IAN BELL may have played a leading role in England’s winter tour to South Africa but the batsman still believes he has to prove himself worthy of a place in the starting XI.

Bell spent a period out of the Test side before coming back for the tail-end of the Ashes and went on to impress on one of the most difficult tours on the cricketing calendar.

He compiled 140 in a match-winning cause against the Proteas in Durban before batting for nearly six hours for 78 to help secure a draw in the third Test at Newlands.

But having lost his place in the side before, he is refusing to take his spot for granted.

“I’m still working my way back and trying to cement myself in the team,” said Bell ahead of tomorrow’s first Test against Bangladesh.

“I don’t feel by any means like I have a guaranteed place so I’ll be working very hard to get one.

“There is a lot of competition for places and it also depends on the type of side we go in with, whether it’s five or six batters.

“There is real competition for those places so I’ll be working as hard as I can to make sure I do well again. This is a big series for me and I’m as hungry as ever to score runs.”

Should Bell be in the starting XI, he could well be asked to bat at number three.