Bell or Bairstow

On Wednesday England cricket team go into the heart of Indian cricket, Eden gardens to try and win two test matches in a row. England produced one of its best performances away from home to win last week in Mumbai where the English spin attack out bowled its hosts counter parts. Yet it's the English team who face a selection conundrum.

Ian Bell who missed the second test because of going home to be at the birth of his first child is set to return. This is more than likely going to come at the expense of young Johnny Bairstow who was unlucky to be given out when he should not have been, caught using the aid of a helmet and fielded superbly close to the wicket for our spin bowlers. The argument which I heard Angus Fraser having on the radio today is which one of these should play.

I believe Bell should defiantly play he does not have a great record in the sub continent but is one of the best batsmen in the world. If England have learnt anything from this summer and the KP debacle it is you play your best players. Bell has the capability to score big test runs against any attack and is a naturally attacking player of spin. However he should not come in at the expense of Bairstow. Bairstow is again another good player of spin as shown in his recent Lions tours of the sub continent. I think Patel should be drop, he has added nothing with the bat and England believe Bairstow is the better bat hence which one of them played as a batsmen against South Africa. His bowling is no longer needed because England have finally got the balance of their side right in these conditions including both Monty and Swan.

England must continue to stay on top of India and the way to do this is to pick your best players in these conditions and drop all dead weight. Having Bell back at 5 makes the top 5 really strong again with lots of experience to draw upon and the capability of scoring as Gooch outs it grandad hundreds. While picking Bairstow at 6 ahead of Patel means your picking the better batsmen, an attacking one who is also by a long way more valuable in the field.

Good bye Patel welcome back Bell.