'Naive' Bell's ton puts England on top

England century-maker Ian Bell admitted he had been "naive" after a bizarre mix-up still ended with him leading his side into a commanding position against India in the second Test.

England, in their second innings, were 441 for six at the close of the third day at Trent Bridge on Sunday, giving them a lead of 374 runs.

Bell made a superb 159, but only after being run out when on 137 off the last ball before tea.

Having completed three runs with Eoin Morgan following a misfield by Praveen Kumar, he sprinted off the field believing the ball had gone for four and was consequently 'dead'.

In fact it was still 'live and, after calling in the third umpire, the on-field officials gave a stunned Bell out.

England coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss went to the visitors' dressing room at tea to ask India, whose coach is ex-England supremo Duncan Fletcher, if they wanted the appeal to stand.

And minutes later India withdrew their appeal.

Umpires Marais Erasmus of South Africa and Pakistan's Asad Rauf emerged after tea to boos from spectators, unaware the decision had been reversed, as did India before the jeers became cheers when Bell resumed his innings.

Although Bell made only 22 more runs following the reversal of a decision which was quite correct, he added an additional 69 with Morgan in what turned out to be a fourth wicket partnership of 104.

Bell's eventual 159 included 24 fours and was made in nearly five-and-a-half hours at the crease.

He was finally out when his cut off part-time left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh was caught by Venkatsai Laxman at slip.

"I was a bit naive to automatically walk off and assume the ball had gone for four," Bell admitted after stumps. "I think the right thing's happened for the spirit of the game.

He added: "Morgan hit it off his legs and we thought it was probably four, with the way the fielder reacted after he got up.

"I put my bat down after the third and it looked like we were just meandering off for tea.

"I had to wait and the decision was made, (then) the captains and coaches met to see if the decision was going to stand or if they wanted to change it.

"I was in the back room trying to figure out what had happened and whether I was going back into the middle. The umpires had walked out, there were a few of us with pads on and the message got passed on to me."

India star Rahul Dravid said skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had led a team decision to withdraw the appeal.

"Under the rules he was out, but there was not a nice feeling in the dressing room," said Dravid.

"We knew it was not in the spirit of the game. There was unanimity that we should reinstate Ian. The team was led beautifully by Dhoni."

Left-hander Morgan went to a 60-ball fifty, featuring seven fours, with a straight six against off-spinner Harbhajan Singh before he was one of two wickets that fell to Praveen Kumar with the new ball.

However, wicketkeeper Matt Prior again proved a thorn in India's side with the bat, hooking fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for six on his way to an unbeaten 64.

He received excellent support from Tim Bresnan, 47 not out, in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 102.

Bell, 84 not out at lunch and scoring briskly, went to 98 with a fluent cover-driven four off Kumar.

Then a leg-glanced two off Sreesanth saw the 29-year-old Bell to his 15th hundred in 67 Tests and fourth this year.

England scored 417 runs in the day after resuming on 24 for one, still 43 behind despite Stuart Broad taking a hat-trick on Saturday on his way to Test-best figures of six for 46 on his Nottinghamshire home ground.

India's first innings of 288 also saw Dravid make 117 -- his 34th Test century and second in as many matches after his 103 not out during England's 196-run first Test win at Lord's.

England will replace India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table if they win this four-match series 2-0 or better.