Bell dropped from England squad for SA tour

London, Nov.19: Former batsman Kevin Pietersen has described the England selectors” decision to drop top-order batsman Ian Bell from the squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa as “pathetic’.

Bell, meanwhile, has taken over the mantle of England’s under-performing veteran, scoring one century since August previous year and averaging just 20.38 in the 21 innings since that ton in Antigua.

Ian Bell’s future as an worldwide cricketer was in serious doubt today after he was left out of England’s Test squad for the tour of South Africa. “I certainly feel I could have contributed out there”.

Alex Hales, who was retained in the squad, will fight for the opening spot with Compton, with Compton also having the option to bat at number three in place of Bell.

His surprise omission came as Gary Ballance was recalled to the side alongside Nick Compton.

Moxon’s delight for Ballance is tempered by disappointment for Plunkett, whose blistering pace was overlooked despite the fact England are without fellow pace men Steven Finn and Mark Wood through injury.

In a video posted on Twitter, Pietersen said: “I’m actually sitting here very, very, very annoyed”.

But superstar batsman Pietersen has fallen foul of the ECB’s promises in the past, and insisted England have made a huge mistake by leaving a player with such vast experience as Bell at home.

Compton, who scored two centuries from nine Tests in 2012-13, scored 1123 in county cricket this year, including three centuries.

“You have to take him because of his experience”.

“An increasing focus on youth in all formats threatens to leave Bell cast out permanently, which would bring down the curtain on England’s third-highest Test century maker of all time”, says Jonathan Liew of the Daily Telegraph.

Left-arm seamer Mark Footitt and opener Alex Hales, both uncapped at test level, were included.

Their absence has handed Chris Jordan, Chris Woakes and Mark Footitt the chance to impress the selectors and earn a place alongside James Anderson and Stuart Broad in England’s pace attack.

Rashid is now set to play for Adelaide Strikers in the Australian T20 Big Bash League under Yorkshire first-team coach Jason Gillespie.

There were recalls for batsmen Nick Compton and Gary Ballance for the four-test series against the world’s top-ranked team, beginning with the first test in Durban starting on December 26.