England were right to drop Ian Bell and put faith in young stars like James Taylor... but 'odd' Nick Compton has a lot to prove

  • England have dropped Ian Bell from the squad that will tour South Africa
  • It could mark end of his international career after 118 Tests
  • It is the right call because Bell's long-term commitment is in question
  • James Taylor proves England have depth and good young players
  • But from what I hear, Nick Compton is an odd character 

By Nasser Hussain for the Daily Mail

Published: 09:57 EST, 19 November 2015 | Updated: 10:34 EST, 19 November 2015

England have made a massive call on Ian Bell because, make no mistake, when you are playing against the best team in the world on their own patch you want the experience a batsman with 118 caps and 22 Test centuries brings.

You have to make sure you get a decision like that right because all the quality, effort and service of someone like Bell has to be considered, but I think England have got it right to go to South Africa without him.

The alarm bells should have been ringing at the end of last summer after the Ashes when Bell said he wasn't sure how much longer he wanted to go on for and was thinking of calling it a day. Particularly at the age he is, 33.

Ian Bell is facing the end of his international career after being dropped for the tour to South Africa

Ian Bell is facing the end of his international career after being dropped for the tour to South Africa

Bell shows off his trademark cover drive - and never say never on a potential future England return

Bell shows off his trademark cover drive - and never say never on a potential future England return

It could be argued that England stuck with Alastair Cook when he went a year or two without a hundred and they should show similar faith in Bell now, but there is a huge difference between the two players.

Cook is incredibly strong mentally and was desperate to carry on and prove people wrong. I'm not 100 per cent certain Bell feels the same way. He cannot do if only last summer he was talking about retiring.

Bell can't have any complaints either because for such a high-class player his form has been poor and he has been in decline over the last couple of years.

Someone like James Taylor, who has been held back for some time, has shown England that they should not be frightened of change and that there must be some really good cricketers out there if they are just given a chance.

Conversely, have Nick Compton and Gary Ballance done enough to earn a recall? Did they bang down the door in the first division of the county championship last year, averaging 38 and 35 respectively?

Ballance is very strong mentally but he was susceptible against both the short ball and the very full one by the time England left him out, so he had better have sorted that out now he is facing Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

James Taylor (left) has waited patiently for his chance and is now likely to take Bell's place in the team

James Taylor (left) has waited patiently for his chance and is now likely to take Bell's place in the team

Nick Compton (right) has the potential to be a good England cricketer but there are still question marks

Nick Compton (right) has the potential to be a good England cricketer but there are still question marks

Adil Rashid is better off playing cricket in Australia's Big Bash than carrying drinks for England

Adil Rashid is better off playing cricket in Australia's Big Bash than carrying drinks for England

Compton is pretty good technically but from what I hear he is an odd character. That shouldn't stop him being a very good international player – let's face it there have been some very odd England cricketers – but he will need to convince England that he has the right temperament to succeed at this level.

I think the decision on Adil Rashid is spot on because I can't see England playing two spinners in South Africa and he has carried the drinks enough in his career. Better to play cricket at the Big Bash and get ready for the World Twenty20 and I applaud England for their emphasis now on white-ball cricket.

But the move to leave out Liam Plunkett is harsh. I would have picked one of Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan and gone for the extra pace of Plunkett but I like the decision to go with Mark Footitt because you need something different.

It's an interesting squad and one that has sent a message out that there are places available. It's been a criticism at times that it is harder to get out of the England team than get in it – well, you can't say that now Bell has been left out. 

Will Bell come back? Well, never say never. He is still such a good player he will probably go back to Warwickshire and score a lot of runs at county level. Others will be out of form and Bell’s name will come up again but personally I’d keep looking forward rather than back if I was a selector. 

 

 

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