Playing in LLC reminds you how lucky you were to be a professional cricketer for so long: Ian Bell

Ian Bell. (Source – Twitter/X)

Ian Bell said that playing in front of good crowds during the ongoing Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2024 reminds him of his time as an international cricketer. The former England batter is captaining India Capitals in the third edition of the franchise tournament.

Bell is one of the finest batters to have played for England, especially in the red-ball format. He finished with 7,727 runs from 118 Tests at an average of 42.69. He is ninth on the list of leading run-getters for England in the longest format of the game. On the sidelines of LLC 2024, the Walsgrave-born spoke about his experience of returning to the field to play the beautiful sport alongside superstars of yesteryears.

“To come back and play some more cricket, even though I suppose the playing days are finished and coaching is what I do now, it’s been brilliant. When you retire from playing, you don’t get these opportunities to come out in front of good crowds and have that chance. It does remind you of how lucky you were to be a professional cricketer for such a long period of time,” Bell was quoted as saying by India Today.

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How has Ian Bell fared so far in LLC 2024?

India Capitals have won one match and lost a couple so far in LLC 2024. Two of their games were abandoned due to rain. Bell has not been at his best with the bat as he has scored just 17 runs in 24 balls in two innings. Fans will hope to see the 42-year-old treat them to some of his elegant strokes in the latter half of the tournament.

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The Capitals are set to collide with Shikhar Dhawan-led Gujarat Greats in their penultimate match in the round-robin phase of the six-team tournament. This encounter takes place at the Molana Azad Stadium in Jammu on Monday, October 7.