Bell says England must 'quickly fix problems' if want to retain Ashes

England batsman Ian Bell has said that his team must quickly fix their problems if they are to keep the Ashes from the dominant Australians, according to reports.

According to Sport24, England collapsed for a third time in the series for just 172 in reply to Australia's massive 570 for nine declared and are facing a 530-run deficit heading into the fourth day of the second Adelaide Test on Sunday.

Bell, who again expressed his willingness to bat at number three for England, was one of few shining beacons among the abject tourists' batting performance, scoring an unbeaten 72, the report said.

However, the senior batsman admitted that time is running out as the Aussies close in on going two-up in the five-Test series over the closing two days of the Adelaide Test, the report added.

Bell said the Adelaide Test was still salvageable, although it would take something special from the team's batsmen to prevent losing to Michael Clarke's Australians, the report mentioned.

He added that England had to find an answer to the rampant Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who ripped through the tourists, taking seven for 40 and now has 16 wickets for the series at just 8.9, according to the report.