Bell, you claim has done enough over the last three years to warrant being picked.
Do you even watch cricket?
He had a reasonable 2011, but in the last 12 months he has failed repeatedly and repetitively without showing the slightest understanding of what is wrong with his game or of what he needs to do to rectify the issues. He looks adrift against spin, and his mental game, always one of the weakest in international cricket, has descended to new and embarassing lows such as that shocking first ball slog in India. Scyld Berry's point in suggesting he be dropepd is that England cannot, and never will be able to, properly rely upon him in a test match. So try the players who you definitely can (and Root and Bairstow have proven this) or at least might be able to (Compton) succeed where he has let himself down.
I watch a little bit, yeah, though clearly not as much as you do. However, if I may?
Reasonable 2011? Similar to saying KP's knock vs SA last summer was 'ok...' Bell wasn't the only one at sea against Ajmal - of which there is only one - and I don't see a NZ debutant or Lyon worrying any of the England players, least of all Bell who many ex-pros (and the current management) feel is one of the best players of spin England have.
I take your point re; mental approach - I majored in Sports Psychology in elite players at Uni - to a point. But to talk about fine margins in sport - he clears mid off and he's 'turned a corner,' or 'dominating from the off.' One shot does not a mental disintegration make. It was indeed, most likely, a result of his experiences with Ajmal, where he went totally into his shell. Therefore, he'sadapting his approach and looking to rectify his previous mistakes... What about the ton in the last test? Trott gets applauded for his mental strength and ability, yet Bell gets ignored. I genuinely feel that the old perceptions get rolled out every time he has an average series, or innings.
The beauty of cricket - or any sport at elite level - is that you cannot say, 100%, that any individual player is guaranteed to save a test match, or score a goal, or make a putt - Berry's point is mute, because there aren't
any players' you can rely on at, say, 50-4 with a day to go to save a game. Bell isn't guaranteed to do so, but he has in the recent past 'saved' games against SA in SA, Australia at home and India in the last series. You suggest that Bairstow and Root DEFINITELY can. After 2-3 test matches? Are they more likely to than Bell? I would pick Bell, at the present time, over Compton, Bairstow, Morgan, Bopara, Taylor and any other emerging player.
It's a game of opinions mate, the beauty is that no one person is right or wrong...
Author
Topic: Kieswetter sponsored by M&H (Read 15734 times)