Bell is beginning to toll for Bears

Somerset v Warwickshire May 19-22, County Ground, Taunton, 11:00

IAN Bell is desperate for Warwickshire to convert their potential on paper to results on the pitch.

As the Championship returns today, Warwickshire go into their game with Somerset – the only team below them in the table – still looking for their first win.

But England batsman Bell believes that his side have more than enough to challenge this season.

He said: “We haven’t performed particularly well as a group at the start of the year, but we’ve just got to keep scrapping, keep fighting and keep working hard together and we will see more younger guys come in as the season goes on.

“It’s quite an exciting time at Warwickshire at the minute – this team will be changing and turning over in the next couple of years.

“I still believe the spine of the team and side we’ve got is good enough to cause a lot of problems in the first division, but also do well in other formats.

“But on paper is one thing, and going out there and doing your job is another.”

Warwickshire did not have a great time in the One-Day Cup – finishing bottom of the North Group – but they did beat Yorkshire in their last match.

And as attention returns to the red-ball game, Bell says the squad have been training hard ahead of today’s trip to Taunton.

He added: “We’ve had a good few training sessions and there is no doubt the guys will be working hard over the next few weeks and we have to do that to get better.

“We have to show the Warwickshire supporters that we are doing everything we can to get back to our best.”