed 7,727 Test runs and has hit 22 centuries in an England shirt, said: “My goal at the start of the season was to try and score enough runs to get myself back in the England picture. “I’ve never drawn a line under my England career or given up trying or hoping to get another chance.
“You don’t just get back in on reputation or because of what you have done in the past. I want to do it in the right manner. That’s by proving you can still score a pile of runs and do a job at international level if required.
“That second Test win over Pakistan was huge for the team. It was important not to lose another Test series.
“The pressure was building after a disappointing run, especially last winter where it was tough for the guys to pick themselves up after The Ashes.
“We know how talented this India side are. They have world-class batsmen and always have an outstanding attack.
“Spin will be their strong suit but they also have a well-balanced attack which England will have to play well.
“Hopefully the wonderful weather stays the same. It’s been a glorious summer for cricket and this Test series is going to be very closely contested.”
Head coach Trevor Bayliss is under pressure to ensure his side avoid any more home Test misery.
England stopped the rot by beating Pakistan at Headingley and drawing that series but it was their first five-day victory in nine matches.
Bell is baffled as to why the Test men have slumped so badly in recent times including back-to-back Ashes series losses without winning a Test.
Ahead of the opening Test match at Edgbaston a week on Wednesday, Bell said he hopes to hear from Smith (below) at some stage.
He said: “I will always keep trying to bang on the door. I have certainly never given up hope. England should be in a better place, we lack top-order runs right now.
Ben Stokes, Johnny Bairstow and Jos Buttler will perform better if the team can get a strong platform from the top.”