Bell dismisses thoughts of Test retirement

Ian Bell has confirmed that he wants to continue playing Test cricket despite suggestions that he was considering retirement. The 33-year-old batsman is one of the most experienced members of England's Test side but has endured a difficult year, averaging 24.29 with one century.

Bell said that he had discussed his future with the team management and his family after England's Ashes victory and decided he still had the "hunger and desire" to play on. He has confirmed his limited-overs retirement, however. Bell is England's leading ODI run-scorer but has not been involved since the World Cup.

"I've decided now is the right time to officially stand down from international one-day cricket and put all my focus and attention on my Test career," Bell wrote in his Metro newspaper column. "I've a huge amount still to give in the Test arena and still have so many ambitions left to achieve, both from a personal and a team perspective.

"I spoke with Trevor Bayliss, Paul Farbrace and Alastair Cook in the aftermath of the Oval Test. We had a really good talk and I was as honest as I could be. Deep down though, I think I probably knew I wasn't ready to call time on my England Test career. I still have that hunger and desire. The day you don't, is the day you step away.

"Since then I've sat down with the people whose opinions matter most to me, like my wife and my dad, and it became clear pretty quickly that I still have plenty I want to achieve in Test cricket. The words of encouragement I've received from so many people and the few days of rest I've had have already emphasised to me that I'm in no way ready to finish."

Bell moved up to No. 3 in the batting order during the Ashes, after Gary Ballance was dropped, but despite scoring a brace of half-centuries in England's win at Edgbaston he only averaged 26.87. His last Test hundred came in Antigua in April, after which he endured a run of single-figure scores - Bell has made 0 or 1 eight times in 2015.

Despite some indifferent form since he topped the averages during the 2013 Ashes, Bell has been a mainstay of the side under Cook. He is England's joint-fifth most-capped player in Tests and on course to overhaul Michael Atherton, David Gower and Graham Gooch over the next few months; with 22 hundreds, only two England players - Cook and Kevin Pietersen - stand above him.

England face two tough tours over the winter, with three Tests against Pakistan in the UAE followed by four in South Africa. The last time England were in the UAE, they lost 3-0 and Bell averaged 8.50 but he has set his sights on playing another Ashes series in 2017-18 and the possibility of an English record for wins against Australia.

"I'll say it now, I would love nothing more than to go to Australia in two years' time and right the wrongs of our last Ashes tour there," he said. "I've also been asked if I would like to become the first ever English six-time Ashes winner and the answer is yes, absolutely. If I'm playing well and feeling fit, that is without doubt my goal."