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Batsman believes England can fight back
'Remember the CB Series' - Bell
Cricinfo staff
April 11, 2007
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Ian Bell says England need to perform in every World Cup game from now on, and "not just in patches"
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Ian Bell wants his team-mates to rediscover the secret of their one-day success in Australia so they can salvage their stuttering World Cup campaign. England need to win their three remaining Super Eights matches, starting with Bangladesh on Wednesday, if they are to have any hope of reaching the semi-finals.
Bell, one of only three England batsmen with more than 200 runs in the tournament, insists his team-mates can battle back after successive defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia. He reminded them of how they recovered from a 5-0 Ashes mauling to beat Australia and win the CB Series on the eve of the World Cup.
That success, after a dismal start, involved winning four matches on the trot - one against New Zealand and three against the world champions. "It's a similar situation here to the one in Australia," said Bell. "Now we've got to win every game and every game is a final. I think as a team it's good that we can break it down now to what we need to do."
Bell, who made 77 in the seven-wicket loss to Australia in Antigua on Sunday, knows there is plenty of work to do. After Bangladesh, who have already defeated India and South Africa, England still have to meet South Africa and West Indies.
"It helps that we've been through this before quite recently and probably helps the team that we didn't get too sidetracked on things that were going on further ahead," said Bell, who was delighted to have made runs against Australia where he was promoted to open the batting.
"It was nice to get out there and play the way I know I can play. I enjoyed it and now I want to continue it for the rest of the Super Eights."
Bell said England were still confident they can make the semi-finals, a stage the team has not reached since 1992. "We know we have the players who can do it," Bell said. "We have to put in the performances and not just in patches."
England will play all three of their remaining Super Eights matches at Kensington Oval in Barbados and that suits Bell and his team-mates. "The pitch here will have more pace and that should help our fast bowlers," he said. "In Guyana, it suited the spinners and medium pacers. That should help us more than Bangladesh."
© AFP
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