England batsman Ian Bell has admitted that he needs to score well in the third Ashes Test against Australia in order to preserve his place in the team.
The experienced right-hander averages just 18 in this series so far, and has scored just one century in the last 12 months.
However, he will move up the order to number three at Edgbaston, and he hopes that will be the catalyst for a return to form.
Bell is quoted as saying by The Guardian: "I'm realistic. I also know that I haven't performed how I'd expect an England player to perform, certainly over the last six weeks, so it's an important Test match there's no doubt.
"I still believe that when I'm playing at my best I'm a world-class player and I'm desperate for the kind of runs that come with being a top-order player for England, but I've known over a long time with England that your job is to score runs.
"I know that I haven't done that to my capability over the last six or seven Test matches, and hopefully this is the start of me kicking on and going forward again."
Bell averages 39.27 at number three, which is lower than his career average of 43.18.
