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By Will 5 months ago Leave a comment on this post
So then. The 2008 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack launches tomorrow and judging by the torrent of abuse my phone received today, the general opinion of Ian Bell being awarded as one of the Wisden five is one of shock. Or faint disgust. You decide.
When I heard about it, I admit it was quite a surprise - but bear in mind the qualification period is up to last December, by which point Bell had utterly cemented his place and the doubters were left flushed. For the time being, at least. Lawrence Booth:
Peter Moores and Andy Flower began to encourage him to express himself more at the crease and suggested he practise with a narrow bat against the spinners - a tactic he had employed in his youth. The idea was to force him to hit through the line, and the result was borne out at The Oval and in the one-dayers, where his total of 422 runs at 70 was the highest on either side. Not only that, but a strike-rate of almost 92, a full 23 higher than his previous career figure, pointed to a new sense of urgency. Now the two bats - one the width of a ball, the other three-quarters that - go everywhere with him. Less for once has meant more.
A mate of mine called the decision a travesty and said it even denigrates the value of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year. I’m less angry about it, mainly because I can see reasons for his inclusion (excellence in one-dayers and generally more consistent) and otherwise. But the level of disgust calls me to open this up to the rest of you.
Right decision or not?
Tags: england, ian-bell, wisden-cricketers-almanack |
Do Wisden often pick cricketers for their one-day exploits? His choice might have more to do with England’s relatively poor test performance last summer than anything else.
I’d have been tempted to go for Vaughan over Bell. His triumphant return with a century at Leeds; averaged 63 and became England’s most successful captain ever. Then averaged 49 with another century against India.
But then I couldn’t give a fig about ODIs.
Interesting appearance by Scyld Berry on the Telegraph podcast - he seemed very crotchety when Bell was brought up, and refused to defend the decision beyond a short “he did very well in the one day game” (although I didn’t listen to the end of the podcast). I’d imagine he’s been getting a fair bit of stick about it from a lot of people. Surely the problem is an absence of other outstanding candidates not chosen previously (Vaughan was there in ‘03 - not that he had a great year anyway).
I have the same frustration with Bell’s selection as with Kallis. Neither turn games, niether seem to have the mettle to grasp and control the game. Bell perpetually seems one innings away… Having said that Im not sure who else could have got it Bell’s award. Sangakkara would have been my choice for leading cricketer in 2007…
Vaughan’s won it before and you can only win it once - otherwise Ramprakash would have been a certainty. Bell seems to be in on the basis of having an excellent one-day series and not being dropped in the Tests, but he was far from being England’s best batsman (although KP and Colly have also won it before). Cook was more deserving as a Test batsman, but I’d rather that he wins it in 2010 after a dominating Ashes performance. Personally, I think the fifth place (the other four were shoo-ins) should have gone to Danish Kaneria for taking nearly 80 wickets and single-handedly carrying Essex’s bowling.
When you can only win it once, it narrows the field.
Can’t understand the flak about Ian Bell. He seems to be improving all the time. His century at Napier was a pearl and although Wisden’s award was for 2007 I would say this shows they were spot on. He was England’s top batsmen in the NZ Tests and second in the Sri Lankan Tests. It should be born in mind that he was likely to be top there as well but was run out by Cook for 1 in the final Test. His run rate has shot up which shows greater confidence. I love the way he really grafts. Massive talent but that means nothing if you don’t work hard. He’s also a great fielder. Since when does that mean nothing? He’s had my vote for a while. Most of the doubters have never seen him play. Glorious strokeplay, a real artist.
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