The Bell Curve

Sometimes all it takes is a single moment of inspiration fired by a modicum of perspiration. Sometimes one small step beyond the ordinary can evolve into an extraordinary leap. Whatever form that defining instant takes, it does not seem altogether fanciful to speculate that, at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, Ian Bell turned the corner separating boys from men.

For all the stoutness of his Test average (42.39), he has seldom convinced during his four years at the highest level. He has always looked even younger than his years – and not simply because of that slight frame, those cherubic cheeks and that almost sheepish air. It was as if he, too, could not believe he belonged.

While occasionally allowing it to dribble out, he seldom exuded confidence. All too often he appeared hemmed in by a preoccupation with technique, constricted in ambition, restrained, unable to turn good starts into match-turning scores, unable to impose. Which might explain why he has often done better at No.6. Until last night he reminded me of the primary school swot who always finishes top of the class but struggles to keep up once he rises to secondary school and comes up against all the other swots in the catchment area.

But one shot last night prompted even this non-believer to accept, not only that patience remains the greatest virtue, but that he may have been doing Bell a grave disservice. Played on the rise, with something approaching a swagger, an early cover-driven four off RP Singh, his third scoring stroke, demanded to be taken seriously, exceedingly seriously. Suddenly, here was evidence of an authentic international batsman, an accomplished craftsman shedding the shackles of uncertainty and inhibition. “I belong!” it roared. “And now you’re gonna believe it!”

It was that shot that facilitated the other vivid blow in his long-awaited maiden ODI century, at the 46th attempt - a straight six off Piyush Chawla fuelled by footwork that warranted a response from Ginger Rogers.

We’ve been here before, of course: how many illusory “defining" moments did we swear we saw from Mark Ramprakash or Graeme Hick? The difference is that Bell, thanks in the main to central contracts and the manifest benefits of playing in a (mostly) winning team, has always felt secure within the dressing room. No less significantly, he has also been backed by selectors who believe in consistency and a fair crack of that once-merciless whip. British cricket lovers can only hope this is the start of a beautiful relationship.