By Callum Dent
Ian Bell expects England to play a “positive, aggressive brand of cricket” during the one-day international series in Sri Lanka.
Alastair Cook’s side head into the seven-match rubber, which starts on Wednesday at the R Premadasa Stadium where England trained today, with just one warm-up game under their belt following yesterday’s washout at the P Sara Oval in Colombo.
Bell was one of a quartet of batsmen who enjoyed time in the middle during Friday's 56-run Duckworth/Lewis victory.
And the 32-year-old, who has played 148 ODIs for his country, is hoping England can follow the lead set by openers Moeen Ali and Cook, who both compiled attacking half-centuries at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
Bell, part of the England side that beat the islanders on their own soil seven years ago, said: "Stats-wise, I get told in the first 10 we're the same as anyone else in the world.
"So I don't necessarily agree we don't go hard at the top.
After official photos it was back to the R Premadasa for a second net session plus media for @Ian_Bell#SLvENGpic.twitter.com/2UTThwsCKt
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) November 24, 2014
"But the importance of partnerships is huge in any one-day cricket. So that we're building and can then 'explode' at the end.
"We'll have to be adaptable (to conditions) but want to play a positive, aggressive brand of cricket as well."
After Moeen and Cook departed for 56 and 54 respectively in the warm-up win, Bell and Joe Root shared an unbroken stand of 29 before bad light set in.
Asked if he feels in form, Bell - who made a watchful, unbeaten 16 from 35 balls - said: "It's difficult to say... but it's good as a group we've been able to focus just on one-day skills here.
"It's great to have that opportunity, rather than have it tagged on the end of a Test tour."
Watch @Ian_Bell and @ravibopara batting during this afternoon's session at the R Premadasa #SLvEng https://t.co/h3O5LfRuhP
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) November 24, 2014
Moeen, promoted to the top of the order at the expense of Alex Hales, acclimatised to his new role superbly with a 21-ball fifty.
The left-hander struck six fours from the first six legitimate balls he faced as left-armer Vishwa Fernando conceded 25 runs in the over.
Bell said: "We can't put a lot pressure on Mo to do that all the time.
"He had a great start, but if they bowl well he's got to adapt his game to that as well."
On the wet weather in Sri Lanka, Bell added: "It's not ideal, is it?
"But I suppose, on this tour, we're going to get interrupted by rain all the way through."