“Kevin and I have shared a lot of highs and lows over the last 10 years,” said Bell © Getty Images
Ian Bell is the first England players that has come out in backing of Kevin Pietersen after Andrew Strauss told the latter that he won’t be picked owing to “trust issues,” despite Pietersen having scored a career-best 355 in county cricket. Bell is of the opinion that the 34-year-old Pietersen deserves an opportunity to make a comeback to the England side. ALSO READ: Kevin Pietersen finds support from Rahul Dravid
According to the Guardian, Bell also hailed Pietersen as possibly the best player he batted alongside. However, Bell maintained that the middle order was packed at the moment and Pietersen could find a spot in the near future if not immediately. READ: Kevin Pietersen cannot return due to trust issues with ECB, says Andrew Strauss
“This has been dragging on for a long time. It’s a pretty packed middle order right now. But if he keeps scoring runs maybe there’s a position in time. “Everyone deserves that opportunity now with a long summer ahead,” Bell said. READ: Kevin Pietersen, a hero England need but do not deserve
Bell also put his weight behind Strauss — the recently appointed England director — who came under severe fire for his dealing of the delicate Pietersen issue. “There won’t be a quick fix for us now, it will take Andrew Strauss time, I’m sure he’ll have that,” as a bloke, would I have faith in him and trust him? Yes I would,” said Bell. READ: Australians delighted not to face Kevin Pietersen during Ashes
Bell went on to speak of his equation with Pietersen. “I played 10 years with Kevin, we both went through highs and lows, and went through a lot of cricket together,” said Bell. “It’s very difficult to say anything: I don’t know what has gone on behind closed doors.
“I don’t know that conversation (with Graves) or how that took place. If that did happen and then you get 350, of course you can be a little aggrieved, can’t you? But you’d have to ask Colin Graves about that.
“Certainly English cricket is not in the place we’d like. We’ve had some really good times, but the last 12 months has been tough, on and off the field it’s not been great. Now we have to change that.”
Bell though maintained that it was vital for the English team to focus on the cricket and not ponder too much over the off-field drama. “Will it harm our chances not to have him this summer? If we think about it and let it come into our dressing room and talk about it, yes it probably might. That’s all we can do as players, focus on what comes next.