Bell to slot in at no.4

England captain Andrew Strauss has confirmed that Ian Bell will bat at number 4 in Thursday's 3rd Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Bell comes straight in to replace the sidelined Kevin Pietersen, meaning that Ravi Bopara keeps his place at number 3 in the order.

Bell's Ashes record isn't too impressive, with an average of just less than 25. However, with the knowledge that he is in the side for the next 3 Tests, he will be confident to improve upon that record. Kevin Pietersen described Bell earlier in the week as a "world-class talent", but if that label is to stick, he has to produce the goods on his home ground first.

The Warwickshire right-hander's highest Test score came last summer against South Africa at Lords, where he scored 199. However, since then, Bell has only picked up one half-century in 12 innings, without a century, and his last appearance in the England whites was in the West Indies in the winter, at Kingston, a game in which England were skittled for just 51 in their second innings.

England fans will be hoping that Bell can recapture his form of 2006, a season in which he made 3 centuries in 4 innings against Pakistan at home. It's these kinds of performances that enhance his reputation as a top-class talent, but he now needs to show that talent on the biggest of all stages.

Bell finds his match

Fulham's new Norweigan signing Bjorn Helge Riise - younger Brother of ex-Liverpool star John Arne - has already made an impression on me without even kicking a ball. He's a complete ringer to England cricketer Ian Bell!

I saw Bjorn Helge in an interview on Sky Sports News this morning, and the likeness is uncanny. Riise was bought from Norweigan club Lillestrom for an undisclosed fee. Not only do they both look identical, they're also both in the news this morning. Crackin'!