Ashes 2013: We were wrong about Ian Bell, admit Aussies

Australia went into the Ashes convinced Ian Bell would be vulnerable to their pace attack but are now asking their batsmen to adopt one of the centurion’s greatest assets.

Bell scored his third successive Ashes century yesterday and Harris (left) admits his form has taken the tourists by suprise. He said: “We thought he was struggling — he hadn’t made a lot of runs.”

But Bell’s performances have forced a rethink, Harris revealing: “Now, we’ve spoken about our batters modelling themselves on him, and taking their time.”

Harris’s fellow seamer, Peter Siddle, committed the cardinal sin of over-stepping with a delivery that bowled Jonny Bairstow when he was on 21. The Yorkshireman went on to make 67 before becoming one of three late victims for leg-spinner Steve Smith but Harris said: “(Coach) Darren (Lehmann) is quite strict on that with us in the nets . . . once we’re off our long runs, we’re not allowed to go over. There’s no excuse for it. The line is there for a reason.

“It’s not acceptable. It cost us a lot of runs and potentially it could cost the Ashes. Darren wasn’t very happy. You just can’t afford to (have to) take 11 wickets, or 12 wickets. It’s as simple as that. It was probably the only one he bowled, but funny how it happened to be a wicket.”