Bell now unlikely to figure for Warwicks

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

England batsman Ian Bell is unlikely to play for county champions Warwickshire in their final match of the season against a depleted Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge tomorrow.

Bell, who is available to play having returned from one-day international duty with England, has been included in Warwickshire’s 13-man squad and was expected to use the four days in Nottingham to prepare for Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank 40 final against Hampshire at Lord’s.

Bell would definitely have played if the Nottinghamshire match was more significant but it was become a mostly meaningless  contest since Warwickshire clinched the title at Worcester last Thursday.

Off-spinner Jeetan Patel will make his first Championship appearance in a month following his return from Test duty with New Zealand in India.

Patel arrived back in England last Wednesday morning and was in Warwickshire’s provisional plans to come into the Worcestershire match on the second day. But they decided the risk of a delayed arrival was too great and that he was unlikely to be required in conditions that suited swing bowling.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose had also travelled with Warwickshire’s squad to Nottingham where his fitness will be assessed. Ambrose suffered a thigh injury in bizarre circumstances watching Warwickshire bat in their semi-final win over Lancashire at Old Trafford but he is expected to be fit to face Hampshire.


Date: 10/09/2012 19:52:16 by Paul Bolton
In: Warwickshire | Today | England |