Former England batsman Ian Bell said the tourists have gone a bit wrong with the rotation policy in the biggest Test series against India than the Ashes after Joe Root and his team suffered an embarrassing defeat in the day-night Test at Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday (February 25).
He further slammed England’s much-debated rotation policy, saying they have been guilty of thinking too far ahead of having a squad for the Ashes and made mistakes with the constant chopping and changing for the ongoing big Test series in India.
His comments came after England suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the third Test to go down 1-2 in the four-match Test series in Ahmedabad against India, which means they are now out from the race for the final of inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) in June at Lord’s.
Bell told ESPNcricinfo: “I think England have been guilty of thinking too far ahead of having a squad for the Ashes when actually this is bigger than the Ashes, this is probably as big as the Ashes. Why are we rotating in the biggest Test series you are playing in? For me, that’s where England have gone a bit wrong.”
He further noted, “For me, India are going to come to England in the summer. If they are 2-0 or 1-0 up will they rotate? I know for a fact that when India come in the summer they won’t be rotating their best bowlers or their best players or leave somebody out. They want to win.”
The 38-year-old, who played 118 Tests for England, said the tour of India and Australia can make or break the careers of the English players.
He added, “These tours, certainly for Englishmen coming to India or going to Australia are the pinnacle. They make your careers, you look back and if you win in those conditions they are remembered for a long long time.”
Bell also pointed out that sticking to winning combinations while competing with the best teams in the world is very important.
He added, “In international cricket, you have to be so careful between the balance of looking after your players and doing bubbles but don’t look too far ahead. International cricket changes all the time, form comes in and out as you play. When you are playing well don’t lose it or change it, winning combinations are so important to keep against the best teams in the world.”
On the spin-friendly Motera pitch, the Englishman said it was the rotation policy that made life difficult for England, who played just one spinner in Jack Leech in the pink-ball Test.
Bell signed off by saying, “I’ve got a lot of sympathy for England on these pitches, but I can’t help but feel we’re not making it easy for ourselves by chopping and changing every Test.”
(With PTI Inputs)
