England Ashes-winner and all-time ODI run-scorer Ian Bell has officially announced his retirement from the 50-over format but insists he still has plenty to offer in Test matches.

Bell, 33, hinted he could quit Tests after winning the Ashes, but has since had "a really good talk" with the coaches and captain Alastair Cook.

“

Deep down I probably knew I wasn't ready to call time on my Test career

”

- Bell wrote in the Metro. 

“

It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent the ODI side on so many occasions and I’m hugely proud to hold the run scoring record, but now is the time to celebrate the new flock of incredibly talented guys coming through and watch them develop into a team everyone can be proud of. Something I have no doubt they will do

”

He is England's record ODI run-scorer,  with 5,416 runs in 161 matches. However, the Warwickshire player was not selected in the two most recent England ODI or T20 squads.

Bell has played 115 Tests - only four Englishman have played more - scoring 7,569 runs at an average of 43 with 22 centuries. He managed only 215 runs at an average of 26.87 in the 3-2 series win against Australia, a record-equalling fifth Ashes triumph for an Englishman.

“

I’m in no way ready to finish, I still have plenty I want to achieve in Test cricket

”

"I've a huge amount still to give in the Test arena and still have so many ambitions left to achieve, both from a personal and a team perspective," he said.

"I would love nothing more than to go to Australia in two years' time and right the wrongs of our last Ashes tour there."

Source - BBC/Metro