Ian Bell dropped from England Test squad: Batsman 'absolutely gutted' to be left out of South Africa tour

England have taken an enormous risk by dropping Ian Bell for the Test series against the world’s leading team. With him goes 118 caps, 7,727 runs and a combination of experience and wisdom which will be difficult to replace in South Africa next month.

But the selectors’ patience with their senior player’s lack of runs in the past two years finally ran thin and they have recalled two batsmen to the squad for their fifth, final and probably toughest Test assignment of the year.

Although the panel’s chairman, James Whitaker, was at pains to point out that Bell still had an international future, he is also fully aware that such a significant omission could easily be the end of a veteran player’s Test career.

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Both Gary Ballance, dropped during the Ashes series last summer, and Nick Compton, who played the last of his nine Tests in May 2013, were named yesterday in a party of 16. Bell is one of five players who were in the UAE for the series against Pakistan but will not be going to South Africa, where England will play four Tests against a side well out in front in the ICC rankings.

There is no place for leg spinner Adil Rashid, who played all three Tests against Pakistan recently, though slow left-armer Samit Patel is retained after impressing with his attitude in the UAE.

The left-arm pace bowler Mark Footitt has been picked for an England Test squad for the first time, while Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan have been recalled. Injuries to Steve Finn and Mark Wood meant they were not considered and their absences could have a profound effect.

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Bell immediately expressed his disappointment via Twitter. In three separate postings he said: “I’m absolutely gutted not to be selected for the tour to SA. I certainly feel I could have contributed out there & have been working tirelessly 2 get into the best possible condition for the tour. I’m going2enjoy a winter break with my family for the 1st time in 11yrs and come back determined to win my place back. Wishing all the guys selected the best of luck.”.

In explaining what a difficult decision it was for the selectors – the coach Trevor Bayliss had intimated only a fortnight ago that Bell was still worth his place – it was noticeable that Whitaker made no attempt to explain why Ballance and Compton were back. Despite a Test average of 47.76, Ballance was left out after two Tests against Australia last summer when it was obvious he was struggling with his footwork.

Reports emanating from his county, Yorkshire, suggest that he has not entirely overcome his lack of proficiency on the front foot and he could be brutally exposed by South Africa’s pace attack. Compton is slightly different in that he was unfortunate to be dropped before the 2013 Ashes despite scoring two Test hundreds against New Zealand. Another prolific season for Middlesex at No 3 suggests that might be the spot that the selectors have earmarked. But at least three of the top five will be different from that which clinched the Ashes three months ago.

The bowling will again rely on Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad and the fragility of South Africa’s batting in key areas suggest that England will not travel without hope.

A Cook (captain, Essex), M Ali (Worcestershire), J Anderson (Lancashire), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), G Ballance (Yorkshire), S Broad (Nottinghamshire), J Buttler (Lancashire), N Compton (Middlesex), M Footitt (Surrey), A Hales (Nottinghamshire), C Jordan (Sussex), S Patel (Nottinghamshire), J Root (Yorkshire), B Stokes (Durham), J Taylor (Nottinghamshire), C Woakes (Warwickshire).