BIRMINGHAM: Geoffrey Boycott believes it could be the end of senior batsman Ian Bell’s career if the right-hander does not deliver in the third Ashes Test.

The 112-Test Bell has had a tough time off late scoring just 116 runs in eight innings and Boycott feels Bell needs to pull his socks up and lead from the front.

“They can’t go on with someone not getting runs,” Boycott was quoted as saying by bbc.co.uk. “If you have played over 100 Tests, you need to take responsibility for the very difficult position of number three,” added the 74-year-old.

“You need to be a bit like an opener. The way England are playing at the moment, they definitely need three openers at the top. Bell has to shoulder that responsibility and go up front. He needs to help the other guys out,” Boycott said.

“The selectors are saying, ‘if you don’t perform at three, you are gone’. I love Ian Bell and his cricket, he is beautiful to watch. But if you don’t have the mind or the defensive technique against pace bowling, you are going to get out.”

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2015

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