23 February 2023 last updated at 21:21 GMT
 
Bell targets top four batting spot
Tuesday 06 September 2011

Ian Bell is looking to cement his place in the top four in England's one-day batting line-up, starting with a big knock at the venue of his only limited-overs century to date.

"I would say anywhere in the top four - to go out and bat and build an innings and go through the gears," he said, on his favoured position

"That would be a strength of mine - be aggressive up front and bat through the spinners and then accelerate."

"I've got an idea about how to play in one-day cricket and I guess I've seen glimpses of that.

"I'm not the kind of guy who is going to hit the ball into a few rows back and I have to go over extra-cover or whatever and use the skills that I have and find boundaries that way.

"I try to learn off 'Morgs' [Eoin Morgan] in how he plays the spinners and scores boundaries off the front and back foot."

Bell has previously had the chance to grab a top-four slot, but feels he is a more complete batsman than he was back then.

"I wasn't as good a player as I am now, so it's nice to get that opportunity again," he said.

"I've got to be flexible, and we have a batting order that can chop and change.

"Whether I bat six or four or open, I just have to be flexible.

"Not having one position that I have stayed in for a long period of time has not allowed me to score the number of runs that I would like.

"But if you take squads to competitions you are going to need that flexibility, I see that as a strength - even if I haven't stayed in one place long enough to nail one down."

England are likely to make one change to their side for Tuesday's second one-dayer, with a fit-again Graeme Swann returning in place of Samit Patel.

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