Ian Bell to step away from professional Cricket after the end of English county season

Ian Bell, after an International career of 118 Tests, 161 ODIs, and 8 T20Is for England, has decided to retire from the game of Cricket after the end of the domestic season. The Coventry-born Cricketer took to Twitter to make the announcement, with a caption that read, “It’s true when they say you know when […]

By CricXtasy Staff Sep 6, 2020, 14:12 IST

Ian Bell to step away from professional Cricket after the end of English county season

Ian Bell, after an International career of 118 Tests, 161 ODIs, and 8 T20Is for England, has decided to retire from the game of Cricket after the end of the domestic season.

The Coventry-born Cricketer took to Twitter to make the announcement, with a caption that read, “It’s true when they say you know when the time’s right, and unfortunately, my time is now. While my hunger and enthusiasm for the sport that I love remain as strong as ever, my body simply can’t keep up with the demands of the game to the standard of which I expect of myself.”

It’s true when they say you know when the time’s right, and unfortunately, my time is now.
It’s been a pleasure.
Thank you.
pic.twitter.com/u7Altf9qpT

— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) September 5, 2020

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Ian Bell, who made his debut for England in 2004, was the last active member of the memorable 2005 Ashes-winning squad. In a Test career that spanned over 11 years, with his last Test match being in 2015, he scored 7,727 runs at an average of 42.7. The 2013 Ashes series, won by England 3-0, has been fondly named as ‘Bell’s Ashes’ by the England Cricket supporters.

Bell aggregated 562 elegant runs in the series, scoring three crucial, match-winning hundreds, and was awarded the Compton-Miller medal. He was subsequently named in Cricinfo’s Test XI that year.

Bell has also had a 20-year domestic Cricketing career with Warwickshire, scoring close to 20,000 first-class runs. Warwickshire’s sports director Paul Farbrace paid a rich tribute to Bell, who emerged through the ranks at the same club. Bell will be the third Warwickshire player to retire at the end of this season, along with former England wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Ambrose and former New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel.

Farbrace said, “Ian will retire from the game as a true Bears legend. He’s come through our development system and academy, won every trophy possible, and he has broken club batting records. During his 12-year international career, he was also a fantastic ambassador for Warwickshire CCC who scored runs all over the world and was firmly established as one of the world’s best batsmen.”