Bell pips Pietersen for 1st Test

Phenomenal Kevin Pietersen has been left out of the England squad to compete against Bangladesh at Lord’s next week Thursday. For the first Test of Bangladesh’s maiden tour of England, Ian Bell has been preferred to Robert Key and Pietersen in the squad of twelve.

Bell impressed many on his Test debut against the West Indies last year, scoring 70. This season he has been in tremendous touch, scoring 482 runs at an average above 80 in the County Championship.

Also making his way into the squad is the uncapped Jon Lewis, who has taken his 18 County Championship wickets this season at 22.55 apiece. He was preferred to James Anderson in the squad, and will make his debut if Simon Jones does not recover from a back ailment in time.

England 1st Test squad:
MP Vaughan (C), ME Trescothick, AJ Strauss, GP Thorpe, GO Jones (wk), IR Bell, SJ Harmison, SP Jones, MJ Hoggard, A Flintoff, AF Giles, J Lewis.