‘Tough nut’ Bell says Aussies can expect ‘ton of trouble’ during Ashes series

LONDON - England and Warwickshire star batsman Ian Bell has warned the Australians that they can expect a tons of trouble from his blade when the Ashes series gets underway Down Under from next month.

Bell, 28, is convinced he is tougher these days and better equipped to deal with the pressures of five days of turbo-charged cricket against England’s fiercest enemy.

“I don’t think people ever thought ability and shot-making were an issue for me. It was about being tough and scoring runs at the right times,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Bell, as saying.

“Though we lost 5-0 in Australia four years ago, my batting wasn’t too bad. I didn’t get a really big score but felt I improved as a cricketer,” he added.

“I’ve become a hell of a better player in the six years since then. I’m a tough cricketer and I’ve learned some tough lessons along the way,” he said.

Bell produced the best batting of his career following his 72 in the Ashes-winning Test at The Oval in 2009.

He plundered three Test centuries in the next nine months before a foot injury forced him to miss the second half of last summer.

Bell leaves for Australia on October 29, and is virtually certain to feature in England’s first-choice XI Down Under. (ANI)