England batsman Ian Bell believes he is adequately prepared for the Test series against India after a patient 78 on day one of England's tour-opener in Mumbai.
"It's nice to get some time at the crease in the heat, getting ready for those Test matches," he told BBC Sport.
"We need to be scoring big runs and getting big first innings totals so you need to get used to that heat.
"It was good to spend some time against their spinners - it did turn and bounce, so that was good preparation."
Bell spent three-and-a-half hours at the crease at the Brabourne Stadium, with temperatures hovering around 32C.
After a nervous start he was able to continue the good form shown late last year, when he was England's leading scorer on the tour to Pakistan, with 313 runs in three Tests.
"After the Ashes, when I would have liked to score a few more, it was a big lift for me in Pakistan, to be leading run-scorer in the team," he continued.
"It was a big confidence boost and hopefully something I can build on over the next few years."
Bell believes that the Indian pitches will offer little in the way of bounce during the Test match.
England eventaully made 299, with Monty Panesar run out to end day one of the three-day game.
"The guys adapted well early on, when it did a little bit, and overall it was a good day for us," Bell added.
