Ian Bell finds form with timely ton
04/05/2012
Ian Bell hit an unbeaten century for Warwickshire to boost his chances of staying in the England team.
On the second day of the County Championship match against Durham, Bell, who had begun the day on 59 not out, moved on to 106 on a day mostly washed out by rain.
What may particularly impress the selectors is that the centurion made his runs in bowler-friendly, low-scoring conditions as the home side closed on 195-7 in reply to Durham's first innings of 163 all out.
Fans booking hospitality packages for the Test match at Edgbaston next month may be delighted by the news, as it makes it more likely they will see Bell in action alongside Jonathan Trott.
Elsewhere, county games produced mixed fortunes for England players, with one man doing well being Graeme Swann, who picked up three cheap wickets for Nottinghamshire against Lancashire at Old Trafford.
However, Swann's close friend James Anderson, who has already had an thumb injury scare earlier in the match, left the field feeling ill.
By Keith Prowse
