<p>Australia's stunning reversal of form to win last week's third Test by 267 runs and level the five-match series at one-all has given Ricky Ponting's men a massive confidence boost.<br /><br />"Certainly, they have got some momentum going into it (the fourth Test)," Bell told a press conference on Thursday.<br /><br />"They played some fantastic cricket at the WACA. (But) out of the three Test matches I'd say we've been playing the better cricket.<br /><br />"We're going to have to start the Test match well," he said. "We don't want Australia winning the first hour or that first session.<br /><br />"It'd be great for us to be able to come out and win that first session, whether we're batting or bowling, and try and take (back) a bit of that momentum."<br />Bell, 28, is second in England's batting averages for the series with 213 runs at 71.00, trailing opener Alastair Cook's tally of 495 at 123.75.<br /><br />His sparkling form, including top-scoring with 53 in England's first-innings total of 187 in Perth, has prompted calls for Bell to be promoted to number five ahead of Paul Collingwood.<br /><br />Collingwood is averaging 15.50 in the series and looked out of sorts in Perth, making 5 and 11.<br /><br />"It's always nice to get moved up the order," Bell said, but the 60-Test veteran added he has not spoken with team management about a promotion.<br />"Whether I move up the order doesn't really matter as long as we're winning the next two Test matches," he said.<br /><br />"That's the most important thing to me, contributing to this team winning the Ashes.<br />"It's probably one of the most exciting Test matches we're going into. Playing in Melbourne is something you look forward to, a Boxing Day Test match is always special."<br />Bell, who averaged just 25.68 in 13 previous Ashes Tests before the current series, feels he has improved significantly in the past 18 months.<br /><br />However, a century in an Ashes Test eludes him.<br /><br />"I'm desperate for an Ashes hundred, there's no doubt about that. I'm hoping with the way I'm playing there's one around the corner," he said.</p>
<p>Australia's stunning reversal of form to win last week's third Test by 267 runs and level the five-match series at one-all has given Ricky Ponting's men a massive confidence boost.<br /><br />"Certainly, they have got some momentum going into it (the fourth Test)," Bell told a press conference on Thursday.<br /><br />"They played some fantastic cricket at the WACA. (But) out of the three Test matches I'd say we've been playing the better cricket.<br /><br />"We're going to have to start the Test match well," he said. "We don't want Australia winning the first hour or that first session.<br /><br />"It'd be great for us to be able to come out and win that first session, whether we're batting or bowling, and try and take (back) a bit of that momentum."<br />Bell, 28, is second in England's batting averages for the series with 213 runs at 71.00, trailing opener Alastair Cook's tally of 495 at 123.75.<br /><br />His sparkling form, including top-scoring with 53 in England's first-innings total of 187 in Perth, has prompted calls for Bell to be promoted to number five ahead of Paul Collingwood.<br /><br />Collingwood is averaging 15.50 in the series and looked out of sorts in Perth, making 5 and 11.<br /><br />"It's always nice to get moved up the order," Bell said, but the 60-Test veteran added he has not spoken with team management about a promotion.<br />"Whether I move up the order doesn't really matter as long as we're winning the next two Test matches," he said.<br /><br />"That's the most important thing to me, contributing to this team winning the Ashes.<br />"It's probably one of the most exciting Test matches we're going into. Playing in Melbourne is something you look forward to, a Boxing Day Test match is always special."<br />Bell, who averaged just 25.68 in 13 previous Ashes Tests before the current series, feels he has improved significantly in the past 18 months.<br /><br />However, a century in an Ashes Test eludes him.<br /><br />"I'm desperate for an Ashes hundred, there's no doubt about that. I'm hoping with the way I'm playing there's one around the corner," he said.</p>