Ian Bell faces the toughest of battles to reclaim his Test place - but so far, he has reacted exactly as England hoped and expected after being dropped for the tour of South Africa.

Five-time Ashes-winner Bell will be 34 before he can begin to state his case for re-inclusion, next summer.

But he has already vowed an appetite to do so, and sent his best wishes too to those who will take on the world number one Test team without him over Christmas and the new year.

Bell was visited in person on Wednesday by England and Wales Cricket Board director - and his former Test captain - Andrew Strauss to inform him he would not be on the plane.

Public confirmation came the next morning with the announcement of a 16-man Test squad which featured returns for batsmen Nick Compton and Gary Ballance, a maiden tour for uncapped left-arm seamer Mark Footitt and surprisingly no place for leg-spinner Adil Rashid - who will instead play for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash.

Footitt, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan will contest the role of third seamer after injuries to Steven Finn and Mark Wood - the latter due for surgery on his chronic ankle impingement next week.

National selector James Whitaker explained the reasons for dropping Bell, who has 22 hundreds in 118 Tests but none since March and only four fifties in 23 subsequent attempts.

"It was a very difficult decision, and not taken lightly," said Whitaker.

"It's been fairly obvious over the last seven or eight months that he's struggled for form, and it's the best thing to give opportunities to other people in that position.

"It'll give him time to reflect now, and come back stronger."

England coach Trevor Bayliss has spoken several times since Bell dallied with retirement after last summer's Ashes series victory of the value of his experience but the need for all players to stay productive.

Whitaker tells a similar tale.

"Experience is great, but England players have to perform," he said.

"We feel his form has dipped. We expect him to put a plan together, score plenty of runs for Warwickshire, and challenge for his position again."

Bell cannot start to do that for another five months, but made his intentions clear on Twitter within minutes of the squad announcement.

"I'm absolutely gutted not to be selected for the tour to SA," he wrote.

"I certainly feel I could have contributed out there & have been working tirelessly 2 get into the best possible condition for the tour.

"I'm going2enjoy a winter break with my family for the 1st time in 11yrs, and come back determined to win my place back.

"Wishing all the guys selected the best of luck."

Compton, set to vie with Ballance for the number three position Bell has vacated, has also had direct contact from England management.

Test captain Alastair Cook's opening partnership with Compton ended at Headingley in 2013, when the latter could make only a second-innings seven in an hour and a half amid reports he was struggling with a rib injury.

He was dropped for the start of that summer's Ashes two months later, but Cook has been in touch to welcome him back into the fold.

"Alastair Cook gave me a shout this morning to congratulate me," Durban-born Compton told TalkSport radio.

"It was nice to hear from him. It is a real vote of confidence."

Back in the United Arab Emirates, where England are hoping to close out one-day international series victory over Pakistan on Friday, team-mates were coming to terms with Bell's omission.

Jos Buttler will be in South Africa next month, but only as reserve wicketkeeper after discovering himself what it is like to be dropped from the Test team against Pakistan in Sharjah.

He said: "Any time you see Ian Bell's name not in an England squad in the last 10 years, you'd be very surprised.

"He's a class player, who's done it over a number of years for England - and as everyone knows, when he is at the peak of his powers, he's one of the best players in the world.

"It's probably a surprise to everyone. But in international sport, that's what we sign up for - and I think everyone knows that."

Buttler has paid for his loss of form, which still extends to 22 international innings without a 50 after his unbeaten 49 in Sharjah two days ago.

"I've been just recently dropped as well. If you're not performing, that's the way it goes," he said.

"But Ian is a class player, and has been over a long period for England.

"He's determined to win his place back, which shows great professionalism. I'm sure he will."