Bell injury may not end England recall chance

Ian Bell's hamstring strain should not keep him out of contention for England's first Investec Test squad, according to his director of cricket at Warwickshire, Dougie Brown.

Bell left the field on the first day of Warwickshire's Championship match against Somerset after experiencing pain in his left hamstring. A subsequent scan revealed a "slight strain" in Brown's words.

While any injury doubt at this stage - the squad for the first Test will be picked on Wednesday - is far from ideal, Warwickshire hope Bell would be fit for their next Championship match which starts on Sunday. The Test does not start until Thursday. He had a net at Edgbaston on Tuesday and will bat on Wednesday as required.

Bell has not played for England since the final Test of the series against Pakistan in the UAE in November, but has started the season in fine touch - he made a century against Hampshire and looked set for another against Middlesex until bowled by one that kept low - and describes himself as "refreshed" after a period of rest ahead of the season.