England batsman Ian Bell admits his side have paid the price for resting on their laurels after reaching the top of cricket’s Test rankings.

Andrew Strauss’s team must beat South Africa in the third and final Test at Lord’s to retain the number one spot and Bell believes they will have only themselves to blame if the Proteas move above them.

England produced two lacklustre displays against South Africa to fall 1-0 down in the series and they have lost five of their 10 Tests since replacing India as number one.

“We were so hungry to get to number one and that feeling of chasing number one is something that drove us really hard,” Bell said ahead of the Test beginning on Thursday.

“It’s been a bit different being the team being chased by the other teams, a bit like the position India were in last year.

“Andy Flower (team director) was keen to remind us that the hard work was only just starting when we got to number one.

“It’s like getting your first Test cap. You think you’ve made it but there is such a huge journey after that.

“But we haven’t performed. Over the last 12 months we haven’t really been in the form of the last three years so it’s put us under pressure to stay there.

“We have got to learn from these lessons if we want to keep being number one or if we want to get back there if we lose the spot.”

Bell admits the South Africans’ knack of taking early wickets and ability to bat for long periods has given them the edge so far in the series.

But the Warwickshire player believes there were encouraging signs at Headingley and that South Africa will be conscious of England’s ability to retrieve the current situation.

“Things just started to turn at the end of the Headingley Test and hopefully we can take that momentum into Lord’s,” Bell said.

“The three series I have played against South Africa have been really tough and really close and I don’t expect this Test match to be any different.”