Bell's 199 more sweet than sour

Ian Bell is the first Englishman to discover what it is like to get out for 199 in a Test match - and he insists it is not such a bad experience.

Bell shared record stands with Kevin Pietersen, who scored 152, then Stuart Broad (76) for the fourth and seventh wickets against South Africa at Lord's, in an England total of 593-8 declared.

It was only when it came to that 200th run that he faltered, hitting a straight drive back at spinner Paul Harris - who held the sharp return chance to disappoint Bell and a packed crowd waiting to hail his milestone.

Bell still had a career-best to celebrate, however, and that was a perfectly acceptable, if slightly mixed feeling as he reflected on a rain-shortened second day of the first Test which finished with the tourists on seven without loss in reply.

"I'm very happy," he said.

"Coming into this game if I'd known I was going to get 199 I'd have snapped your hand off.

"Obviously it would have been nice to get my name on the board for a double-hundred at Lord's.

"That would have been pretty special, but I'll definitely take 199."

Bell admits he paid perhaps for a moment of indecision when he saw Harris had given him a chance to record that maiden Test 200.

The England number five is nonetheless heartened by his significant performance and at 26 years of age, he hopes it could be the start of his pomp as an international cricketer.

"Going on to get a big hundred is something I know that possibly so far in my career I haven't done enough of," Bell said.

"I hope this can turn a corner for me, so that when I do get in - like the best players in the world - I go on and get big hundreds.

"People sit up and take notice when you get big ones, not 60s and 70s. To play with that fluency all the way through is something I won't forget - the best innings I've played for England, so far.

"I don't want to just do it once. I hope this is a kickstart for me.

"I wanted to go out there and make a big impact in this series."

Bell and Pietersen tamed South Africa's much-touted pace attack, among whom only Morne Morkel (4-121) had even a modicum of worthwhile success - albeit on a flat pitch.

There were still times when it was a little more difficult than England's middle-order pair made it look, though.

"They made us jump around out there, and I've got a few bruises to prove it," said Bell.

"There was certainly plenty of pace out there."