I would have also reinstated Bell : Sourav Ganguly

Reaction when Bell walked out after tea on Day III…

SOURAV: My initial reaction was that he shouldn’t have been run out… So, that way, I was happy to see him back. I put myself in Bell’s shoes and realised that he wasn’t going for one more run (with Matt Prior).

If he was the captain, would he have run out Bell in that manner…

SOURAV: No.

England captain Andrew Strauss (and coach Andy Flower) going over to the India dressing room and requesting Bell’s recall…

SOURAV: In my view, Strauss did the right thing… Because of the circumstances, I would’ve done the same.

If he would’ve reinstated Bell…

SOURAV: Absolutely. I say that because, on watching the footage, it’s clear that Bell wasn’t going for another run… It will be unfortunate if such dismissals take place… That way, if you’ve played the last ball of an over towards point and have stepped out of the crease for gardening, the point fielder could run you out… If that’s fine, then we’ll end up witnessing mayhem on the field.

Bell’s reinstatement having an effect on the match and, as a consequence, the series…

SOURAV: That’s a different issue… However, I don’t think any one decision is responsible for impacting on a match or a series. You’ve got to accept the reality that England have been playing far better than India. That’s the bottom line.

Finally, if gestures such as Dhoni’s actually have a place in today’s age of hard professionalism…

SOURAV: (Emphatically) The simple answer is yes.

© BBC Telegraph