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{{short description|English cricketer}}
{{About|the English cricketer|other uses}}
{{Use British English| date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Lauren Bell
| female = true
| image = Lauren Bell, Eng v Aus, 18-07-23.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Bell bowling for [[England women's cricket team|England]] in July 2023
| full_name = Lauren Katie Bell
| country = England
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|1|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Swindon]], [[Wiltshire]], England
| nickname = [[The Shard]]
| heightft = 6
| heightinch = 0
| heightm = 1.83
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast]]
| role = [[Bowling (cricket)|Bowler]]

| club1 = [[Berkshire Women cricket team|Berkshire]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|2015–2021}}
| club3 = [[Southern Vipers]]
| year3 = {{nowrap|2018–2024}}
| club2 = → [[Middlesex Women cricket team|Middlesex]] (on loan)
| year2 = 2019
| club4 = [[Southern Brave]]
| year4 = 2021–present
| club5 = [[UP Warriorz]]
| year5 = 2023–2024
| club6 = [[Sydney Thunder (WBBL)|Sydney Thunder]]
| year6 = {{nowrap|2023/24}}
| club7 = [[Hampshire Women cricket team|Hampshire]]
| year7 = 2025
| club8 = [[Royal Challengers Bengaluru (WPL)|Royal Challengers Bengaluru]]
| year8 = 2026 – present

| international = true
| internationalspan = 2022–present

| testdebutdate = 27 June
| testdebutyear = 2022
| testdebutagainst = South Africa
| testcap = 163
| lasttestdate = 10 July
| lasttestyear = 2026
| lasttestagainst = India

| odidebutdate = 15 July
| odidebutyear = 2022
| odidebutagainst = South Africa
| odicap = 138
| lastodidate = 29 October
| lastodiyear = 2025
| lastodiagainst = South Africa

| T20Idebutdate = 10 September
| T20Idebutyear = 2022
| T20Idebutagainst = India
| T20Icap = 57
| lastT20Idate = 9 July
| lastT20Iyear = 2025
| lastT20Iagainst = India
| T20Ishirt = 63

| columns = 4

| column1 = [[Women's Test cricket|WTest]]
| matches1 = 5
| runs1 = 19
| bat avg1 = 9.50
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 8
| deliveries1 = 750
| wickets1 = 18
| bowl avg1 = 24.11
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 4/27
| catches/stumpings1 = 2/–

| column2 = [[Women's One Day International|WODI]]
| matches2 = 33
| runs2 = 58
| bat avg2 = 8.29
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 12
| deliveries2 = 1557
| wickets2 = 49
| bowl avg2 = 28.8
| fivefor2 = 1
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 5/37
| catches/stumpings2 = 10/–

| column3 = [[Women's Twenty20 International|WT20I]]
| matches3 = 41
| runs3 = 3
| bat avg3 = 1.50
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 2
| deliveries3 = 890
| wickets3 = 60
| bowl avg3 = 17.75
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 4/12
| catches/stumpings3 = 8/–

| column4 = [[List A cricket|WLA]]
| matches4 = 80
| runs4 = 253
| bat avg4 = 8.72
| 100s/50s4 = 0/0
| top score4 = 36
| deliveries4 = 2,852
| wickets4 = 115
| bowl avg4 = 24.80
| fivefor4 = 1
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 5/37
| catches/stumpings4 = 17/–

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1129/1129939/1129939.html CricketArchive
| date = 29 October 2025
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's [[cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ENG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[ICC Women's T20 World Cup|T20 World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup|2026 England]]|}}
}}
'''Lauren Katie Bell''' (born 2 January 2001) is an English International [[cricketer]] who plays for England in all formats of the game. She also plays for [[Royal Challengers Bengaluru (WPL)|Royal Challengers Bengaluru]] in the WPL. [[Hampshire Women cricket team|Hampshire]] and [[Southern Brave]]. She has previously played for [[Berkshire Women cricket team|Berkshire]], [[Southern Vipers]], [[UP Warriorz]], [[Sydney Thunder (WBBL)|Sydney Thunder]] and [[Middlesex Women cricket team|Middlesex]]. Bell made her international debut for the [[England women's cricket team]] in June 2022.

==Personal and early life==
Until the age of 16, Bell played football for [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading FC's]] Academy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2023/02/16/katherine-sciver-brunt-england-had-monkeys-trying-break-hotel/| title= Generation Game - England's pace duo on the changing face of cricket|website=The Daily Telegraph| date=16 February 2023| access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref>

Bell is nicknamed ''[[The Shard]]'' because of her height, standing at {{convert|6|ft}}.<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://crickether.com/2015/09/27/breakthrough-bell-tipped-for-the-top/ |title=Breakthrough Bell tipped for the top |website=CricketHer |date=27 September 2015 |access-date=26 August 2020 }}</ref><ref name=NWN>{{cite news |url=https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/28085/lauren-is-ready-for-final-showdown.html |title=Lauren is ready for final showdown |work=[[Newbury Weekly News]] |date=29 August 2019 |access-date=26 August 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lauren Bell - the footballer who chose fast bowling |author=S Sudarshanan |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |date=9 October 2025 |access-date=11 October 2025 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/lauren-bell-the-footballer-who-chose-fast-bowling-1506392 |quote=Bell is about six feet tall, nicknamed 'The Shard'.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Hundred: Meet Southern Brave |author=Timothy Abraham |website=[[BBC Sport]] |date=28 July 2022 |access-date=19 January 2026 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/62256587 |quote=At six feet tall, Brave fast bowler Lauren Bell is making giant strides in the game. ... Nicknamed 'The Shard', Bell is able to use her height to generate bounce off the pitch to make things really awkward for batters.}}</ref> Her sister Colette has played for [[Berkshire Women cricket team|Berkshire]] and [[Buckinghamshire Women cricket team|Buckinghamshire]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/986/986859/986859.html |title=Colette Bell |website=CricketArchive |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2022 }}</ref> She was educated at [[Bradfield College]] in Berkshire.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk/blog/bradfieldian_article/rising-from-the-ashes/|title=Rising from the Ashes|website=Bradfield College |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref>

Bell graduated from Loughborough University with a joint honours degree in Sociology and Criminology in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rising From The Ashes |url=https://www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk/blog/bradfieldian_article/rising-from-the-ashes/ |access-date=2026-07-22 |website=Bradfield College |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Domestic career==
Bell has played for [[Hungerford]] Cricket Club, and was the first girl to play for the [[Bradfield College]] 1st XI.<ref name=NWN/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://issuu.com/bradfieldcollege/docs/the_bradfieldian_-_october_2018/28 |title=The Bradfieldian – October 2018 |magazine=The Bradfieldian |date=31 October 2018 |access-date=4 October 2020 }}</ref> In 2015, at the age of 14, Bell made her [[Women's County Championship]] debut for [[Berkshire Women cricket team|Berkshire]].<ref name=CH/> She made eight appearances in the 2015 season, taking seven wickets.<ref name=CH/> In 2019, Berkshire loaned Bell to [[Middlesex Women cricket team|Middlesex]] for the [[2019 Women's Twenty20 Cup|Twenty20 Cup]].<ref name=MCCC/> Her final game for Berkshire was in 2021.<ref name=Echo>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24717597.england-quartet-remain-utilita-bowl-hampshire/| title=England quartet to remain at Utilita Bowl with Hampshire| work=[[Southern Daily Echo]]| date= 12 November 2024| access-date=21 June 2025}}</ref>

In 2018, Bell made her debut for the [[Southern Vipers]] in the [[Women's Cricket Super League]].<ref name=MCCC>{{cite news|url=https://www.middlesexccc.com/news/2019/02/middlesex-womens-2019-squad-and-fixtures-announced-today|title=Middlesex Women's 2019 Squad and Fixtures Announced Today|work=[[Middlesex County Cricket Club]]|access-date=23 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/16355936.southern-vipers-announce-squad-kia-super-league/|title=Southern Vipers announce squad for Kia Super League|work=[[Bournemouth Daily Echo]]|date=15 July 2018|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> She played for the Vipers in the [[2019 Women's Cricket Super League]] final, where they lost to [[Western Storm]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/28159/bell-proud-of-vipers-performances.html|title=Bell proud of Vipers performances|work=[[Newbury Weekly News]]|date=6 September 2019|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> In 2020, she was included in the Vipers squad for the [[2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy|Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.womenscriczone.com/southern-vipers-announce-their-squad-for-the-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/|title=Southern Vipers announce their squad for the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy|work=Women's CricZone|date=14 August 2020|access-date=14 August 2020|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002153936/https://www.womenscriczone.com/southern-vipers-announce-their-squad-for-the-rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2020, Bell was one of 41 women's cricketers given a full-time domestic cricket contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/women/news/1923070/forty-one-female-players-sign-full-time-domestic-contracts|title=Forty-one female players sign full-time domestic contracts|publisher=[[England and Wales Cricket Board]]|date=3 December 2020|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref>

Bell was signed for [[Southern Brave]] for [[The Hundred (cricket)|The Hundred]];<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/thehundred/the_hundred_womens_squad_lists.html|title=The Hundred: Women's squad lists|magazine=[[The Cricketer]]|date=11 March 2020|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/11914505/the-hundred-womens-teams-announce-domestic-signings|title=The Hundred: Women's teams announce domestic signings|website=[[Sky Sports]]|date=23 January 2020|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> the 2020 season was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]], and Bell was retained by the Brave for the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chichester.co.uk/sport/cricket/southern-brave-sign-four-key-players-hundred-3105628|title=Southern Brave sign four key players for The Hundred|work=Chichester Observer|date=19 January 2021|access-date=5 February 2021}}</ref> In April 2022, she was bought by Southern Brave for the [[2022 season of The Hundred]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60477088|title=The Hundred 2022: latest squads as Draft picks revealed|work=BBC Sport|access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref>

Bell signed for the UP Warriorz for the [[2023 Women's Premier League (cricket)|inaugural season]] of the [[Women's Premier League (cricket)|Women's Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-vs-ireland-women-s-t20-world-cup-england-keep-their-game-faces-straight-despite-distractions-of-wpl-auction-1358800| title=England keep their game-faces straight despite distractions of WPL auction| publisher=ESPNcricinfo| date=13 February 2023| access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref>

Following the restructuring of English women's cricket teams for the 2025 season, Bell signed for [[Hampshire Women cricket team|Hampshire]].<ref name=Echo/>

In WPL 2026, she was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru and became a fan favourite due to her stellar bowling performances. She emerged as one of the best bowlers in powerplay, getting early wickets for her team in almost every match. She finished with figures of 3 for 29 in a critical game against Gujarat Giants to set up a big win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.<ref>{{cite web |title=The X-Factor: RCB fans hail Lauren Bell after another match-winning spell |url=https://www.khelwire.com/articles/the-x-factor-rcb-fans-hail-lauren-bell-after-another-match-winning-spell |website=KhelWire |date=January 2026 |access-date=January 23, 2026}}</ref>

In the game against Delhi Capitals, Lauren Bell took 2 wickets in the very first over of the match by dismissing Lizelle Lee & Laura Wolvaardt, once again setting up the platform for a big win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.<ref>{{cite web |title=Watch: Lauren Bell takes 2 wickets in first over of the match against DC |url=https://www.khelwire.com/articles/watch-lauren-bell-takes-2-wickets-in-first-over-of-the-match-against-dc |website=KhelWire |date=January 2026 |access-date=January 23, 2026}}</ref>

==International career==
In 2019, Bell played for the England women's Academy against Australia A.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/50353086|title=England academy squad: Lauren Bell & Issy Wong included for 2019-20|website=[[BBC Sport]]|date=8 November 2019|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> She was given an academy contract for the 2019–20 season.<ref name=BBC/> In 2020, she was one of the 24 women chosen by England to begin training during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/women/news/1685005/england-women-confirm-back-to-training-plans|title=England Women confirm back to training plans|work=[[England and Wales Cricket Board]]|date=18 June 2020|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> Bell was one of three uncapped players in the training squad; the others were [[Emma Lamb]] and [[Issy Wong]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/06/18/england-women-select-squad-for-individual-training-at-six-venues-from-next-week/|title=England Women select squad for individual training at six venues from next week|work=[[Express & Star]]|date=18 June 2020|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref>

In December 2021, Bell was named in England's A squad for their [[English women's cricket team in Australia in 2021–22|tour to Australia]], with the matches being played alongside the [[The Women's Ashes|Women's Ashes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/heather-knight-vows-to-fight-fire-with-fire-during-womens-ashes-1293638 |title=Heather Knight vows to 'fight fire with fire' during Women's Ashes |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=17 December 2021}}</ref> In January 2022, during the tour, she was added to the full England squad for the one-off Test match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/womens-ashes/uncapped_bowler_lauren_bell_added_england_squad_ashes_test.html |title=Uncapped bowler Lauren Bell added to England squad for Ashes Test |work=The Cricketer |access-date=25 January 2022}}</ref> In February 2022, she was named as one of two reserve players in England's team for the [[2022 Women's Cricket World Cup]] in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/womens-odi-world-cup-2022-charlie-dean-emma-lamb-in-englands-odi-world-cup-squad-1300522 |title=Charlie Dean, Emma Lamb in England's ODI World Cup squad |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=10 February 2022}}</ref>

In June 2022, Bell was named in England's [[Women's Test cricket|Women's Test]] squad for their one-off match [[South Africa women's cricket team in England in 2022|against South Africa]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61792243 |title=England v South Africa: Emma Lamb one of five uncapped players chosen |work=BBC Sport |access-date=20 June 2022}}</ref> She made her Test debut on 27 June 2022, for England against [[South Africa women's national cricket team|South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1301327.html |title=Only Test, Taunton, June 27 - 30, 2022, South Africa Women tour of England |access-date=27 June 2022}}</ref> On 2 July 2022, Bell was also named in England's [[Women's One Day International]] (WODI) squad for their matches against South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-w-vs-sa-w-2022-alice-davidson-richards-issy-wong-lauren-bell-named-in-england-odi-squad-1322828 |title=Alice Davidson-Richards, Issy Wong, Lauren Bell named in England ODI squad |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref> She made her WODI debut on 15 July 2022, also for England against South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1301329.html |title=2nd ODI (D/N), Bristol, July 15, 2022, South Africa Women tour of England |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> In November 2022, Bell was awarded with her first England central contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/women/news/2886818/six-players-earn-first-england-women-central-contract |title=Six players earn first England Women Central Contract |work=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref>

In 2023 Bell was named in the England squad for the Ashes against Australia. She played in the test match,<ref>{{Cite web |title=(Sky Sports) |url=https://www.skysports.com/cricket/england-women-v-australia-women/scorecard/31c4ede4-4f52-5442-8bb5-5dc159d13cbe |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> three T20I matches<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-07 |title=England beat Australia in T20 leg of Ashes - relive thrilling match |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/cricket/65033311 |access-date=2023-07-18}}</ref> and three One Day Internationals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lemon |first=Geoff |last2=Wallace |first2=James |date=2023-07-16 |title=Australia retain Ashes as England fall three runs short in second ODI – as it happened |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/jul/16/womens-ashes-2023-england-vs-australia-live-updates-odi-one-day-international-cricket-eng-v-aus-latest-score-scorecard-southampton-rose-bowl |access-date=2023-07-18 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

She took her first [[five-wicket haul]] in WODIs for England against [[New Zealand women's cricket team in England in 2024|New Zealand]] on 3 July 2024.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=4 July 2024 |title=Tears, drama and disagreements all worth it for Lauren Bell |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/lauren-bell-tears-drama-and-disagreements-all-worth-it-1442085 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/clky9770x1wo|title=Bell leads England to ODI clean sweep over New Zealand|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref>

She was named in the England squad for the [[2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4097654/england-women-squad-named-for-icc-womens-t20-world-cup-2024|title=England Women squad named for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024|publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board|access-date=3 October 2024}}</ref>

Bell was named in England's squad for their multi-format tour to [[England women's cricket team in South Africa in 2024–25|South Africa]] in November 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/clygdlp338po|title=Uncapped Bouchier and Kemp in England Test squad|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=England drop Alice Capsey for South Africa T20Is, include two uncapped players for Test match |url=https://www.wisden.com/cricket-news/england-drop-alice-capsey-for-south-africa-t20is-include-two-uncapped-players-for-test |access-date=1 April 2025 |publisher=Wisden}}</ref>

She was named in the England squad for the [[2024–25 Women's Ashes series|2025 Women's Ashes series]] in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4190158/england-women-name-squads-for-2025-womens-ashes|title=England Women name squads for 2025 Women's Ashes|publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board|access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c4gleywzv9ro|title=Cross back as England name Women's Ashes squad|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite news |last1=Wynne |first1=Ffion |title='Focus and reset' - the bracelets keeping Bell on track |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c23720gngveo |access-date=2 October 2025 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=1 October 2025}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{cricinfo|id=878025}}
* {{cricketarchive|id=1129939}}

{{Navboxes
| title = England squads
| titlestyle = background: #000060; color: white; border: 1px solid red
| list =
{{England 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup squad}}
{{England Squad 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup}}
{{England Squad 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup}}
{{England Squad 2026 Women's T20 World Cup}}
}}
{{Hampshire Women cricket team squad}}
{{Southern Brave squad}}
{{Royal Challengers Bangalore WPL squad}}
{{UP Warriorz squad}}
{{Sydney Thunder WBBL squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Lauren}}
[[Category:2001 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English women cricketers]]
[[Category:England women Test cricketers]]
[[Category:England women One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:England women Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Swindon]]
[[Category:Berkshire women cricketers]]
[[Category:Middlesex women cricketers]]
[[Category:Southern Vipers cricketers]]
[[Category:Southern Brave cricketers]]
[[Category:Royal Challengers Bangalore (WPL) cricketers]]
[[Category:English expatriate cricketers in India]]
[[Category:Sydney Thunder (WBBL) cricketers]]
[[Category:English expatriate cricketers in Australia]]
[[Category:People educated at Bradfield College]]
[[Category:Hampshire women cricketers]]

Lauren Bell - Revision history

SidneySorensen: new new details