Vastly improved footwork to take Bell to Ashes success?

London, June 6(ANI): England batsman Ian Bell's vastly improved footwork in the second Test against Bangladesh at Old Trafford is likely to provide him a place in the touring team for the Ashes.

When last time Bell was in Australia, in 2006-07, he had struggled to counter Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark on firm and bouncy Australian pitches.

Critics had claimed that he had developed a bad habit of playing from the crease, instead of either right back or forward.

However, none of that happened during his knock of 128, his 11th Test century, as England took charge of the second and final Test, News of The World reports.

Coming into the Ashes series after reclaiming his place at number six in the batting order, Bell was viewed as competing with Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood for two places in the starting eleven.

The 28-year-old, however, failed to impress in the series, scoring a total of 331 runs at an average of 33.10, including four half centuries.

He also failed to convert good starts into big scores, and England suffered a 5-0 Test series whitewash. (ANI)