Bell misses birth of his first child

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Ian Bell has become a father for the first time but the England batsman was unable to get back home in time to attend the birth.

Bell opted to miss this week’s second Test in Mumbai to return to England to attend the birth of the baby which was due to be born on November 27 and to be delivered by caesarean section.

But Bell’s carefully-laid plans went out of the window when Joseph William Bell was born naturally a week early. Bell was still at Mumbai Airport waiting for a flight to England when his wife, Chantal, gave birth but he has now arrived home in Birmingham to be with his extended family.

Bell is due to fly back to India in time to link up with the England squad in time for the third Test in Kolkata, which starts on December 5. It remains to be seen whether Bell will be able to reclaim his Test place which looks vulnerable after his first ball dismissal in the first innings of the Ahmedabad Test.

The arrival of Joseph William is also being celebrated by Warwickshire captain Jim Troughton, the baby’s uncle. Troughton’s wife Naomi is the elder sister of Chantal Bell.


Date: 20/11/2012 16:15:00 by Paul Bolton
In: Warwickshire | Today | England |