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Southern Vipers fast bowler Lauren Bell reflects on her call-up to the England Test side after a successful start to the season
Lauren Bell is one of five players who could make their Test debut on Monday, as England face South Africa in a one-off match in Taunton.
The fast bowler was previously named in England’s Test squad for the Ashes in February, and was a travelling reserve during England’s World Cup squad, but didn’t feature in a playing XI at any point.
Now though, with Katherine Brunt announcing her retirement from Test cricket, and new Viper Anya Shrubsole retiring from all internationals, the summer of 2022 could be Bell’s chance to step up to the international stage.
“I found out on Friday last week,” Bell said, “Finchy [Jonathan Finch] called me and congratulated me and it was pretty exciting.”
Bell took five wickets in the Vipers’ successful Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign, with a stunning four over spell of 3-12 against Lightning where she has the ball on string.
The pace and the movement of Lauren Bell was too much for Marie Kelly, Sarah Bryce and England opener Tammy Beaumont, who was beaten by a searing in-swinging yorker.
Bell said: “Being away really helped me settle into the group.
“Just training with top class players and being around the environment means I’m a bit more comfortable and a bit more confident.”
The pace bowler burst onto the scene in the Hundred last year, as she took 12 wickets at 16 apiece.
But a Test match is quite a different prospect to a T20, hundred-ball game, and a one day game.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to says it’s such an honour to represent your country in a Test match,” said Bell.
“We don’t play it [multi-day] in regional cricket so I’ve had a lot of learning to do over the last week or so and when I was in Australia but it’s all exciting and it’s fun.”
The Wiltshire-born bowler could take the place of her new teammate Anya Shrubsole who announce her retirement from all international cricket after the Cricket World Cup, as England were beaten in the final by Australia.
Shrubsole joined the Vipers as a player-coach from Western Storm, and Bell said she’s been a great help to her over the short period of time she’s been with the club.
Bell said: “She’s been so great because I feel like she’s experience everything that I hope to experience in my international career.
“It’s nice to be able to talk to someone who feels like they’ve been through what I’ve been through and knows how I’m feeling. It gives me confidence.”
England start their international summer on Monday 27th June in a one-off Test match against South Africa, before three ODIs and three IT20s before the Commonwealth Games at the end of July.
The best way to catch Lauren Bell and the Southern Vipers in action is with a Hampshire Cricket membership.
The Vipers play two Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy games at The Ageas Bowl this summer as they look to win the title for a third successive year.
2022 Members also receive access to an exclusive allocation of tickets for next summer’s otherwise sold-out Vitality IT20s at The Ageas Bowl with England facing both India and South Africa at the venue next summer, alongside a whole host of other exciting benefits.
For more information on Hampshire’s Membership offering please visit the link below.
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