Bell set sights on England return

Ian Bell is hoping success in Twenty20 will help convince England’s new hierarchy he’s ripe for a return to the national team — and a tilt at a remarkable sixth Ashes series victory.

The middle-order batsman hasn’t played a Test for more than a year but after a stint in Australia’s Big Bash League, he’s turning his attentions to this week’s T20 Blitz in Hong Kong. Bell, 34, averaged 33 in 10 Big Bash games for Perth Scorchers and he knows runs on the board are the only way to force his way back into the team reckoning. —