Diary: Ian Bell in India

We are just coming to the end of our three-day match against South Zone in Chennai, from which I was rested and which drifted towards a draw on the last day.

So far this tour has been a massively beneficial experience for us, even though the results haven't gone our way and, as yet, we haven't really clicked as a team. We've experienced playing in conditions that you just don't get back home.

The atmosphere and energy from the opposition on the field that we experienced during the First Under-19 Test in Bombay was unlike anything you would ever get in a second team game back in England. For me personally, the tour's gone pretty well and I have felt really comfortable with my own game. It was great to score a hundred in the first Test and it was certainly one of the best innings I've ever played.

I've done pretty well against the spinners so far. It's something that I've worked on with Warwickshire from an early age. I've tried to use my feet to them and knock them off their length. So far it's worked pretty well.

I've really enjoyed the responsibility of being captain and I loved it all last summer when I had the job last year as well. I have a good relationship with The Management team - the two Tims, Boon and Tremlett, who obviously take a lot of responsibility and give me time to concentrate on my own cricket. I hope that I can be of help to the team, whether it be in selection or helping some of the other guys with any experience from previous tours.

Away from the cricket, time is pretty tight so we haven't had a lot of opportunities to sample the Indian culture. We went out to a couple of restaurants in Mumbai and also went to a safari park. Since coming to Chennai, we went to a snake park the other day, which was something different. Tomorrow we have a day off and are going to spend time at a beach resort and also take a look at some crocodiles on the way!

I've found it quite easy to switch off from cricket at the end of a day. It's something I've learned to do and something you have to do. Then when you wake up on a match day, you must switch right back on again, which is how I intend to be when we start the Second Test against India on Saturday.