No free lunch for England's Sherminator

England batsman Ian Bell isn’t expecting to be invited out for lunch by Australian national selector John Inverarity this summer.

Inverarity coached Bell at English county club Warwickshire last decade, and the pair formed a close bond during their time together.

Bell credits much of his early development to Inverarity, who encouraged the talented right-hander to spend a summer playing club cricket in Australia in 2003-04.

The stint abroad worked a treat, with Bell making his Test debut just months later.

Bell has since racked up 20 Test centuries during his 93 appearances for England.

The 31-year-old was the standout batsman of the last Ashes series, averaging 62.4 to guide England to a 3-0 triumph.

Bell again looms as the dangerman for the return series, starting at the Gabba on November 21.

Inverarity caught up with Bell over lunch during England’s last Ashes tour of Australia.

But given Inverarity is now part of Cricket Australia’s brains trust, the pair will have to put any catch-up on hold until after the Ashes.

“He didn’t invite us around for lunch this time like he did last time with me and Trotty,” Bell said with a laugh.

“He’s keeping his distance a lot more now.”

Bell struggled in his first three Ashes series against Australia.

His worst performances came in England in 2005, when he averaged just 17.1 over the five Tests.

Such was Australia’s disregard for Bell, they even labelled him the “Sherminator” in reference to the geeky, red-haired character from the movie American Pie.

But the Sherminator came back with a bang, averaging more than 60 over his past two Ashes series to give Australia all sorts of headaches.

“I’ve had good times and bad times against Australia,” Bell said ahead of this week’s three-day tour match against WA, starting Thursday.

“But the important thing is not to look at what’s gone (on the past). It’s to look at this series.

“As long as the team wins, that’s the important thing. If I can help contribute, then even better.”

Bell said his summer in Perth, where he played club cricket for University of Western Australia, was immense in his development.

“I spent a lot of time in the England system, from under-19s to the academy. But coming here changed a lot of things,” Bell said.

“It was for a bit of a lifestyle lesson as well as the cricket, having to fend for yourself and meet new friends.

“I certainly went back a much better and tougher player and made my Test debut at the end of that English summer.

“John Inverarity was a massive factor in that.”