No fracture for Ian Bell after blow on thumb

 

Southampton: There was relief for England after senior batsman Ian Bell was found not to have suffered a fractured thumb while fielding against India in the ongoing third Test at Southampton on Tuesday.

 

Early in the day’s play, India’s Murali Vijay edged James Anderson just short of Bell at second slip, the ball hitting the fielder’s left thumb. Bell immediately shook his hand in pain and, after treatment by the England physiotherapist, walked off the field.

 

He was sent to hospital for an X-ray but, following a scan, the England and Wales Cricket Board tweeted: “No fracture, acute bruising, so he’ll remain off the field for treatment.”

 

Sean Terry, the son of former Hampshire and England batsman Paul Terry, fielded as a substitute for Bell at the southern county’s headquarters Ageas Bowl ground.

 

Monday saw the 32-year-old Bell end a run of 19 Test innings without a hundred by top-scoring with 167 in England’s first innings 569 for seven declared.