IAN BELL may have played a leading role in England’s winter tour to South Africa but the batsman still believes he has to prove himself worthy of a place in the starting XI.

Bell spent a period out of the Test side before coming back for the tail-end of the Ashes and went on to impress on one of the most difficult tours on the cricketing calendar.

He compiled 140 in a matchwinning cause against the Proteas in Durban before batting for nearly six hours for 78 to help secure a draw in the third Test at Newlands.

But having lost his place in the side before, he is refusing to take his spot for granted.

“I’m still working my way back and trying to cement myself in the team,” said Bell, ahead of tomorrow’s first Test against Bangladesh.

“I don’t feel by any means like I have a guaranteed place so I’ll be working very hard to get one.

“There is a lot of competition for places and it also depends on the type of side we go in with, whether it’s five or six batters.

“There is real competition for those places so I’ll be working as hard as I can to make sure I do well again.

“This is a big series for me and I’m as hungry as ever to score runs.”

Despite his concerns, Bell is not in any real danger of losing his place, though there is some doubt over his slot in the order.

If Jonathan Trott is asked to fill in for Andrew Strauss at the top of the order, Bell could once again be asked to bat at three.

He has struggled in that role in the past and often appears more comfortable at six, where he was stationed against South Africa.

But he is ready for any eventuality and insists he is eager to conquer his demons at three.

“In terms of the format Bangladesh will use there will be plenty of spinners in the side and spin will be coming in very quickly,” he predicted.

“I don’t think we’ll be getting seamers with the new ball for very long so I don’t think it’s going to matter much.

“Wherever I am asked to bat I’ll be prepared to do it, I don’t try and do anything different.

“But I’ve always said I am desperate to work my way back up the order.

“I haven’t taken the opportunities (at three) so if I’m at six I’ll keep trying to churn the runs out and keep working at moving back up the order. Three is a goal, definitely.’’ Bell, meanwhile, backed Kevin Pietersen to emerge from a recent slump that has yielded only 69 runs in seven innings on tour, citing the team spirit in the England camp as a source of strength for struggling players.

“I know what it’s like, it’s a difficult place to be (when you are out of form) but when you have the dressing room behind you there’s a much easier way through than when you’re on your own,” he said.

“The dressing room was very important for me. Out in South Africa, Andrew Strauss was absolutely fantastic for me – the way he spoke to me, the way he backed me.

“The dressing room is exactly the same for Kevin now and I know he is working as hard as he can.

“We’re right behind him all the way.”

■ Bangladesh batsman Roqibul Hasan has made a shock decision to retire from all forms of cricket on the eve of the series against England.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the 22- year-old, who was named in the 14-man Test squad, had submitted a letter to the governing body to announce his immediate retirement because of personal reasons.

The BCB have, however, not accepted the retirement of one of the country’s most promising young batsmen.

Roqibul was left out for the recent one-day international series against England but earned his place in the Test squad after scoring an unbeaten century against England in the recent tour match in Chittagong.

Roqibul has played seven Test matches since making his debut against South Africa in November 2008.