England chance opening up for Ian Bell

Sep 3 2008 By Myles Hodgson

IAN Bell will take guard for the first ball of England’s final match of the NatWest Series later today admitting he is still adjusting to life as an opener in the one-day side.

The 26-year-old Warwickshire batsman has spent the majority of his 74 one-day internationals for England batting at No.3, but has been installed at the top of the order this summer for the two series against New Zealand and South Africa.

It has been a successful move with Bell building an opening partnership with Matt Prior, the pair forging stands of 77, 85 and 101 in three of the last four matches as England secured a 4-0 series lead.

But he admits: “Three would be my favourite spot but if I’m asked to open, I’ll open. In one-day cricket nowadays there’s not much difference in the top three anyway.

“With Matty we’ve done pretty well and it would be nice to get a run together and keep building on something and getting more of an understanding together.”

England are expected to name an unchanged line-up with Andrew Flintoff likely to shrug off the back spasm that has been troubling him.