Bell: We're going to prove a lot of people wrong
When Ian Bell played for England in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka he was new to the big league
Anand Vasu
07-Jan-2001
When Ian Bell played for England in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri
Lanka he was new to the big league. He was looking around very keenly,
learning what he could and generally keeping to himself. Had you met
him then, you would have described him as a polite but shy young man.
Since then he has come a long way. Playing in Warwickshire has done
the young man's confidence a world of good. As captain of the England
side that's touring India, he has to do a lot more than just deliver
the goods out in the middle. Talking exclusively to this
correspondent, Bell revealed how he was more mature than ever before,
and ready to move on to bigger things.
AV: One win and one loss so far on tour. How do you feel?
IB: Very well. We've been looked after well so far. We feel good as a
side, we feel like we're playing good cricket. Our batsmen have got in
and made 30s and 40s, but haven't gone on to make big hundreds. We
haven't got enough runs in the first innings, and have collapsed under
pressure in the second innings.
AV: Some of the players have been in a bit of trouble playing the
spinners, coming down the wicket and getting stumped with the ball
turning away. You don't seem to have that problem. Did playing in
similar conditions in the Under-19 World Cup help on this count?
IB: It was a big learning curve in Sri Lanka. Even though the trip was
not particularly successful for us, we came away with a lot of
experience. Playing spin bowling is something I've done at
Warwickshire. That's something people have helped me with from an
early age. I must have been 12 or 13 when they started us off on
spinning mats which really did turn and bounce. That's probably why I
feel confident enough to use my feet, either against the left arm
spinner or the off spinner.
AV: We've heard the England management say more than once that the
result of this tour is not of utmost importance. It's the experience
that counts. As captain I'm sure you'd like to win all the Tests, or
at least the series...
IB: Yeah, that's for sure. It's not easy to come to India and win a
series. It's definitely a feather in your cap if you can come to India
and win a series, not just for the captain but for the whole side. If
you can be successful in places like India and Pakistan you're going
to go back to England with a good record. Then people are going to
actually look out for you. That is a great chance for everyone in the
side. If you do succeed here, you can get into your county sides and
then there are steps forward.
AV: You've come down with two left arm spinners. That leaves you with
less variety than you would like. Monty Panesar who has been bowling
so well in the nets has looked short of his best out in the middle...
IB: Monty has bowled well in the nets and hasn't quite been at his
best in the middle. He's normally a very bubbly character out in the
middle. In the last game he was ill. Perhaps he was a bit dehydrated
from being in the field so long in the first innings. That was a bit
of a shame. When he gets into rhythm he's a very, very good bowler. We
need him to get into rhythm pretty soon and when he does, I'm sure
he'll take a lot of wickets.
AV: With two left arm spinners in the side you seem to have taken to
bowling off spin...
IB: That's right I'm normally a little seam bowler. Back in England
where the conditions help, I do a bit of seam bowling. When I bowled
in the nets here, I took a couple of wickets and rolled my arm over in
the match. Luckily one turned and I got a wicket!
AV: Your strength will still be your mediumpacers, McGarry seems to be
quick and Bishop as well...
IB: They are both generally very good seamers. Hopefully they'll work
well together. Andrew (McGarry) has got a bit of pace and bowls
straight. He has a good bouncer and has caused a bit of trouble with
that. Justin (Bishop) does swing the ball very late and can get a lot
of LBWs if he bowls the right line.
AV: When batting in Indian conditions, you have to make runs in quick
time. If you are looking to just survive, then you're bound to get a
ball that turns and jumps that surprises you. Will you be looking to
go after the bowling?
IB: The mental toughness side of it here is very important as well.
You are going to get a good ball that turns and bounces. You just have
to take every ball as it comes. If you get one that surprises you,
then you just have to forget it and play the next ball. If you bat in
the last innings then the wicket is going to be worn and you're going
to get a bit of that. We have to combat that with all the things we
have learnt in our drills. We have to sweep the ball well, that's
important. We have to look to play a long innings. We have to bat all
day and get big hundreds. That's the key for us. If we post totals of
350 and more, that's going to help us to force a win.
AV: There's a lot of emphasis on adapting to Indian conditions,
learning to play the spinners on responsive tracks and things like
that. But it's still very important to play to your strengths...
IB: That's right. We have been working hard on that. How to play spin
and sticking to your strengths. If you do hit over the top, well then
do so. If you sweep well, then play that shot. We've talked about that
in every situation. After every match and session we've learnt
something. We know that we're going to prove a lot of people wrong,
come out and do really well.