England’s hopes of defending the Ashes have been marred by player-fitness - Injuries have been the biggest concern for England over the past one year and both departments of the game have been vulnerable to it, the latest to add to the scare is an injury to Ian Bell a batsman who of late has established himself as a major force in the English middle-order. Bell was hit with the ball from teammate James Anderson during a practice session and has suffered profound bruising on the left wrist and is doubtful for the first Test at the Gabba starting in a day’s time.
Since Marcus Trescothick’s exclusion from the squad due to stress related illness that forced the opener to quit the major event, Bell was to be promoted up the order to the one down (No. 3) the position from which he made 132 in the last warm-up game against South Australia. Bell underwent an X-Ray that has ruled out any fracture to the wrist, he will undergo further treatment and will be reassessed at the training tomorrow.
If he is ruled out it will be a blow for the England’s Ashes campaign and will force the selection committee into another batting-order reshuffle - the most likely replacement for Bell will be Middlesex’s batsman Ed Joyce who will make his Test debut.
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