Misfiring Bell aims to get going in third Test

LONDON, July 27

Struggling England batsman Ian Bell is backing himself to come good at No. 3 three in this week's third Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston. The 33-year-old, under pressure for his place after a poor run of form, will move up the order in place of the axed Gary Ballance on his home ground.

"For me it's about performing," said Bell. "Whether you're batting three, four or five, you've got to score hundreds and I'm looking forward to that challenge. I know that when I play at my best, I'm a world-class cricketer." Bell has made 117 runs in the last six Tests. "It's a brutal environment, international sport," he said. "You have to perform. I'm realistic enough to know that I haven't played to the best of my ability in the last two months." Bell, who averages 43.18 in 112 Tests, made the last of his 22 Test centuries against West Indies in April. "I went from a hundred in Antigua to a little tricky run. Who's to say that there's not a hundred round the corner?" he said.

Bell believes confidence is high in the England camp despite the 405-run drubbing by the Australians in the second test at Lord's which levelled the five-match series at 1-1. "People wrote us off for this Test series, said it was going to be 5-0, but we performed brilliantly in Cardiff," Bell said.

"We were poor at Lord's but there's no reason why we can't turn it round at Edgbaston." — Reuters