Ian Bell expressed that England being the No 1 side has to keep performing © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
London: Jul 26, 2012
England batsman Ian Bell is confident that his side will be able to make a comeback against South Africa in the ongoing Test series, after losing the first Test by an innings and 12 runs at the Kennington Oval.
"In the next two Tests, we have to go out and fight for every single run and wicket and try to hold on to number one. In a way, this match has forced our hand," he said.
"There's no doubt, when you see how South Africa played, we're going to have a real scrap on our hands. We're all very proud that we've got to number one, and we definitely want to stay there for a long period of time,” Bell was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
The right-handed middle-order batsman said that England being the No 1 side has to keep performing.
"It proves to us that, no matter where you are ranked, you have to keep performing. Opposing teams see us a bit differently now. Maybe they turn up desperately wanting to beat us, because we are ranked number one – and we have to react to that,” he expressed.
Bell is confident that England will stage a comeback in the upcoming weeks.
"We know this defeat wasn't good enough. But we're confident we can get back in the series. We start on nought at Headingley – the scoreboard starts again. There's no doubt that, if we play the cricket we know we can, we can beat SA,” Bell said.
"If we don't, we know how good they are – and they won't let us back in the game,” he concluded.
