Harris dares England to let Bell bat at No.3 instead of Joe Root

Australian Test bowler Ryan Harris has turned the heat up further in the Ashes by claiming the sooner Ian Bell was in, the quicker he'd be on his way back to the sheds during the second Test starting on Thursday.

According to News.com.au, England batting coach Graham Gooch is challenging either established No.5 Ian Bell or young Joe Root to stare down the twin threat of Harris and Mitchell Johnson in the No.3 slot vacated by Jonathan Trott.

Harris hoped that it would be Bell at No.3, because then they would get an earlier chance to get him out, adding that he wants to get him in there early.

Once lampooned as the Sherminator by leg-spin great Shane Warne, experienced Bell stood between Australia and the little urn in England this winter with three tons under pressure, the report said.

Bell is clearly Australia's most prized scalp having already worked out plans for fallen No.3 Trott, skipper Alastair Cook and talisman Kevin Pietersen, the report added.