Why is it any more irrelevant than Trott's record in Domestic cricket last year which in turn earned him a place in that final Ashes Test. Bell didn't look that bad against Australia either, his 72 at The Oval was as important as Trott's century AFAIC. I'm not a selector, so I don't know why he wasn't picked. I'd guessed that they were being sensible and waiting to see if Bell could repeat that form over more than 1 season, which he now has done.
He has 1 full season, and is well into his 2nd very good season. I never said Trott should be dropped for Bell, so I'm not going to bother replying to that; was purely replying to your suggestion that he was picked on the basis of only 6 games, which just isn't true.
But this season isn't even finished. It would be ridiculous to take last season domestic list A form Bell into serious consideration. Since he was clearly put of place as international batsman. His 72 in the final Ashes test meant was just one innings, since in the 1st winter test, im sure you have forgotten his shocking leave alone againts Paul Harris. His revival came in the 2nd test @ Durban.
All last season form shows. Was Bell going back to weak domestic List A cricket & scored runs while he was struggling in international cricket. We saw this trend very commonly with Harmison @ Durham, when he would go back to Durham & take a set wickets & when recalled to national side - nothing change. How can the selectors not be picking up these hints??
What had to propell Bell into the selectors consideration for a recall was his last 6 months in test cricket & those limited overs performances for Warwickshire this season. Where has without a doubt looked a more sound player @ international level.
As i said before. Let him play out the season in List A cricket. Their is no sense recalling him now & dropping Trott when he hasn't even had a proper run in the ODI set-up.
Thing is, Patel hasn't been in form for a good 2 and a half years, so any suggestion that he should be ahead of Bell in the pecking order is laughable. I agree that Trott should be ahead of Bell, but not so sold on Shah. Bell outplayed him last season, and Owais hasn't played enough games this year to be ahead of Bell. But I really can't be arsed to argue about Shah vs Bell, as it's Shah fanboy vs Bell fanboy, pointless.
When Patel lasted played for England vs SA & IND 08/09 before he was dropped for his fitness issues. He was going allright as a international player in his role. I never said he should be ahead of Bell right now - i clearly articulated my position on Patel.
Im not a Shah fanboy. Im just defending him based on his performances againts the legacy of dumb English ODI selections. Shah should have never been dropped from the ODI set-up alltogether last year in the first place. Sure with the emergence of Morgan late last year - meant Shah could maintain his first XI place due to his slight running & field defiences (which has tended to be overplayed). He was averaging 35 over a two-year period between IND 2007 - CT 2009 - probabably on KP & Coly could match that average. But it was utter nonsense that he was dropped from the squad totally for a recall for Alastair Cook based on his so called improved "domestic form" :laugh - with all this talk to Graham Gooch had improved his ODI play. Now 6 months later Cook proved my point why he should never been recalled & he is out of the ODI team again
So basically Shah had the performances in international cricket last season & over a two-year period. So Bell doing better than him in doemstic cricket last season is irrelevant.
In other news; Bell's 56* from 30 balls in the T20's. He is in magnificent form.
Sure he is very good good form. Once you, anyone else or the selectors dont start calling fro him to be included in the T20 set-up im cool.
