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London: Ian Bell is set to return to England's Test team next week at his Edgbaston home ground after star batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series with an Achilles problem.
Bell, 27, may have been out for a duck against Hampshire on Friday, in a match where he only made seven in the first innings, but he has long been regarded as the 'next man in line' should England need to alter their batting line-up.
The Warwickshire batsman was included in the squads, but not picked for the final XI, in both of the first two Tests against Australia.
England are currently 1-0 up in the series, following a draw in Cardiff and their 115-run win at Lord's last week.
They are due to announce a 13-man squad on Sunday for the third Test of the five-match series and England national selector Geoff Miller paved the way for Bell's return by saying Friday the extra two places were likely to be taken by additional bowlers, rather than batsmen.
Bell played the last of his 46 Tests against the West Indies in Jamaica in February but was dropped after a run of low scores, with Ravi Bopara taking over in England's problem position of No 3.
However, Bell has scored heavily in the County Championship with 640 runs in his seven innings this seaon prior to the double Hampshire disappointment.
But his record against Australia is mediocre, with his 502 runs in 10 Ashes Tests coming at a low average of 25.10.
This week England coach Andy Flower made it clear Bell was in line to take over should Pietersen be ruled out and Miller backed that view Friday by saying of the need for extra batting cover.
"There are no (more) injury problems as such, so we probably won't need to do that.
"We had question marks to cover in the last squad but I don't foresee needing to do that here," the former England off-spinner added.
England will continue to monitor the fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff. The fast bowler led England's attack at Lord's, taking five wickets in the second innings after announcing this would be his final Test series.
However, the injury-plagued all-rounder has been troubled recently by a knee problem.
Fellow quick Stephen Harmison, on standby at Lord's, is likely to be included again as is left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, left out in the second Test, with Graeme Swann England's lone specialist slow bowler.
"We have all bases covered so that, whatever conditions we turn up to, we have players to complement them," Miller said.
"There is a lot of time and a lot of weather between now and then, and we will keep monitoring it."
Reflecting on the series so far, Miller said: "The response of the players has been very pleasing. The rearguard action at Cardiff was superb and to control the game at Lord's was special as well.
"But we realise there are three games to go still and it is a marathon not a sprint," he added.
Probable England 3rd Test squad: Andrew Strauss (c), 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
