Bell Sizes Up the Task Ahead

Ian Bell has conceded England will have to play "outstandingly well" if they are to avoid a resounding defeat against Australia in the opening Ashes Test.

The Warwickshire batsman was one of the few successes on the third day at the Gabba, battling for nearly four hours to score a determined 50.
But England were dismissed for a lowly 157 with Glenn McGrath taking six for 50 - his 29th five-wicket haul.

Ricky Ponting opted not to enforce the follow on - and Australia's batsmen again showed the tourists how to apply themselves, reaching 181 for one by the close to establish a 626-run lead which leaves England facing a battle to avoid a comprehensive defeat during the final two days.

Bell conceded: "We're going to have to see if Australia are still batting tomorrow morning and then we're going to have to play outstandingly well to save this game.

"We were a little bit surprised they didn't enforce the follow-on, but it's not in our control what Australia do - and if anything it gave our bowlers another opportunity to get out there and do some bowling.

"It takes the game further along, but there is still a lot of cricket to be played and we're going to have to bat really well in the next two days to get anywhere near saving this game."

England lost their last five wickets for 31 runs but Bell's half-century was a personal triumph after he averaged just 17 in the 2005 series against Australia.

He continued: "It's always going to be a battle out there against Australia, especially when their tails are up and it was a good battle - I enjoyed being out there.

"It was disappointing getting to 50 and then getting out because there's no point getting 50s over here - you need to get hundreds. It was nice to get out there and spend some time out in the middle - but I'd have loved to have gone on."

Bell insisted England were not demoralised despite being dominated for a second succession and claimed: "The mood hasn't changed much in the dressing room.

"We've been through days like this before and it's just a matter of staying together as a team. The next game will be completely different and tomorrow's another day. It's been a hard three days, but we're all together, we'll fight together and we'll keep working hard."

McGrath, playing his first Test since January, claimed Australia had not enforced the follow on to ensure England batted in the worst conditions.

The 36-year-old explained: "When we decided not to enforce the follow on it was more about the fact we're only two-and-a-half days through the Test match and it's not about how quickly we can win a Test match.

"We just thought we could let the bowlers freshen up a little bit even though we were keen to go again if required and the wicket is getting worse and worse each day.

"The cracks are opening up more and more and you saw today that we hit the cracks a few times - so that will be something that will definitely be playing on the English minds."