Vastly improved Ian Bell to make one-day comeback against Australia

England batsman Ian Bell’s vastly improved performances in the Test series against Bangladesh and the domestic season have earned him a place in the 13-man one-day squad for the upcoming five-match home series against Australia.

Bell will be making a one-day international comeback after 20 months, as he last played a game in 2008.

“We are pleased to welcome back Ian Bell to the one-day squad. He has performed well for Warwickshire this season in limited overs cricket and worked hard to add a more positive, attacking approach to his game,” The Telegraph quoted Geoff Miller, the national selector, as saying.

Bell’s return has also been boosted by his performance in the T20, Pro40 and Friends Provident, where last season he had strike rates of 116, 96 and 76 respectively.

Miller further appreciated Andrew Strauss’ captaincy and coach Andy Flower, and said that they would have an important role to play in England team’s success.

“We are very pleased with the progress our one-day squad has made under the leadership of Strauss and Andy Flower over the past 18 months,” Miller said.

“The challenge facing the squad now is to maintain the form they showed over the winter against the world’s number one side in 50-over cricket,” he added.

England face Scotland in a one-day international in Edinburgh on June 19 before taking on Australia in the series opener in Hampshire on June 22.

Squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Craig Kieswettter (wicketkeeper), Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson and Michael Yardy.