When Ian Bell played for England in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka he was new to the big league. He was looking around very keenly, learning what he could and generally keeping to himself. Had you met him then, you would have described him as a polite but shy young man.

Since then he has come a long way. Playing in Warwickshire has done the young man's confidence a world of good. As captain of the England side that's touring India, he has to do a lot more than just deliver the goods out in the middle. Talking exclusively to this correspondent, Bell revealed how he was more mature than ever before, and ready to move on to bigger things.

AV: One win and one loss so far on tour. How do you feel?

IB: Very well. We've been looked after well so far. We feel good as a side, we feel like we're playing good cricket. Our batsmen have got in and made 30s and 40s, but haven't gone on to make big hundreds. We haven't got enough runs in the first innings, and have collapsed under pressure in the second innings.

AV: Some of the players have been in a bit of trouble playing the spinners, coming down the wicket and getting stumped with the ball turning away. You don't seem to have that problem. Did playing in similar conditions in the Under-19 World Cup help on this count?

IB: It was a big learning curve in Sri Lanka. Even though the trip was not particularly successful for us, we came away with a lot of experience. Playing spin bowling is something I've done at Warwickshire. That's something people have helped me with from an early age. I must have been 12 or 13 when they started us off on spinning mats which really did turn and bounce. That's probably why I feel confident enough to use my feet, either against the left arm spinner or the off spinner.

AV: We've heard the England management say more than once that the result of this tour is not of utmost importance. It's the experience that counts. As captain I'm sure you'd like to win all the Tests, or at least the series...

IB: Yeah, that's for sure. It's not easy to come to India and win a series. It's definitely a feather in your cap if you can come to India and win a series, not just for the captain but for the whole side. If you can be successful in places like India and Pakistan you're going to go back to England with a good record. Then people are going to actually look out for you. That is a great chance for everyone in the side. If you do succeed here, you can get into your county sides and then there are steps forward.

AV: You've come down with two left arm spinners. That leaves you with less variety than you would like. Monty Panesar who has been bowling so well in the nets has looked short of his best out in the middle...

IB: Monty has bowled well in the nets and hasn't quite been at his best in the middle. He's normally a very bubbly character out in the middle. In the last game he was ill. Perhaps he was a bit dehydrated from being in the field so long in the first innings. That was a bit of a shame. When he gets into rhythm he's a very, very good bowler. We need him to get into rhythm pretty soon and when he does, I'm sure he'll take a lot of wickets.

AV: With two left arm spinners in the side you seem to have taken to bowling off spin...

IB: That's right I'm normally a little seam bowler. Back in England where the conditions help, I do a bit of seam bowling. When I bowled in the nets here, I took a couple of wickets and rolled my arm over in the match. Luckily one turned and I got a wicket!

AV: Your strength will still be your mediumpacers, McGarry seems to be quick and Bishop as well...

IB: They are both generally very good seamers. Hopefully they'll work well together. Andrew (McGarry) has got a bit of pace and bowls straight. He has a good bouncer and has caused a bit of trouble with that. Justin (Bishop) does swing the ball very late and can get a lot of LBWs if he bowls the right line.

AV: When batting in Indian conditions, you have to make runs in quick time. If you are looking to just survive, then you're bound to get a ball that turns and jumps that surprises you. Will you be looking to go after the bowling?

IB: The mental toughness side of it here is very important as well. You are going to get a good ball that turns and bounces. You just have to take every ball as it comes. If you get one that surprises you, then you just have to forget it and play the next ball. If you bat in the last innings then the wicket is going to be worn and you're going to get a bit of that. We have to combat that with all the things we have learnt in our drills. We have to sweep the ball well, that's important. We have to look to play a long innings. We have to bat all day and get big hundreds. That's the key for us. If we post totals of 350 and more, that's going to help us to force a win.

AV: There's a lot of emphasis on adapting to Indian conditions, learning to play the spinners on responsive tracks and things like that. But it's still very important to play to your strengths...

IB: That's right. We have been working hard on that. How to play spin and sticking to your strengths. If you do hit over the top, well then do so. If you sweep well, then play that shot. We've talked about that in every situation. After every match and session we've learnt something. We know that we're going to prove a lot of people wrong, come out and do really well.

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