subject: Ian Bell Vows To Fight For His Place [print this page] The England selectors controversially resisted a clamour to recall former captain Michael Vaughan for the trip to the Caribbean when they announced their squad last week, instead keeping faith with Bell, who mustered just 49 runs in his four innings in the recent two-Test series in India.
Bell admits to being disappointed with his own form in India but reminds those who called for him to be dropped that he made a Test-best 199 against South Africa at Lord's less than six months ago.
"It was difficult in India because I got two pretty good balls to get me out and it is difficult to come back with answers in such a short series," Bell said.
"We played two Tests in 14 days so there isn't time to turn things around. In a longer series you have more opportunities to silence the critics and your doubters.
"If I had been left out of the squad for the West Indies tour I would have been surprised. I think that I have proved that I can play at this level and it is only five or six Tests ago that I made 199 against South Africa.
"If I had been left out after a two Test series it would be quite a long time before I had the chance to play for England again.
"But the next chance now is against the West Indies. If I am lucky enough to play in the Tests out there it will be a chance for me to answer back."
England arrive in the Caribbean on January 21 and will play two warm-up matches in St Kitts which will give Bell the chance to find form and see off the threat off Middlesex's Owais Shah who is his rival for the number three position.
"The fact that there are players like Owais Shah and Michael Vaughan pushing hard for the England number three slot means that there is competition for places and I think that is very healthy for English cricket," Bell said.
"It also keeps me on my toes. It means that I have to keep working hard and to keep scoring runs if I am going to stay in the side.
"I am certainly not satisfied with what happened in India. I've done well in the past on the sub-continent in Pakistan and in South Africa but this is the second time I have been to India and for some reason it hasn't quite worked for me.
"I want to best players in the world and I know that I have to keep improving and working hard of I am going to achieve that goal."
