Ian Bell still has "hunger and desire" to continue England Test career

Bell became a five-time Ashes winner this summer but during an on-field interview with Test Match Special after the final game of the series, the 33-year-old indicated he would "take stock" of his future.

That led to speculation the Warwickshire batsman might be ready to call it a day, but he has decided he still has the "hunger and desire" to continue at the highest level.

Writing in his Metro column, Bell said: "At the end of every Ashes series you're left physically and mentally drained and, as I said to [TMS host] Jonathan Agnew as the celebrations began at The Oval, I needed a bit of time to consider what the future holds.

"I spoke with coach Trevor Bayliss and Alastair Cook after the Oval loss, we had a really good talk and I was as honest as I could be.

"Deep down, though, I think I probably knew I wasn't ready to call time on my England Test career. I still have that hunger and desire."

Bell has played 115 Tests for his country, scoring 22 centuries in a career tally of 7,569 runs.

But, barring two impressive half-centuries in his home Test at Edgbaston, he was far from his best and averaged just 26.87 across nine innings.

Cook, speaking after the series, was clear that Bell had a big role to play over the course of a tough winter that takes England to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and then to South Africa.

With the retirement of Australia skipper Michael Clarke, Bell is now the only player from the 2005 Ashes series still actively involved in Test cricket.