There’s no alarm Bell yet
IAN Bell believes it can be saved, but concedes it’s going to take something really incredible.
And Bell has again offered himself for promotion in the batting order as the tourists try to counter Australian tearaway Mitchell Johnson.
England will start today’s fourth day of the Adelaide Test some 530 runs behind Australia.
‘‘These games are savable,’’ Bell said.
‘‘But someone is going to have to play an incredible innings. If you want to bat a day at a ground, this is the ground to do it.
‘‘But what we have done in the last three innings isn’t going to get us close. Someone, or probably two or three guys, have to really step up.’’
Johnson’s 7- 40 helped skittle England for 172 yesterday in their first innings in Adelaide, following innings returns of just 136 and 179 in their seriesopening loss in Brisbane.
‘‘In that dressing room, there is going to be no excuses,’’ said Bell, who topscored with 72 not out.
‘‘ It’s just not good enough and we need to make sure that we put that right. We’ll have an opportunity in the second innings to at least try and show people we’re going to show some fight.’’
Bell reiterated he was willing for a promotion to first-drop in the batting order, but such a decision was up to team hierarchy.
‘‘It’s out of my control . I’m happy to bat anywhere for this team,’’ he said.