Batsman Ian Bell has pinpointed the number three position in England's Test plans as they build towards next year's Ashes.

Warwickshire batsman Bell has been the yo-yo among England's top order over the past four years but hopes his latest shift is a more permanent one.

Speaking at the launch of npower's third urban cricket facility in Highgate Park, Birmingham, Bell said: "It looks like I might get an opportunity now at number three and it is up to me to take that opportunity."

He added: "It is now a time in my career where I should not see myself, or allow other people to see me, as a young player any more.

"A lot of the players when I first walked into the dressing room are no longer around and I have 43 Test caps, so it is time to step up and deliver.

"Certainly I have been up and down the order throughout my Test match career but more recently I have settled at five.

"That is where I have put in my best performances but as a player you always want to test yourself and be as good as you possibly can be.

"You look at the best players in the world and a lot of them bat at number three or number four.

"People might say that batting at number five is easier than three but you want to test yourself as much as you can and batting at number three you do that.

"You could be in after the first ball or three hours later. That challenges your skills as a batsman and that is what I want to face up to."