Trott’s departure puts spotlight on Root, Bell
28 Nov 2013 4:32 AM IST
Trott abruptly quit England’s tour on Monday because of a stress-related illness, leaving a critical vacancy that only the prolific veteran Ian Bell or the cool-headed youngster Joe Root seem qualified to fill.
The successful candidate must not only defuse the threat of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, a match-winner in the first Test at Brisbane, but withstand the verbal heat Australia generated in the Ashes opener and are likely to re-kindle at Adelaide.
England coach Andy Flower indicated on Tuesday he is ready to try to take some heat out of the second Test battle by meeting with his Australia counterpart, Darren Lehmann, in peace talks designed to place limits on future sledging. The lingering fallout from the savage verbal battle in Brisbane can’t disguise the practical problem England faces in replacing Trott from the resources of its current squad. Factions have already formed to press the cases for Root, who is at least a natural opener, and Bell, who offers experience and proven solidity.
Former England captain Michael Atherton backed Root, saying he had shown the ability to ‘disarm’ Johnson’s hostility with an ‘angelic smile’ during his unbeaten 26 in the second innings at Brisbane. ‘I thought Root played really well at the dying end of the Test at the Gabba; I thought he looked really solid,’ Atherton told Sky Television. ‘He played Mitchell Johnson well, he looked compact, he got a nice stride into the ball.
Another former England skipper, Nasser Hussain, opted for Bell who was the Man of the Series in the Ashes series in England earlier this year, scoring a century in each of England’s wins. ‘Bell is a high-class, very experienced player with lots of touch,’ Hussain said.
The successful candidate must not only defuse the threat of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, a match-winner in the first Test at Brisbane, but withstand the verbal heat Australia generated in the Ashes opener and are likely to re-kindle at Adelaide.
England coach Andy Flower indicated on Tuesday he is ready to try to take some heat out of the second Test battle by meeting with his Australia counterpart, Darren Lehmann, in peace talks designed to place limits on future sledging. The lingering fallout from the savage verbal battle in Brisbane can’t disguise the practical problem England faces in replacing Trott from the resources of its current squad. Factions have already formed to press the cases for Root, who is at least a natural opener, and Bell, who offers experience and proven solidity.
Former England captain Michael Atherton backed Root, saying he had shown the ability to ‘disarm’ Johnson’s hostility with an ‘angelic smile’ during his unbeaten 26 in the second innings at Brisbane. ‘I thought Root played really well at the dying end of the Test at the Gabba; I thought he looked really solid,’ Atherton told Sky Television. ‘He played Mitchell Johnson well, he looked compact, he got a nice stride into the ball.
Another former England skipper, Nasser Hussain, opted for Bell who was the Man of the Series in the Ashes series in England earlier this year, scoring a century in each of England’s wins. ‘Bell is a high-class, very experienced player with lots of touch,’ Hussain said.
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