Ian Bell is using Andrew Strauss as his inspiration in an attempt to recover from the lowest point of his career and win back a place in the England team for the First Test against West Indies.

Bell will play for the England Lions against the tourists this week but has already stated his case to regain the No3 spot for the Lord's Test after a fine start to the season with Warwickshire, which has yielded two centuries in the opening week.

It was no surprise when Bell was dropped by England in favour of Owais Shah following a long run of poor form at the crease but although still scarred by his axing, he is taking heart from the way Strauss has turned around his international career during the last year.

The Middlesex batsman was on the verge of being cast aside by England, perhaps permanently, after being dropped for the preceding tour of Sri Lanka, before scoring 177 against New Zealand in March 2008.

Just one year, and seven Test centuries later, he was named permanent captain of the England Test side — and maintained his purple patch today by scoring 150 for Middlesex against Leicestershire.

“Straussy was probably in a similar position to me 12 months ago,” said Bell. “But then he came back into the side, scored a great amount of runs and is now the first name on the team sheet.”

Long-touted as probably the most technically proficient batsman in the England set-up, Bell is aware that it is his frequent, and infuriating, lapses in shot judgement that have stopped him realising his full potential.

Admitting he was guilty of too often giving away his wicket cheaply after a promising start to his innings, Bell says: “I haven't scored the consistent runs at this level which I know I'm capable of.

“I have had some good days but I haven't done as well as I could. I don't want to give it away when I get to 30, which I've been guilty of doing in the past. I have made mistakes in the middle during Tests. The best players in the world turn forties and fifties into big scores and that is what I need to do.”

While the 26-year-old Warwickshire batsman could hardly quibble with being dropped after scoring just one half-century in 12 innings, he found the lack of opportunities following being cast aside mid-tour even harder to deal with. Bell said: “The most frustrating thing was that there was never a chance to put it right. If you are dropped during a Test in England, you can go back to county cricket and score some hundreds but on tour there is nowhere to go to take out your frustration.

“I felt pretty gutted and it hurt like hell not to be in that XI, so mentally, it was quite difficult to deal with. The next 12 months are big for English cricket and I need to be at my best.”

Strauss, meanwhile, warmed up for the First Test by scoring a dominant century, falling only 27 runs short of his career-best 177.

He reached 150 from only 164 balls in an innings which featured 22 fours and one six, before he was eventually caught by wicket-keeper Paul Nixon off Wayne White.

Strauss's partnership of 244 with Australia batsman Phillip Hughes was the highest second-wicket stand at Southgate. Hughes, 20, who made a century on his debut only last week, was 99 not out as Middlesex moved to 281 for two at tea.

County championship: Div One — Taunton: Somerset v Durham 204-3, Headingley: Yorks 123-1 v Worcs.

Div Two – The Swalec Stadium: Glamorgan 28-1 v Derbys. Southgate: Middx 281-2 v Leicestershire. Northampton: Northants v Gloucs 149-5.