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England’s Lauren Bell is eager to bowl against India’s Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in the T20I series, crucial for the Women’s T20 World Cup next year.
England pacer Lauren Bell. (PC: ECB/X)
Before starting their five-match T20I series against India at Trent Bridge, England seamer Lauren Bell expressed her enthusiasm for the challenge of bowling to the opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and the returning Shafali Verma, hoping it would bring out the best in herself and her team.
“I guess I’m looking forward to bowling at Smriti – I’ve obviously played with her. I know we’ve had a few net battles at the (Southern) Brave before, so I guess that would be a good challenge to play against her, so that’ll be really good. Well, the last time I played India, it’s always been Smriti and Shafali opening the batting.”
“So it’s a challenge we’ve obviously had before, and one that is really exciting. They’re also both very talented and play differently so I’m hoping it just brings the best out of us and it’s one of those challenges, as I said, as an England player, you really look forward to this series and I guess thrive off of the challenge and how good the opposition is,” said Lauren at the pre-match press conference on Friday.
With the next Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in England next year, the series offers an opportunity for both the hosts and the visiting Indian team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, to identify players best suited to excel in the conditions, especially in an ODI World Cup year.
“I think all series are really and massively important to this team. You want to win and you want to put on your best performances, and I think obviously the ODI World Cup is just around the corner, but T20 cricket is always really important.”
“A lot of the skills, to be honest, transfer across the formats – a lot of my death bowling skills in T20s come into play in ODI cricket, so as my power play skills. So ODI is just a bit more extended, but it’s still really important, and this group’s obviously got a few new faces in. It’s still really exciting and a chance to build towards next summer,” she added.
England recently secured ODI and T20I series victories over the West Indies at home, marking a promising start under the new captain-coach duo of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte Edwards. Besides the pressures of captaining and being a key all-rounder for England, Nat has also been managing family life with her wife, legendary England pacer Katherine Sciver-Brunt, and their newborn son Theo.
“She’s been amazing. I think she took on the role as everyone knew she would. She’s really relaxed, really calm, and wants everyone to have a real say on how they go about their games and what they want to do, which is great.”
“She obviously leads from the front – I mean, she’s amazing at all three aspects of the game and everything she does – the way she trains, the type of professional she is – so she’s really taking it all in. She has a lot of amazing support as well, and has got all of us to like helping her. But she’s made a really good start and I think she’s really enjoying it,” added Lauren.
Lauren, who was among the wicket-takers in the five games she played against the West Indies, concluded by welcoming Sophie Ecclestone’s return to the team after taking a break to prioritise her well-being and recover from a sore quad. “She’s a great addition – I mean, she’s the best bowler in the world at what she does.”
“It’s massive what she brings – she’s got a lot of leadership qualities and she’s really helpful for the spinners. I think they did amazing in the West Indies series without her, but I think they’re all very happy to have her back and have her to turn to and talk to. She’s obviously extremely talented, and she’ll add a lot to our bowling attack. But it’s just exciting to have her back and see her happy and enjoying cricket.”
(With IANS Inputs)
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Nottingham, England
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