The Ashes: 5 Things We Learned From The Second Test
3. Ian Bell's Days As A Test Cricketer Are Numbered
I really don't want this to be a recurring theme throughout the series, but it would seem that the Ashes are more often than not the final fling for the veterans of the game. Shane Watson might have played his last test. Graeme Swann and Kevin Pietersen didn't survive the 2013/14 mauling down under, with Jonathan Trott only resurfacing for a brief return this year in the West Indies. England's victory in 2010/11 in Australia was the end for Simon Katich. Every series between England and Australia tends to bring the end for some international players.
Ian Bell might be about to join them. In his first test innings of the year he creamed a delightful 143, albeit against a West Indies attack that might not be described as the finest they've ever had. Ever since it has been struggle after struggle for one of England's most elegant batsmen. His scores since that Antigua knock make for sorry reading; 11, 1, 0, 0, 1, 29, 12, 1, 1, 60, 1, 11. For those counting, that's seven scores of 1 or 0 in 12 innings. Ian Bell is a fine player, but England can't keep batting with a handicapped top four. You don't win tests by continuously being 40-3.
Ian Bell will go down as one of test cricket's most infuriating players, truth be told. His average of 43.18 is good but not great. He has played some beautiful innings in his career, but a close look at his record shows a player who didn't achieve as much as expected at three or four in the order, was moved down to five and six where he excelled, before moving back up to underachievement.
Jonny Bairstow is scoring runs for fun at domestic level right now, and can't be ignored. The top run scorer in the first division of the county championship, he reached his third successive hundred today as England collapsed in the London sun. Someone must obviously make way for the Yorkshireman, and either Gary Ballance or Ian Bell should do so, Ballance is struggling for form as Bell is, but his record since coming into the team must buy him some time. Bell isn't going to be a part of the team in the long-term. He might not even be so in the short term.