Ian Bell retires from ODIs to focus on Test career

London: England's veteran batsman Ian Bell has decided to retire from the limited-overs cricket in order to completely devote his 'focus' and 'attention' towards his Test career.

Ian Bell

'I've decided now is the right time to officially stand down from international one-day cricket and put all my focus and attention on my Test career,' the 33-year-old wrote in his Metro newspaper column.

"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,' added Bell, who finished with 5,416 runs in 161 ODIs.

The batsman also insisted that he still has the hunger and desire to play Test cricket.

Bell, the England's leading ODI run-scorer, has not been involved in the national squad since the World Cup.

Bell, who is also a five-time Ashes winner, has scored 7,569 runs, including 22 hundreds, at an average of 43 in 115 Test matches.