Strauss sure Bell can prove sound stand-in for Pietersen

Pietersen is missing with a thigh strain but was due to be rested anyway, with spinner Graeme Swann also given the week off as part of the England's ongoing rotation policy.

Although he failed to find his best form in the series victory against Australia – and even saw his status as the opposition's most prized wicket stolen by Eoin Morgan – Pietersen leaves big boots to fill at No 3.

Ian Bell, present but not selected in all five matches against Ricky Ponting and company, is the man most likely to be given the task, with Warwickshire team-mate Jonathan Trott also in the squad as cover.

Bell has not always taken his chance to shine in 50-over cricket, but Strauss feels a change of attitude at the crease and some formidable form – including a knock of 158 against India A for England Lions on Tuesday – will stand him in good stead.

"His form this year has been excellent, said Strauss ahead of today's first one-day international at Trent Bridge.

"He's been playing really well for England in the longer forms of the game too and he's really maturing as a cricketer. He knows his game very well now and in some ways I think he's not trying to prove to people he can play anymore.

"He's more comfortable with his game and I think that's why his results have been better.

"Kevin is a loss because he's a world-class player but he's being replaced by people with proven track records in international cricket. It's not as if we're blooding a youngster on the back of losing our biggest player.

"I'm entirely confident that we've got the reserves in place to cope with that loss. We have very high-quality replacements and that bodes well."

England are on a high in one-day cricket, having first secured the World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean and then conquered Australia 3-2 in a stand alone series although the tourists hit back strongly to win the final two games by a distance and inflict back-to-back defeats on their hosts.

All-rounder Stuart Broad remains part of the squad following the death yesterday of his stepmother Miche – who lost her battle with motor neurone disease – and is expected to play.

However, should Broad not be named in the starting XI, back-up seamer Ajmal Shahzad of Yorkshire could be in line for a recall.