Bell aiming to emulate Ponting

Ian Bell warmed up for the series with an unbeaten 131 against a Sri Lanka Board XI

Ian Bell's long term aim in one-day cricket has been to become England's version of Ricky Ponting - and he now has the statistics to make his challenge.

Bell, 25, has come of age this year and arrives in Sri Lanka for the five-match series as third top run-scorer in 50-over international cricket in 2007.

Only Matthew Hayden and Sourav Ganguly have surpassed Bell's 1,010-runs, boosted by a man-of-the-series tally of 422 in the recent 4-3 victory over India.

That has represented something of a turnaround for a man who has so often been England's fall guy in the past and one who was not even required by Warwickshire for a domestic semi-final earlier this summer.

Bell's average is 40, the benchmark for the very best players and not too far shy of Ponting, the man he is using as a template for success.

Having been backed by England coach Peter Moores and assistant coach Andy Flower to produce a volume of runs, and hundreds in particular, at first-wicket down, Bell has begun forcefully, scoring 131 in the warm-up match against an invitational XI.

“There is no doubt that Australia set the benchmark for one-day cricket and Ricky Ponting does it time after time,” Bell said.

“Consistency is what sets people apart in world cricket. Andy Flower was one of the best players when he was playing and so he has been invaluable to talk to.

Ian Bell has consulted Ricky Ponting on his success for Australia © Getty Images

“One thing I have spoken to him about is how Ponting has done it. Picking the right options at the right time is something that makes him the person I want to emulate.

"It is not just about batting but the way he prepares, the way he imposes himself on the opposition, everything.”

Bell imposed himself most emphatically against the entire Indian attack and played spin better than on previous occasions, hitting the ball to all parts at will.

“I feel more confident in my ability to play at this level and at the minute I feel in pretty good form,” Bell reflected. “When you feel like that it is about picking the right ball and going for it.

“That is what Paul Collingwood and Peter Moores are desperate for us players to do.

“If you know there is an option there, go for it 100 per cent with no fear of failure. If it doesn't come off they are not going to worry about it.”

Although it is his consistency which has been impressive, the watershed moment came when he registered his maiden one-day international hundred.

Warwickshire's Bell hit a brilliant, unbeaten 126 in the opening NatWest Series victory against India and has not broken stride since.

“That experience of getting a hundred was a big hurdle to get over,” Bell said.

Owais Shah is Ian Bell's main rival for the number three spot in the England batting line-up

“As soon as you have done it once you feel you can get over it again.

“People were talking about me not getting one, so although I tried not to let it bother me, it was something I was fully aware of.

“Questions were being asked and maybe this has silenced a few critics. Now it is off my mind hopefully I can move on and play there for a long time for England.

“I was given the first opportunity this summer to bat number three by Peter Moores and I could see then there were a lot of people fighting for that place.

Bell, who has won 54 caps, was under pressure to keep his place in the side when the seven-match campaign against India began.

Having been made a scapegoat for the failed World Cup campaign when dropped for the final match against West Indies, however, Bell this time edged out Owais Shah for the number three position in England's strongest possible limited-overs unit.

That unit, which now also contains Shah lower down the order, will provide the Sri Lankans with a much sterner test than they were given last summer when, with one-day cricket very much a poorer relation to Tests in the scheme of thinking, England were whitewashed 5-0.

There has been a definite surge in intensity from previous years this summer, however, and Bell revealed: “What we have talked about is what a serious business it is out there.

“Playing for your country is a massive honour but sometimes, because of the amount of international cricket we play, you might take it lightly. That is something we want to make sure does not happen.”