Ian Bell has said that he is confident that Alistair Cook can handle the pressure of being England test captain.

Cook, 27, has taken over from Andrew Strauss, who announced his retirement from cricket last week.

"I think he will be fantastic," said Bell. "He has had a responsibility in the test team anyway, as vice-captain. He has been right there with Straussy."

Bell was instrumental as England beat South Africa in the third one day international, to ensure that Cook's England will remain top of the ODI rankings.

"He will probably have his own stamp on things [in test matches], like he has in one-day games," Bell continued. "But we're lucky, because I think it will be quite an easy changeover."

England will be travelling to the world twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka later this month. After that, they have a tricky series in India to negotiate before tours against New Zealand home and away, all leading up to next summer's Ashes against Australia.