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Bell to bat at four for England

July 28, 2009 00:00:00


The incoming Ian Bell will bat in Kevin Pietersen's regular number four position in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, says skipper Andrew Strauss.
Bell replaces Pietersen in the side after the Hampshire man underwent a series-ending Achilles operation.
The 27-year-old has not played for England since the innings defeat by West Indies in Jamaica in February.
"When you have played a considerable amount for your country, when you are not there it really hurts," said Bell.
"You miss what you used to do a hell of a lot. You do everything you can to get back into that team. When I got back from the West Indies after the winter tour, I really had to put the Ashes to the back of my mind.
"I had to get the runs in county cricket with Warwickshire to give myself a chance to be part of the Ashes and overall I've done that."
Bell's form suffered during England's tour to India at the end of 2008 and the selectors eventually lost patience when his second-innings dismissal in Sabina Park sparked a collapse that resulted in the tourists being dismissed for 51. -BBC

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