{"id":743343,"date":"2026-06-18T00:15:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T00:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/743343\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T00:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T00:15:08","slug":"lauren-bell-is-ready-for-englands-womens-t20-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/743343\/","title":{"rendered":"Lauren Bell Is Ready For England\u2019s Women\u2019s T20 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Bustle\u2019s The Pregame, we ask women athletes about their pregame rituals. How do they get in the zone? Who do they call for advice? Do they have any superstitions before a big game? Here, England cricket player Lauren Bell<\/a> shares her lucky charms, the song on repeat in England\u2019s Women\u2019s T20 World Cup dressing room, and the products that keep her slicked-back bun in place for a full 20 overs.<\/p>\n

Like many younger siblings, Lauren Bell just wanted to be like her big sister. \u201c[Colette] was a massive inspiration for me,\u201d the 25-year-old explains. \u201cEverything she did, I wanted to do.\u201d In the Bell family\u2019s case, that thing was cricket. The pair got their start in the sport at local club, Hungerford, and, like many young women starting out in cricket, were \u201cunderestimated\u201d (Bell\u2019s words) when playing in men\u2019s matches as teenage girls. <\/p>\n

Having a live-in practice partner \u2014 \u201cWe definitely went through a stage of it not being such a friendly competition,\u201d she says \u2014 paid off in spades, and Bell went on to make her England debut against South Africa in 2022. <\/p>\n

Bell has since become a global fan favorite known for taking early wickets. This February, she gained more than 1 million Instagram followers<\/a> in a single week following her first match for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in India\u2019s Women\u2019s Premier League franchise tournament. Only two England cricket players, male or female, have more followers than her: current test captain Ben Stokes<\/a> and former white-ball captain Jos Buttler<\/a>. Even England\u2019s greatest-ever bowler, James Anderson<\/a>, doesn\u2019t come close to Bell\u2019s 2.3 million. <\/p>\n

Philip Brown\/Getty Images Sport\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Being seen (online and on the pitch) is part of the job, and for Bell, it always hits different at home in an England shirt. This year\u2019s T20 Women\u2019s World Cup, hosted in England and Wales between June 12 and July 5, offers the chance of a lifetime for Bell and her teammates. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt could well be a once in a career opportunity to play in a home tournament,\u201d she says. \u201cThe thought of having all my friends and family at the games, having a stadium full of fans really cheering you on and, hopefully, as we go through the comp, a nation behind us, just makes it a thousand times more exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

England\u2019s World Cup campaign got off to a strong start against Sri Lanka; they set a new tournament record for runs scored, finishing their innings 219\/1, including a century for Danni Wyatt-Hodge. In Freya Kemp\u2019s World Cup debut, she secured career-best figures of 4\/22, and opening bowler Bell took a wicket in just the second over. Combined, their work sealed a comprehensive 87-run victory. Match 2 versus Ireland saw their second win, this time by four wickets. <\/p>\n

Across sports, England women are on a hot streak. Just last year, England teams won the 2025 Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup and the UEFA Women\u2019s European Championship (the Lionesses\u2019 second time taking the title). Will cricket be joining them in the trophy cabinet for 2026? \u201cIt comes with added pressure,\u201d Bell says, \u201cbut also you can’t look past the opportunity. I think I see it as exciting and a massive honor to potentially be able to have a similar summer to what [the Lionesses and the Red Roses] had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read on below for more on Bell\u2019s tournament prep, game day essentials, and playlist picks. <\/p>\n

Andrew Matthews – PA Images\/PA Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

What\u2019s different about preparing for an international cricket tournament?<\/p>\n

Our prep has been the same [as other England matches] because it\u2019s still cricket at the end of the day. We\u2019ve had [a One Day International] and two really, really competitive and successful T20 series leading into it, so I think we\u2019ve had a really ideal and successful prep \u2014 we feel in a really good place. [Head coach Charlotte Edwards] is very direct and very focused on putting our best team out there to win.<\/p>\n

How do you wind down during these high pressure periods?<\/p>\n

I love being social, and a lot of the time I\u2019m playing golf with my cricket teammates. As a professional cricketer, you\u2019re [physically] fatigued. So golf is a great way to be able to do sport, be competitive, but it\u2019s not particularly fatiguing \u2014 it just gets you out. It\u2019s sunny. You see some of the most amazing places of countries playing golf. You\u2019re playing with your friends, and it\u2019s four hours on the golf course where you don\u2019t think about anything really. <\/p>\n

Do you have any superstitions or lucky charms?<\/p>\n

I always have my nails done, normally matching [our kit]. And I always wear two bracelets when I\u2019m playing. One of them says \u201cReset\u201d and one of them says \u201cFocus.\u201d It\u2019s basically about seeing each ball as a new event. So I couldn’t play without my bracelets.<\/p>\n

Matthew Lewis-ICC\/ICC\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Do you wear any essential beauty products when you\u2019re playing?<\/p>\n

Definitely SPF because we\u2019re in the sun all the time. I use La Roche-Posay. And then my hair is full of products all the time. And it stays in this slick bun for the whole game; it doesn\u2019t move. Very important. [I use] Got2b; it\u2019s the best range. Hair spray, gel, all that good stuff.<\/p>\n

What do you wear when you travel to and from games?<\/p>\n

Well, we\u2019ve actually got a new [training] range for this World Cup. We\u2019ve designed a bomber and some black trousers, so hopefully we\u2019ll be looking cool. Sunnies on, nice shoes, and our black tracksuit. Hopefully we\u2019ll be looking good.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s on the team playlist?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s obviously a lot of range in the music tastes in our dressing room, so we normally make a playlist on Spotify that\u2019s collaborative. I do normally add a couple of Taylor Swift songs each month, but I mix it up so no one\u2019s like, \u201cOh, this again.\u201d There\u2019s always a song of the tour. Right now, it\u2019s \u201cBoston\u201d by Stella Lefty. [We\u2019re] obsessed with it. I will always remember that song for this World Cup because we scream it every training session. Some of us singing a bit louder than others.<\/p>\n

Nigel French – PA Images\/PA Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

What do you like to eat to stay energized?<\/p>\n

I love toasties. Ham and cheese toasty, can\u2019t really go wrong. I really don\u2019t think you can look past Lord\u2019s [Cricket Ground] and the Lord\u2019s lunch. They have the best [food]. I love toasties, and they always have ciabatta. Strong.<\/p>\n

How do you cope with stress?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a talker. I\u2019d call my sister, call my best friend, go out for coffee, try to share how I\u2019m feeling. I like to catastrophize, so when I tell everyone, we bring it back down to reality and realize it\u2019s probably not as bad as I\u2019ve made it out in my head.<\/p>\n

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.<\/p>\n

Get Even More From Bustle \u2014 Sign Up For The Newsletter<\/p>\n

From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person who\u2019s on TikTok, even if you aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n