Bell sets the tone for England but job ‘not done yet’

IAN BELL insisted England would take nothing for granted as they moved into a commanding position on day three of the opening Ashes Test at Cardiff. On a day when Bell rediscovered his own form with 60 from 89 balls, England dismissed Australia quickly and were then bowled out for 289 to leave the tourists needing a record 412 runs to take the lead in the series. But Bell is refusing to accept the job is done with two days left to play in South Wales. ‘This type of cricket, Ashes cricket, anything is possible,’ he said yesterday. ‘We respect Australia, they’re a good side and we’re going to have to come and work hard. We’ve already spoken about the amount of hard work that needs to go in. Taking 20 wickets in Test cricket is always hard.’ He added: ‘In an Ashes series there are no gimmies, everyone is desperate out there and you expect that from Australia and we’ll expect more of the same tomorrow. We’re going to have to work hard.’ Joe Root also added 60 to his first-innings 134 and a lead of around 450 looked a possibility as the duo put on 97 for the fourth wicket. ‘The more runs we get, it doesn’t matter about time we just want to score runs and be positive, take every option on we can and that was all it was about being positive,’ added Bell. But a late clatter of wickets gave Australia a glimmer of hope, although Bell said England’s attacking style was more a reflection of a new era. ‘You’re going to make the odd error along the way, but that’s the way we want to play now going forward, we want to take our options on and the guys have done that brilliantly all summer.’