Tuesday 5 April 2016 10:06, UK
Ian Bell is sure Ben Stokes will bounce back from his World Twenty20 final heartbreak and is predicting a bright future for England.
Bell was preparing for the start of the County Championship season while England were suffering defeat at the hands of the West Indies in Kolkata, where Stokes conceded four successive sixes against Carlos Brathwaite in the final over.
But the veteran batsman feels that last-over shocker should not detract from a positive season for England, and Bell is predicting more success in the future.
"It was an amazing final but obviously gutting for the guys, and for Stokesy at the end," Bell told Sky Sports News HQ.
"They have played so well through the winter, in all formats of the game, and it was a shame not to get over the line. The future looks good, these players are going to play for a long time. Credit to the West Indies as well, they played well throughout the tournament."
Stokes' implosion was the focus of most of the headlines on Monday morning, but Bell says the Durham all-rounder is strong enough to bounce back from a final that left him in tears.
He added: "Ben was the one guy who fronted up. When you put yourself in that position it can go either way, but I think he will learn from it and that's part of playing at the highest level.
"There are going to be highs and lows. This is a low but he will bounce back, he's a strong, tough guy, he's had a fantastic winter going right back to that innings he played at Cape Town. This is a little blip and hopefully he, and the team, will come back stronger from it.
"The experience of being in a world final and not getting over the line will make them hungrier, especially with tournaments coming to this part of the world. You've got to learn from that experience and then go one step further when it's here in England.
"The way they have played, in particular that South Africa game which was a real momentum shift, the way Rooty has played they will take a lot of confidence from it. I know there will be a lot of focus on the last over but away from that I think it has been a very successful winter for England and they can build a lot on that."
For the first time in years, Bell had the winter to himself after being left out of England's Test series in South Africa, but the 33-year-old (he turns 34 this weekend) says he does not feel done with international cricket.
Bell will captain Warwickshire in domestic cricket this season and hopes to be in the runs early on to get back into the picture for summer series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
"I would love to have been out in South Africa for the Test series but it has been nice to have a break, not pick up a bat for a couple of months. I feel really excited by the season that's about to start," he said.
"For me it's about concentrating on Warwickshire, enjoying the captaincy, things are a little bit different there, and scoring runs. If I'm winning games for Warwickshire I'll put my name in the hat to be talked about. We've got a good side, with everyone available, which is quite exciting as well."
