Ian Bell has raised questions on England’s rotation policy during the Test series against India. The former England cricketer believes that England didn’t play their best playing XI after winning the opening Test. Fast bowlers James Anderson and Jofra Archer were rested for the second match as several former England cricketers slammed the selection.
Indian series is bigger than the Ashes- Ian Bell
Ian Bell has advised England to not look too far ahead and play their best team as the series against India is as big as the Ashes. Bell is not satisfied with England’s approach of rotating their players during the marquee Test series as they are now behind by 2-1.
The former batsman added that England is already thinking about the Ashes and are trying to manage the workload of their key players. Bell also pointed out that if team India is leading 1-0 in the Test series in England later this year they will stick with their best team and try to win the Test series as it will be forever etched in history.
“India is going to come to England in the summer. If they are 2-0 up or 1-0 up, will they rotate? I don’t think they will. These tours, Englishmen going to Australia or India, they are the pinnacle….if you win in those conditions, they are remembered for a long long time. And I know for a fact when India come to England and if they go up 1-0, they would not be rotating their best bowlers or leaving somebody out, they want to win”, he said.
“International cricket you have to be so careful, between the balance of looking after your players and …don’t look too far ahead. International cricket changes all time. Form comes in and out as a player. When you are playing well, don’t lose it, don’t change it. Winning combinations are so important to keep against the best teams in the world and I think England have been thinking too far ahead to have a squad for the Ashes”, Bell added.
“This is bigger than the Ashes. This is possibly as big as the Ashes. Why are we rotating in one of the biggest series we can play in. For me, I think that’s where we have got it a little bit wrong”, he added.
Meanwhile, England will now have to play out of their skins if they want to level the series 2-2. They are already out of contention for the ICC world Test championship after they lost the third Test match. The fourth and final Test of the series will be played at Ahmedabad from March 4 to March 8.
Also Read: Pink-Ball Test: Michael Vaughan Trolls Indian Batsmen After Joe Root’s 5-Wicket Haul