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Ian Bell recall regressive for England, feels Nasser Hussain

England play Bangladesh in a couple of Tests later in 2016 before the big tour to India.

Ian Bell was dropped after the series against Pakistan in UAE in 2015 but his replacements have not performed either  © AFP
Ian Bell was dropped after the series against Pakistan in UAE, in 2015, but his replacements have not performed either © AFP

Former England captain, Nasser Hussain feels that picking Ian Bell for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh would be a backward step for England and wants the selectors to breed new cricketers, instead. The Warwickshire batsman is in the race for a place in the Test side, with the likes of Alex Hales, James Vince, Nick Compton and Gary Ballance not performing in the recently concluded home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan and now, Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, might have to fall back on the experience of the 34-year-old. England play Bangladesh in a couple of Tests later in 2016 and Hussain feels that the short series can be used to bring in someone and give him first-hand experience of the sub-continental conditions before the big tour to India. READ: Ian Bell: Will reclaim my place in England Test squad

Accodring to Cricbuzz, Hussain stated, “There is no doubting Ian Bell’s class and his record in the sub-continent – I think he averages over 40 in the sub-continent. But he didn’t have a good time of it in the UAE recently and that is why he was left out. I would personally like to look to the future, especially with the tour of Bangladesh. I don’t see the mileage of taking Bell, albeit a fantastic player, so I would look to the future. But they have gone for a couple of players like Vince who haven’t done much and might want that consistent solidity that Ian Bell would bring.” READ: English all-rounder David Willey to join ODI squad despite injury

“I personally would look to, especially in Bangladesh, blood a youngster and give a youngster an opportunity. Whether that youngster be (Ben) Duckett, who has not just done it in one-day cricket, or other lads like (Tom) Westley, (Daniel) Bell-Drummond, (Scott) Borthwick… There are other lads who have done fine things this summer. It would be a bit of a backward step but I understand that they keep giving people chances and they are not taking them, so there is that temptation to go back to Ian Bell who is a very fine international cricketer,” concluded the former right-hander.

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