Bell says present England success in Ashes `rose` from `dark days` of Oz humiliation

Sydney: England`s Ashes hero Ian Bell has said that his team`s current dominance in the iconic series was born in the dark days of the repeated humiliations, which they faced at the hands of Australian greats Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting and the like.

Bell initially struggled in the Ashes contests, but has now become arguably England`s most consistent batsman, highlighted by his series high 562 runs at 62.4 during the winter in England`s 3-0 win. According to News.com.au, Bell said that the lessons learned, particularly in the 2006-07 whitewash in Australia, are still fresh in the minds of the current team, adding that they have been a catalyst in the turn around as the visitors aim for their fourth successive Ashes win in the upcoming series. Bell also said that the lessons of success were rammed home by the great Australian side, which included Ponting, Warne and McGrath, that did not lose an Ashes series from 1989 until 2005 and then retook the prized urn with a drubbing in the `06-07 series. According to Bell, the Australian greats showed him what proper Test cricket was all about, adding that he was lucky to have played against some of the best players who have ever played the game. Bell recalled that they used try hard to aim for a defeat that was not completely humiliating, when he first came into the team, during the Ashes, unlike now, when they enter the series as favourites to retain the urn, adding that the complete turnabout has been against not only Australia, but also other teams.