Bell gains stature to walk the walk for Ashes return

Ian Bell vowed yesterday to make his presence felt on England's Ashes tour of Australia this winter. Bell was considered a soft touch by Australia during last summer's series, when he scored 171 runs in 10 innings but, after hitting hundreds in each of England's three Tests against Pakistan so far, he is expected to keep his place in the first Test at Brisbane on 23 November, when Andrew Flintoff returns.

"My body language is better than it was last year against the Australians," admitted Bell, prior to tomorrow's fourth Test against Pakistan. "It is something I have worked on with Alec Stewart, who suggested that I had a bit more presence about me. I speak to Stewie a lot and he said that I needed to show that I believed in myself and that I should walk out to bat with my chest out.

"Previously I felt like a young player surrounded by world-class players and I didn't look them in the eye. There have been times when I've wondered whether or not I was good enough to be out there, but now I believe I am. I have been happy with the way I have played. It has not been scratchy, it has been quite fluent which is pleasing."

It was the recurrence of Flintoff's ankle injury that gave Bell the opportunity to play against Pakistan. After a mediocre tour of India, he was dropped for Alastair Cook in the Test series against Sri Lanka, and his international future was considered in doubt. But unbeaten scores of 100 and 106 at Lord's and Old Trafford respectively, and an equally impressive 119 at Headingley has made him one of England's stars of the summer.

The performances have given Bell the chance to become only the second Englishman - Ken Barrington managed it on two occasions in the 1960s - to score centuries in four consecutive Test matches.

The Oval has provided Bell with mixed memories. The 24-year-old made his Test debut here in 2004, when he scored a fine 70, but he bagged a pair against Australia 12 months ago.

Bell is aware that he will join an élite group should he reach three figures for a fourth time. "If it was to happen it would be amazing, but I cannot go around thinking of that now," he said. "I am very pleased with what I have achieved this series, but I don't want it to influence the way I prepare and start looking too far ahead. After the first Test at Lord's, and with Flintoff expected to return, I felt that I did what I needed to do. But once I became aware that he would not return I wanted to show that I could perform consistently. In the past it has been lacking."

Consistency and continuity in selection have been part of England's strengths since Duncan Fletcher took charge as coach, but Pakistan seem to hold a different view, especially at the top of the order. Salman Butt and Taufeeq Umar, who opened the batting at Headingley, have both been sent home, leaving Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez to open the batting tomorrow, becoming the fourth different combination in four Test matches.

Farhat was an original member of Pakistan's touring party but Hafeez, who was called up to prepare for the one-day series, has been rushed into the Test side. Hafeez played three Tests against Bangladesh in 2003 and Pakistan will be hoping that his handy off-spin can play a part on what is historically a turning pitch.

Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Asif, the triumvirate of rehabilitating Pakistan fast bowlers, were all seen practising at the Oval yesterday but they are not expected to play. Shoaib is definitely out, but it is anticipated they will all feature in the one-day series.