Daily Cricket News

Bell: England can recover

Fans were in orbit after Peter Siddle's hat-trick led Australia to a dominant first day, all but celebrating the return of the urn already, but England's top-scorer Ian Bell wants to remind everyone there's a long way to go this summer.

The English promised plenty heading into the series, insisting they were a completely different to the one that lost 5-0 last time they toured down under.

Andrew Strauss' third-ball duck suggested otherwise, and when the tourists crumbled under Siddle's attack to be all out for 260, there were plenty among the 35,339 at the Gabba who were already in celebration mode.

The English batting card doesn't make for pretty reading and Australia's 0-25 start appears a dangerous sign, but through two sessions there was nothing to split the sides.

When Bell and Alastair Cook were cruising along at 4-197, the Aussies looked uninspired. Siddle's hat-trick burst changed all that, yet it's fair to assume there won't be a milestone moment every time the hosts need one.

Ian Bell paid credit to the Victorian's heroics, but the overriding message from the classy No.6 was that England wasn't going away and there was a lot of cricket yet to be played.

"Credit to Siddle and Australia, they finished the day well. It was a great spell of bowling that turned the day on its head a bit," he said.

"We've had a good preparation and the guys are playing good cricket. It hasn't all gone to plan, but we'll come back tomorrow scrapping."

"We're not out of this at all."

"There's a lot we can draw from our preparation. We're only one day into the Ashes series."

Far from disappointed by the batting collapse, which saw the final six wickets fall for 63 runs, Bell was all positivity, savouring the experience of playing in front of passionate crowd in the sport's showcase series.

"The atmosphere was unbelievable, to be honest with you. The noise and everything, today was something really special to play in and the atmosphere was fantastic."

"These are the days that you enjoy playing Test cricket. Going out there in front of a packed house at the Gabba is pretty special."

Backing up his 192 against Australia A, Bell barely put a foot wrong in his first-rate knock of 76, and he admitted that he couldn't be happier with his form.

"I feel in good form. It was nice to go out there and bat fluently," he said.

"I'd much prefer to be 120 not out, but it was a nice day (for me). I've got confidence in how I've been playing lately."