Ian Bell retires from ODIs to focus on Tests

Ian Bell: England batsman retires from ODIs to focus on Tests

England batsman Ian Bell says he still has the "hunger and desire" to play Test cricket after retiring from one-day internationals.

Bell, 33, hinted he could quit Tests after winning the Ashes, but has since had "a really good talk" with the coaches and captain Alastair Cook.

"Deep down I probably knew I wasn't ready to call time on my Test career," Bell wrote in the Metro. 

He is England's record ODI run-scorer,  with 5,416 runs in 161 matches.

However, the Warwickshire player was not selected in the two most recent England ODI or T20 squads.

Bell has played 115 Tests - only four Englishman have played more - scoring 7,569 runs at an average of 43 with 22 centuries.

He managed only 215 runs at an average of 26.87 in the 3-2 series win against Australia, a record-equalling fifth Ashes triumph for an Englishman.

"I've a huge amount still to give in the Test arena and still have so many ambitions left to achieve, both from a personal and a team perspective," he said.

"I would love nothing more than to go to Australia in two years' time and right the wrongs of our last Ashes tour there."

Source: BBC Online