England captain Andrew Strauss believes Ian Bell can do what he did by returning to Test cricket a better player after being dropped from the side.

Bell will replace the injured Kevin Pietersen for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston after being dropped following England’s embarrassing loss to the West Indies in Jamaica in February.

Warwickshire batsman Bell, set to return to Test cricket on his Edgbaston home ground on Thursday, is determined to improve on a modest Test average of 25 against Australia and ease the pain of being dropped.

Strauss knows the hurt of being left out of the England team but since being recalled in New Zealand last year he has scored eight hundreds in 21 Tests at an average of 53.

“When you are left out, you realise that life goes on and if you get another opportunity it’s a massive positive and something that you can’t really lose on,” Strauss said on Wednesday.

“That as a mindset is a pretty good place to be.

“Ian’s done a lot of work. We sent him away and it was a pretty bitter pill to swallow.

“He’s done a lot of fitness work, scored a lot of runs for Warwickshire, he’s done everything we’ve asked of him and he’s had to dig pretty deep to do that. So I think he’s going to be a better batsman for that experience.

“It’s not much fun when you are out of it but it makes you very, very hungry when you come back in.”

England are 1-0 up in the series with three to play after their 115-run second Test win at Lord’s.

Pietersen may be one of the most attacking batsmen in world cricket but Strauss urged his top order to play smart cricket.

“When Ian’s playing well he scores pretty quickly, just in a different style to KP I suppose,” Strauss said.

“A lot has been talked about taking the game to the Aussies, and that’s important, but what is even more important is playing the situations well.

“Even in that Lord’s Test, there were times when bowlers bowled a number of maidens in a row and you’ve got to suck that up.”

While England know they will be without Pietersen for the rest of the series, they remain optimistic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, whose fast bowling on the fifth morning at Lord’s did much to seal victory, will remain fit following ice treatment on his right knee.

Flintoff bowled in practice on Tuesday and Strauss said: “He bowled two good spells, one in the middle, one in the nets, and he seemed to come through those okay,” Strauss said.

“It’s always the case that you’ve got to see how he responds to bowling more than actually what happens when he’s bowling.

“He’s recovered pretty well from Lord’s, so we are still optimistic he’s going to be fine.”

England have won two of their last three Ashes Tests at Edgbaston, although four years ago they were given a huge scare before achieving a two-run victory which helped them bounce back to a 2-1 series success in 2005.

Edgbaston has a reputation as one of England’s more raucous Test match crowds and Strauss said: “When the crowd get behind you, it’s a pretty motivating force and probably not much fun for the Aussies if they are getting sledged from the sidelines.

“If we can use that to our advantage, that’s going to be great.

“Edgbaston is one of the grounds that is probably most atmospheric. Here and Headingley (where the fourth Test takes place) is where the guys like to voice their opinions. When we are playing well it’s a fantastic place to play.”

Victory at Edgbaston would mean England could not lose the series and Strauss is well aware going 2-0 up would put his side in a dream position.

However, he insisted: “One thing we are very conscious of is not resting on our laurels now we are 1-0 up.

“We’ve got a fantastic opportunity this week to build on that. Complacency is the furthest thing from our minds at the moment. We are expecting a much harder Test match this week and I think we’re ready for it.”

Comeback man Ian Bell is so determined to fill in the void created by Kevin Pietersen’s absence in the third Ashes Test that the dour England batsman refuses to let Shane Warne’s jibes become a distraction for him.

“Warney keeps doing that sort of stuff, but that’s him, it doesn’t come as a surprise.” Bell said.

Ahead of the Edgbaston Test starting Thursday, Warne took a dig at Bell, dubbing the Warwickshire batsman’s comeback as “return of the Shermanator”.

It was in 2006 when Warne had nicknamed Bell after the geeky Chuck Sharman in the film ‘American Pie’.

Warne, who claimed Bell’s wicket on five occasions in 10 Tests, said the batsman was a poor replacement of Pietersen and Peter Siddle would work him over just like Glenn McGrath had done in the past.

Bell, however, refused to be dragged into any mud-slinging episode and said he was not taking it seriously.

“I don’t take that on to the field with me. It doesn’t bother me at all. I can’t control what other people say and think. For me it’s a matter of me going out and playing my own cricket and making sure that I contribute to our team winning the Ashes,” Bell was quoted as saying by ‘The Daily Telegraph’.

“That’s what I want to do, I want to be part of winning the Ashes again with England. I have got the opportunity to play in a team that’s playing good cricket at the minute and to play for your country is the biggest honour you can have.

“To be left out for the last few months has hurt and hopefully I can contribute to a winning way with England,” he added.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell is set to get a Test recall as England named on Sunday a 13-man squad for next week’s third match of the Ashes series at his Edgbaston home ground.

Bell is set to replace Kevin Pietersen in the side that won the second Test against Australia at Lord’s by 115 runs to go 1-0 up in the series after the South Africa born batsman was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series with an Achilles injury.

Fast bowler Stephen Harmison and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar have also been added to the XI that played at Lord’s.

England selection chief Geoff Miller said: “The performance of the team at Lord’s was outstanding and a convincing win was well deserved.

“We have obviously had to make a change to the side following Kevin Pietersen’s unavailability and we wish Kevin the best with his rehabilitation and look forward to his return to the England team in due course.

“Kevin’s injury has presented an opportunity for Ian Bell who we know is a top-class batsmen with an excellent international record for England.

“Ian will be looking to make the most of his return to the side during an Ashes series and while we have a strong idea of where he will bat we won’t be disclosing the final line-up of the side until the toss on Thursday.”

Miller also said he was confident of the fitness of Andrew Flintoff, the fast-bowling all-rounder who led England’s attack at Lord’s despite a troublesome knee injury.

“Andrew Flintoff’s performance at Lord’s was truly memorable and we are hopeful he can take his place in the side for the third Test as he continues to manage his knee injury,” said Miller.

“Andrew and the medical staff are quite bullish about his prospects of playing but we’ll continue to monitor his progress in the days leading up to Thursday.”

Squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matthew Prior (wkt), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar.

Andrew Flintoff has been retained while Ian Bell replaces Kevin Pietersen in the England squad for the third Ashes Test against Australia starting on Thursday at Edgbaston.

Flintoff, who will retire after the series, is battling a knee injury while Pietersen has been ruled out of the series after he underwent a surgery on his Achilles tendon. Bell’s inclusion in the eleven is likely to be the only change in the team that is 1-0 up in the series.

“Kevin’s injury has presented an opportunity for Ian Bell. The performance of the team at Lord’s was outstanding and a convincing win was well deserved. We have obviously had to make a change to the side following Kevin Pietersen’s unavailability and we wish Kevin the best with his rehabilitation and look forward to his return to the England team in due course,” said national selector Geoff Miller.

“But we know Ian Bell is a top-class batsmen with an excellent international record for England. Ian will be looking to make the most of his return to the side during an Ashes series and while we have a strong idea of where he will bat we won’t be disclosing the final line-up of the side until the toss on Thursday,” he added.

Bell will make a comeback in the side on his home ground after being dropped after the first Test in West Indies. For Bell it will be fresh challenge after having failed in the 10 Ashes Tests during which he scored just 502 runs.

Miller hoped that Flintoff will be fit in time for the third Test.

“Andrew Flintoff’s performance at Lord’s was truly memorable and we are hopeful he can take his place in the side for the third Test as he continues to manage his knee injury,” Miller said.

“Andrew and the medical staff are quite bullish about his prospects of playing but we’ll continue to monitor his progress in the days leading up to Thursday. Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar both provide us with cover and exciting options within the bowling attack,” he said.

The squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alistair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior (wicketkeeper), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graeme Onions, Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar.