Former cricketer Ian Bell has remarked that even if Joe Root does not eclipse Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary score of 15,921 runs, he will always be the best batsman that the England Test cricket has ever had.
Recently, Root has come in the sixes after overtaking the great Kumara Sangakkara of Sri Lanka in the longest format of the game.
“He’s played really well the last 12 months. I think the kids obviously have a lot to think about and are developing forward planning on a scale that’s surprising,” Ian Bell told PTI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of Legends League Cricket in Jodhpur.
“To even imagine that such a good player as Sachin, who is to this day admired all over the world including not just fans in India but all the fans, let alone someone who is an absolute great cricketer in every right, who is Sachin.
“It’s so remarkable on his part to have any one at all close for the level of Imran Khwaja. I don’t know whether he does get to Sachin or not, very few batsman would be able to dethrone Sachin, I am certain he will be remembered as the best batsman ever for England. The man who has played 118 tests for England at the age of 42 said this.”
Root currently stands at 12,402 runs and is 3,519 runs away from overcoming Tendulkar’s record.
Bazball has managed to explore the potential of the present players.
Ian Bell highlights that it is this immensely talked about Bazball in England that has unleashed the brilliance of today’s players as of now.
“From the supporter’s view, the output is what one has to focus at. Ever since Brendon (McCullum) fitted in this particular England side and (Ben) Stokes has took over, the outcome has been nothing short of brilliant.
“What they have been able to do with the players they have, is extract some of that at least…. Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, there is a certain prowess they have extracted from them.
“Now, I wouldn’t say that you used to a Crawley or a Pope to turn into an Alastair Cook or Jonathan Trott whose style has always differed from the scoped era yet were very competent. It is a ‘work in progress’ for very much of this portion of the players, identifying what they do have, and being willing to change in that fashion to effectively perform this task.
Ian Bell noted that for the next cycle of the World Test Championship the score will focus on winning as much as at away matches, which is not something England had to burden with in the first two editions as they were not serious World Test Championship final contenders.
“I am quite sure that they have their eyes on the next 12 month as well which has five Test matches (against) India at home which should be a huge task,” he stated.
“Currently, India are possibly the best team in the world and after that, it is Australia away. Those 10 Test matches on the road will be of massive significance for that group of players and it is something that they are getting themselves ready for.”
“Last Indian win happened to us, which gives a sense of closure to the journey to reach No 1 , which was obviously winning in Australia , and that became the last step for India. For this England side to reach No 1, there’s no doubt, in terms of ability and talent, that they have that,” he added.
He also paid attention to the pashtun word which means skill that was demonstrated by the Indian team which has won 17 consecutive series at home and even their last 2 series in Australia.
“Yes, that’s what we have been able to witness with India currently. They have been as successful as any other country in winning outside of their own grounds and that is the reason why they are up there at number one in the world currently.”
Next generation of England players growing up with a T20 diet is also frightening
Ian Bell agreed to that but one can say that yes England’s white-ball revolution has impacted the players averages of the middle-order considerably except for Root.
“Yes you could definitely have that argument. The next generation of players are growing up with a huge T20 cricket consumption in formative years and if one sees cricket in England at the moment, there is too much of short format cricket at the early age group,” he said.
Ian Bell who is known for hitting covers drives took it a notch higher as he believed that when it comes to that shot, no one does it better than Virat Kohli.
“It cannot be disputed of course, it is very difficult to look past Virgin Kohli that one I’m sure. Not only his cover drive, but also how he bats, his batting urge, his competitiveness, and what he does with his cricket.”
“It does not matter whatever format the game is, I think that’s one of the best shots for him to have in the game. You know, my kids who love to watch cricket, I certainly make sure that they watch as much as they can of Virat Kohli,” he stated.
Ian Bell said that as it is the case with the retirement of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, any Gus Atkinson or Matthew Potts has large boots to fill.
“It’s very difficult for any players to take over and straight away replicate what Broad-Anderson have achieved for England over a very long period of time,” he said.
“It is possibly something quite akin to when Warne and McGrath both retired at the same time for Australia. It took a little bit of time for Australia to reconfigure and manage that load.
“Then it is not fair if we envision whoever is to wear those shoes, is expected to be portrayed in the same fashion, let’s hope people do not get too hard on them awfully too much,” he added.”
