Quote:
Originally Posted by flibbertyjibber
As Geoffrey said the demons are between his ears.
I like Bell but he may as well stay at home after the birth and come back for NZ as he is no use to us doing stuff like that.
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It
is between his ears. But he's also sadly just not good enough. Good lad. Team man. But should have been dropped long ago. What I don't understand is people who suggest he should be picked for when piechuckers come to England - so he can fill his boots and have those who cannot distinguish between base metal and gold compare him to Sanga and Clarke and Amla -, and then 'rested' for SC tours. So he doesn't have to face Ajmal et al.
This is crazy reasoning. England need in his position to have a batsman they can rely on under all conditions and in any situation. To defend, consolidate, attack, counter-attack, and fill his boots when the going is good etc. Bell is now and has throughout his Test career only ever been good for the latter - and that on specific types of track. He is a 'fill his boots when the going is good' merchant. That's it.
He doesn't have the technique to keep out the top bowlers. Nor the range of scoring shots to break the shackles when these bowlers have him under the cosh and are applying sustained pressure - whether it's quicks making him hop about or spinners deceiving him with their variation. Clarke can do those things. As can Amla, Sanga and half a dozen others with varying degrees of consistency and proficiency. Bell cannot.
In fact he's as likely whenever he faces a balanced and potent attack to surrender limply to the seamers as to the spinners, as he's proved many times in the past. He is not mentally tough enough. He doesn't have the technique. His management of risk and reward in his shot making is atrocious. None of this is likely to improve. England would likely have won that final Test and salvaged a draw in the SA series has they dropped Bell. Young Bairstow's already better than him. If the selectors continue picking him against all evidence I'll simply stop supporting England. I have no support to spare for those who won't help themselves.