Ian Bell is in the form of his life and is arguably pound for pound the best batsman in the England Test side at the moment.
So it is hardly surprising that the selectors want him in the ODI team. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to know what his best role is.
It clearly isn’t as a number six.
Bell may have all the shots in the book and play them with a grace and poise that the likes of Cook and Trott could only dream about, but a big hitter down the order he isn’t. That was painfully obvious at the Oval yesterday.
In our view, with KP and Morgan set in stone at four and five, Bell has to bat in the top three.
However, a top three of Cook, Bell and Trott probably doesn’t have enough firepower and ability to hit over the top during the Powerplay overs. Cook’s opening partner – either whatever wicketkeeper happens to be in favour at that particular time or a specialist batsman like Alex Hales – needs to have these skills in abundance.
That means only two of Cook, Bell and Trott should probably be in the side and with the selectors effectively having one hand tied behind their backs with the appointment of Cook as captain (we'd have gone for Bell), it comes down to a choice of Trott or Bell.
When you compare their records, the decision seems a straightforward one. Trott has an ODI average of 54 from 26 matches with three hundreds whilst Bell’s is only 35 from 98 matches with just the one hundred. Trott also has the better strike rate of 79 compared to Bell’s 73.
But, can England really become the number one ODI side in the world with Trott at three?
We suggest that Bell is more easily able to move through the gears, certainly has more shots and is a completely different batsman to the one he was two years ago. It is fairly safe to predict that Bell would likely shine in the number three role now.
Whilst it was good to see England put in such a comprehensive performance with bat and ball at The Oval yesterday, the selectors will have to solve the Bell conundrum in the not too distant future.
Where next?
England v Sri Lanka: England series marks out of 10
Ian Bell, The Stone Roses and some considerably large numbers
Experimental England? Our XIV man T20/ODI squad to face Sri Lanka
Are Cook, Trott and Bell more impressive than Pippa Middleton's derriere?
Three captains, Ken, Barbie and a whole lot of confusion
Should Alastair Cook be England's new ODI captain?
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