Ian Bell has claimed that he entered the third Ashes Test match in relaxed mood after returning to form in the eight-wicket victory over Australia at Edgbaston.
Despite calls for the 33-year-old to be dropped from the team, Bell responded to his promotion to number three by scoring half-centuries in both innings as England took a 2-1 series lead on his home ground.
"When things started to get to that point where people were saying this might be my last Test match, I actually got into a simpler, much better mindset," he told BBC Sport.
"I was going to go out there and give it absolutely everything and what will be, will be. It's been really tough. You go in and out of form, and sometimes you don't know where the next run is coming from and I honestly did feel like that at times."
England can secure a series triumph with victory in the fourth Test, which begins at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
