Ian Bell has said that he has no intention of retiring from international cricket after England successfully beat Australia to win The Ashes.
Batsman Bell, 33, had a mixed run during The Ashes but his performance in the last Test prompted calls for him to carry on playing for England.
Writing for The Metro, Bell said: "At the end of every Ashes series you are left both physically and mentally drained and, as I said to Jonathan Agnew as the celebrations began at The Oval, I needed to take a bit of time to consider what the future holds.
"I spoke with coach Trevor Bayliss and Alastair Cook after the Oval loss. We had a really good talk and I was as honest as I could be. Deep down, though, I think I probably knew I wasn't ready to call time on my England Test career. I still have that hunger and desire. The day you don't is the day you step away.
"I have since talked to the people whose opinions matter most to me – my wife and my dad, and it became clear pretty quickly I still have plenty I want to achieve in Test cricket."
Bell has played 115 Tests, scoring 7,569 runs at an average of 43.
Calum Gillon
