No will to go with grace
Ian Bell is probably the England player who receives the most criticism but behind most of the criticism lies respect for, and frustration with, an abundant natural talent, writes Rob Smyth in his blog on the Wisden Cricketer website.
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Ian Bell is probably the England player who receives the most criticism but behind most of the criticism lies respect for, and frustration with, an abundant natural talent, writes Rob Smyth in his blog on the Wisden Cricketer website.
Not since David Gower has an Englishman so gifted proved so exasperating. Bell will never elicit quite the same level of trust as more mundane, blue-collar batsmen like Paul Collingwood, because the nature of his talent is so unusual to us and more difficult to comprehend, but that does not mean his underachievement is relished. Quite the opposite. It is simply that many feel he does not have the will to go with his grace.
Nishi Narayanan is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo