Back in Australia

Ian Bell, continuing his diary for BBC Sport Online, recovers from a bout of tonsilitis over New Year and is glad to be back in Adelaide with the Academy.

The time before Christmas focused very much on obtaining the right levels of fitness with limited competitive cricket. This emphasis now switches with more cricket being played as we run through to the English season.

Most of the lads did go back home for Christmas and there was a concern that during this period fitness levels, which were earned through hard graft, could go one of two ways.

The management, of course, trusted us not to let things slip plus we knew we would have a physical test when we got back to the Academy.

So after having a couple of days relaxing and catching up with family it was time to get back into some training. It was not the easiest of things to do in the cold and wet, how different to Adelaide, but you just knew it had to be done.

A four-day game at the MCG awaits Bell and co

As well as training there was also time to touch base with the coaches at Warwickshire. This gave me a chance to get myself videoed in the nets batting and having a look at my game to see that everything was still in order.

So I found myself almost as busy as I was in Australia.

After having a great Christmas and New Year, time just flew by and before I knew it was time to depart again for Australia.

My only problem was a bout of tonsillitis which put my schedule out and I missed one week's training. But we all reported back at Heathrow fit and ready to return to the fray.

So after a long journey we arrived back. The temperature was 35 degrees and we soon settled into our previous existence. Then it was time for the threatened fitness test.

Inverarity input

In fact, we all did pretty well. Although generally there was a slight decline in fitness levels, I am sure we will soon recover that.

During this first week, the batsmen had coaching from ex-Test player John Inverarity, which was very useful, giving us some good tips on batting in Australian conditions.

We are all looking forward to next few weeks as we start to tour. Hopefully, all the hard work before and during Xmas will hold us in good stead.

The first stop is Melbourne with a four-dayer starting 21 January at the MCG. Then to Canberra followed by Bowral in New South Wales before returning to Adelaide mid tour in the second week in February to take stock.

It's an exciting prospect and we are all really looking forward to the next few weeks.