I don’t know a great deal about Trevor Bayliss, even after six months in charge of the England side.
I like what I’ve heard in his few press utterances – neither too elated when things have gone well or too downcast when they haven’t – and results and performances across the board would indicate he is having a positive effect on his charges.
One thing I do know is that he must possess a fairly ruthless line of thinking given the squad that will, in the next couple of weeks or so, set off for South Africa to tackle the world leaders over four Tests.
By dropping Ian Bell, effectively ending the Warwickshire man’s international career in the process, Bayliss, who surely had the final say, has stamped his own identity over those he is charged with managing.
That is a good thing as he is well rewarded to further the cause of English cricket and he should be allowed to do as he sees fit. But the axing of his number three represents something of a leap of faith.
The statistics don’t lie in this instance and Bell has been on a descending curve over the past couple of years. There was a fine century in the first Test against West Indies last April and a pair of cameos in the Edgbaston Ashes Test that hinted at the Bell of old, but the signs have been all too evident of a batsman no longer at his peak.
That said, others have begun their downward trend yet still been worth a place in the line-up, the likes of Michael Clarke and Sachin Tendulkar immediately spring to mind. While I’m not necessarily putting Bell in the same class as this pair, it depends to a great extent on the circumstances the individual finds himself in.
Australia could comfortably accommodate Clarke, the fact he was in charge obviously helped, and the same goes for India with Tendulkar. Yet England, and for this read Bayliss, feel that Bell no longer justifies his place.
Selectors are there to select and a cricketer being dropped from a team, whoever it is, does not quite come under the category of ‘disgrace’ some alluded to last week. That term should be reserved for politicians putting their fingers in the till or police cover-ups, not a different batsman being chosen.
But what it can be likened to is a calculated gamble. Experience can’t keep out a rampant Dale Steyn or find the gap at cover but it does count for something in a side that doesn’t generally do its best work away from home.
Of the top six who are likely to stroll out at Durban on Boxing Day, and Alastair Cook is so far in front as to be excused, Joe Root is by far the most experienced with a relatively paltry 35 appearances.
In fact, if as is being widely predicted, Alex Hales opens with Cook and Nick Compton gets a recall in Bell’s vacated position, Root will have won almost as many caps as numbers two, three, five and six put together. That is an awfully callow line-up to be sending out and it puts even more pressure on Cook and Root to perform.
It could well prosper and nothing is gained if nothing is ventured, but it is a leap of faith for what is shaping as a pretty tough assignment.
If it is the end for Bell, and a few county attacks are likely to suffer if he hits the ground running come April, then he can be proud of what he has achieved. A tally of 118 Tests isn’t to be sniffed at and while he has had his detractors, he has been a fine player at the top level.
It can be too simple to lay the charge of carelessness when the act of batting is made to look like a gentle stroll in the park, but this often misses the point.
I read a piece on Mark Waugh not too long ago that quoted him as saying – I think this is accurate – “with how much is at stake, why wouldn’t I give my best”. Bell can be tarred with the same brush.
Looking graceful doesn’t mean there is less care being given and a loose drive to the waiting cordon is no worse than a tentative poke by a player hell bent on defence. Bell has played the odd daft shot but find me someone who has never done the same and I won’t believe you.
Anyone who watched his efforts in the 2013 Ashes series when batting wasn’t the easiest will be able to appreciate what he was capable of and England, as they may find out soon enough, will have a hard task finding an adequate replacement.
Scuba
Guest
Taylor seems to suffer because he isn't the athlete-type player who selectors fawn over. He's worth two of Hales in the test arena
Spooky
Guest
I guess for replacing the number 3 it will be "for whom the Bell tolls"
Scuba
Guest
Depends how you define "talent". If you mean raw cricketing ability, none. That isn't always enough, as Hughes' test average of 32 demonstrates. Hales and Compton are not debutants and have been proven to be pretty ordinary, so the question doesn't really arise.
Scuba
Guest
I'm pretty sure England could more than "conceivably" lose against RSA. "Almost certainly" lose would be nearer.
Sameer Murthy
Roar Rookie
Ian Bell's problem has always been that he is like Mitchell Johnson in that he has periods where he is a brilliant player capable of winning series but otherwise was an inconsistent player who never looked relaxed despite playing 118 tests. He struggled to follow up on his wonderful batting in the 2013 Ashes or batting at home against India 2011. He was superb in South Africa 09', which meant England should've backed him on this tour as his experience would be invaluable but his fluctuating form over a decade has cost him.
Graham Sanyo
Guest
I'd place Bell as one of this generation's greatest. Should have been the second player picked after the captain. You can take this as straight from the horse's mouth; Bayliss's decision to omit him was his alone- the selectors still wanted him.
Outlier
Guest
I think the Poms are crazy to drop Bell. Yes he might continue with his bad patch, but it is far more likely that he will score some runs he has a good record in South Africa, and players like him who have a solid technique tend to do well here because there tends to be limited sideways movement I also agree with SuperEel 22. An Australian on debut in South Africa is the same as in Australia bar the crowd. Before someone mentions Indial batsman from the last tour here, just bear in mind that it is highly unlikely that the pitches prepared for the English will be as un South African as the ones India played on
matth
Guest
Can we just agree that he is well suited and leave it that? No point pulling all the threads of Ronan's comment apart. At least we can agree that Taylor is unlikely to fall apart at the seams. Although he will have to be wary of Steyns.
Andy
Guest
yeah im also dissapointed in ronan for not embracing that wonderful pun.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
But how many of the possible debutants have the talent of Hughes? It's a bit different comparing Australians debuting and the English debuting. The Saffa decks can be quite close to Australian decks and the Aussies are brought up on pace and bounce, so playing in South Africa isn't a massive leap like it is for the English. I would be hesitant to debut a top order batsman in South Africa against Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
Jameswm
Guest
On the admittedly limited amount I've seen, I'd have the country singer way, way ahead of Hales. As you said, he looked clueless against the Aussie quicks. All I can to say to hales is you've got a friend on the selection panel, because Sweet Baby James deserves to be there.
spruce moose
Guest
Um, surely he is taylor made for test cricket?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"The one guy I also think that England should give an extended run in the XI to is James Taylor." Absolutely he looks tailor made for Test cricket, it's surprising he hasn't been given more chances.
Brian
Guest
I agree most English county batsman would have more of a chance debuting in South Africa then facing tandem spinners in Asia. Rabada looks like a real gem to throw in with Steyn and Morkel I just don't think there was any point sending Bell there for him to constantly get bowled the way S Waugh and Dravid both ended their careers. Next Ashes wise there is only one other tour where England batsman can replicate the pace and bounce they face here so you might as well send that rookie and hope he is better for it next Ashes series.
jammel
Guest
I agree time is up for Ian Bell. i also like seeing Hales and Compton in the squad - Hales can be dynamic and Compton is an old-fashioned grafter! Both have the potential to overage 40 or so as a long-term partner for Cook. The one guy I also think that England should give an extended run in the XI to is James Taylor. He looks to have the temperament to succeed in test cricket, so if I were the poms I'd be giving him an extended run - probably at #5. I'd prefer Taylor over the likes of Bairstow.
elroncho
Guest
Bells fielding has dropped away noticeably over the last year, which will not have enhanced his chances. He has been hidden at slip for a while but has grassed a lot of catches there as well.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I don't know that having a player make their debut in South Africa is necessarily a big issue. Having a top 6 packed with inexperience could be an issue, but that goes beyond just the replacement of one player. Phil Hughes made his debut there and scored 70 in his first test and twin hundreds in his second. And he's not the only player for Australia to make his debut in South Africa and do reasonably well, just the best of those. The real question is are you better off having an experienced player make 10 or a rookie make 20. That's an easy answer. So it comes down simply to whether you believe that Bell would actually do better than whoever they've chosen to replace him regardless of experience. I suppose one of the struggles with England can be pace bowling. During the Ashes Bumble regularly talked of how there isn't a lot of pace in County cricket. Lot's of medium pacers around, very few genuinely quick bowlers. So that could mean that young players with little or no international experience could possibly handle the moving ball if it's not too quick, but need a lot of work against genuine pace bowling, much like you describe with Hales.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Exactly, not really the fairest couldron for a green team... It's a bit like Australia and the dads army we took to England. Really one or two should have been pushed post-World Cup and young players given a shot in the Windies. Isn't hindsight grand.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Alex Hales really, really struggled with the sheer pace of Cummins and Starc in the ODIs after the Ashes, he looked clueless. So if Morkel and Steyn crank it up he will be in huge trouble. Bell's time was definitely up after nigh on two-and-a-half years of averaging 30 with the bat, but I agree that the timing isn't the best. He should have been dropped either beyond this tour of SA or after the recent Ashes so that his replacement could get 3 Tests on flat tracks in the UAE to find their feet.
Dan
Guest
Maybe he has another American pie movie coming up... -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.