Edgbaston, Aug 9 (IANS): England batsman Ian Bell is relishing the prospect of helping the team become the World No.1 Test side at his home ground of Edgbaston with a victory over India.
Bell struck 159 in the second innings at Trent Bridge to set up a mammoth 319-run victory for England, who lead 2-0 in the Test series.
Now Bell is looking to revel on his home soil.
"It's hugely important. Edgbaston now as a venue and a club is lucky to have this game at the right time. Obviously, the world's going to see this new ground and a fantastic game to go with it," he told ecb.co.uk.
"It's an exciting time for the club and as a local player it's a great opportunity to come out and represent your country in it."
Bell praised the facilities at Edgbaston.
Bell knows the Edgbaston crowd will provide another intimidating atmosphere.
"It will be great. Both games already have been supported fantastically well by both sets of supporters and Edgbaston has something special in terms of the atmosphere," he said.
"It's a noisy ground and I hope both sets of supporters come out like they have done in the last two Tests. It's been a great series to be involved in. Both teams have played it hard and also the supporters have been incredible off the field as well."
Bell said England have to be professional in Birmingham.
"We haven't always played well when we are on the edge of winning a series," he added.
"Hopefully we can see this as a one-off game. What's gone has gone now and we need to just look at this. We need to start again whether we lose the toss and it's a good time to bowl and we have to bat. We are going to have to do really well."
"We have to win the first hour and that's what we have done really well as a team. We try and break it down, win small bits and at the end add them all up."