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Ian Bell: I have hunger and desire to continue Test cricket

Andrew Strauss had urged Ian Bell to continue his Test career.

Ian Bell's performance in Ashes 2015 was very poor © Getty Images
Ian Bell’s performance in Ashes 2015 was very poor © Getty Images

England right-hand top-order batsman Ian Bell has said that he wishes to play for England for some time before hanging his boots. He said that he has the “hunger and desire” to keep going. Earlier, at post-match celebrations at the Oval after the Ashes 2015 victory Bell had said that he may take retirement and is contemplating over this. However, after rigorous thinking over some days he has come to the conclusion that he still has some cricket left in him. The 33-year old batsman who also plays for Warwickshire has played 115 Tests which is fourth most by any English cricketer. His Test record is decent but he has not been among runs in the last two Ashes series. He averaged just 26.11 in 2013-14 Ashes and 26.87 in Ashes 2015. READ: Ashes 2015: All is not well with Ian Bell despite two half-centuries in 3rd Test at Edgbaston

Bell wrote in a column for Metro, “At the end of every Ashes series you’re left physically and mentally drained and, as I said to Jonathan Agnew as the celebrations began at The Oval, I needed a bit of time to consider what the future holds. I spoke with coach Trevor Bayliss and Alastair Cook after the Oval loss, we had a really good talk and I was as honest as I could be. Deep down, though, I think I probably knew I wasn’t ready to call time on my England Test career. I still have that hunger and desire.” ALSO READ: Andrew Strauss urges Ian Bell to continue his Test career with England

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