Strauss backs Bell to follow his example

BIRMINGHAM: England captain Andrew Strauss believes Ian Bell can do what he did by returning to Test cricket a better player after being dropped from the side.Bell will replace the injured Kevin Pietersen for the third Ashes Test here at Edgbaston after being dropped following England’s embarrassing loss to the West Indies in Jamaica in February.Warwickshire batsman Bell, set to return to Test cricket on his Edgbaston home ground here on Thursday (today), is determined to improve on a modest Test average of 25 against Australia and ease the pain of being dropped.Strauss knows the hurt of being left out of the England team but since being recalled in New Zealand last year he has scored eight hundreds in 21 Tests at an average of 53.“When you are left out, you realise that life goes on and if you get another opportunity it’s a massive positive and something that you can’t really lose on,” Strauss told reporters here Wednesday.England are 1-0 up in the series with three to play after their 115-run second Test win at Lord’s. Pietersen may be one of the most attacking batsmen in world cricket but Strauss urged his top order to play smart cricket. “When Ian’s playing well he scores pretty quickly, just in a different style to KP I suppose,” Strauss said.While England know they will be without Pietersen for the rest of the series, they remain optimistic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, whose fast bowling on the fifth morning at Lord’s did much to seal victory, will remain fit following ice treatment on his right knee. Flintoff bowled in practice here Tuesday and Strauss said: “He bowled two good spells, one in the middle, one in the nets, and he seemed to come through those okay,” Strauss said.