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Ian Bell admits that England’s players must “take responsibility” for their winter of discontent and start building a new era in earnest when the international season starts against Scotland tomorrow.

The unlikely setting of Aberdeen’s Mannofield ground way up in the north will provide the venue for the launch of the natonal team’s second Peter Moores era with a 50-over game against the Scots.

Bell, along with Warwickshire team-mate Chris Woakes, will be there in the Granite City – and both men hope to be at the heart of the national team for years to come.

And he admits that England owe their fans a serious improvement after a winter of deep discontent and under-achievement, first in the Ashes series in Australia and then in the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.

“It’s a huge summer for us and there is no doubt we have to take responsibility for the winter,” Bell said. “It was not acceptable.

“From winning the Ashes last summer with everyone on a high, to go to Australia where we were never close, it was poor.

“When you go out to Australia you know you have to play to the highest level you can, both individually and as a team. In the past we have done that but this time we were way below where we’d expect to be. Against a team like Australia if you are not playing well as a group you are going to get absolutely hammered – and that’s what happened.”

Since making his Test debut in 2004 Bell has experienced the full gamut of emotions – from bagging a pair to playing match-winning innings and from emphatically winning the Ashes to emphatically losing them.