Ian Bell, the nemesis of Australia’s bowling attack, has already consigned his glorious recent Ashes batting deeds to the past, as he prepares to launch another assault in the return series Down Under.
The 31-year-old stalwart of 93 Tests continued his golden run with an innings of 115 in the tour opener against a WA Chairman’s XI.
It followed prolific form in England where he was man of the series, plundering three centuries and averaging 62.44.
“Whether I had a bad series last one or a good one, it’s all gone in the past,” Bell said on Monday.
“Looking back when I’ve finished, to be the man of the series and win the Miller-Compton award, I think will be one of the best things I’ve done in my career.
“But now is not the time to look at that. We’ve got five big Test matches coming up and we want to win them and that’s the important thing for me, not what’s happened in the past.”
Bell has blossomed against Australia after a difficult start to his Ashes career in the 2005 home series, when he averaged just 17.1.
He upped that to 41.53 in the disastrous 5-0 whitewash in Australia in 2006-07, 47.29 in the 2009 home series and 56.14 in Australia in 2010-11.
The elegant right-hander didn’t divulge any secrets of his success against Australia.
However, with young batsmen Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow heading into their first series in Australia after getting their Ashes baptism in England recently, Bell suggested the only way to learn was to be exposed to the old foe.
“You can get a lot of advice from people beforehand but, until you’ve gone through it – the feelings and the pressure – it’s difficult to learn from that,” Bell said.
“So these guys, our young players, will be a lot better players for what they’ve just gone through and also being involved in a winning side is a good thing as well.”
While England’s preparations for the first Test starting in Brisbane on Thursday week have been disrupted by injury and bad weather, Bell stressed pre-Test form wasn’t always an accurate guide to a player’s prospects.
“I think it’s more about the mental side, getting as prepared as you possibly can,” Bell said.
He doubted the England players would show much interest in the Ashes diary launched on Monday by Michael Clarke and wasn’t surprised the Australian skipper hadn’t watched a ball of the England tour.
“They (Australia) will be very much focused on themselves, as we are with ourselves,” Bell said.
“We’re not worried too much about what Australia are doing right now.”
