The Analysis: Lauren Bell impossible to ignore as the next step beckons

NICK HOWSON: Southern Brave's attack is not without talent. But the right-arm quick shines brightest at a gloomy Sophia Gardens

"She’s got natural pace and bounce and if she can harness that and become more consistent she has a lot of potential."

Heather Knight knows her stuff. Then the England vice-captain, six years ago she spoke glowingly in an interview with CricketHer about her Berkshire teammate Lauren Bell and put the world on notice.

There have been small steps on either side of that credible endorsement. She learnt her trade at Hungerford Cricket Club where father Andy Bell coached.

A cricket scholarship at Bradfield College followed, and by the age of 14, she was playing in the County Championship and was selected for the England junior academy.

Two years on Bell was working at Loughborough and part of the Southern Vipers system. She would make her Kia Super League debut in 2018 and link up with Loughborough MCCU on a cricket scholarship while she studies a degree in criminology.

Her big-game breakthrough came in the KSL semi-finals when she knocked over Chamari Atapattu and Amy Jones in successive overs as Vipers claimed a five-wicket win.

Though Bell was unable to reproduce those heroics in the final and the following summer she was on the radar of England, after being called into the training group for what was eventually a five-match T20 series against West Indies.

Understandably, Bell didn't make the final cut for the 16-strong group but in December her hard yards were rewarded in the form of a professional full-time contract.

The following month saw confirmation of a Hundred contract with Southern Brave, where she was united with mentor Anya Shrubsole.

Together, they represent England's present and future. Shrubsole is as canny as any new ball bowler at this level. Bell is the heir-apparent, constantly looking at the 29-year-old for guidance.

The cliche goes that if she can enjoy half of the career Shrubsole has, then she can consider herself very fortunate indeed. But there seems no reason why she couldn't.

Bell is as natural a 20-year-old as you could wish to see. She has the physical qualities; height, an upright stance and athleticism but a clear, concise and repeatable action is the most impressive aspect.

This is a quick bowler who clearly hasn't been overcoached and has formed a technique that suits her attributes. She bowls with her head up, with a perfect seam position and a succinct delivery.

This summer is supposedly all about inspiring players of the future and unlocking talent. Coaches could use Bell's action and teach it to any young girl or boy in the country.

Bell bowled beautifully in muggy conditions with a bit of weather around. Having watched Shurbsole extract movement from the opening five, she replicated her teasing length to do the same. The run-out of Bryony Smith after just two came off the bat from the first 10 was a result of that testing new-ball spell.

Returning as the mid-way point in the innings approached, Bell picked up from she left off. She hung a ball out outside Hayley Matthews' off-stump which saw the West Indies batter load up another drive.

^{Bell has been on England's radar for several years}

The delivery caught the edge of the flashing blade and Amanda-Jade Wellington did the rest.

But the ball that got Sarah Taylor on her home debut for Welsh Fire was the moment of the match. Full, swinging in and crashing into Taylor's pad; the only surprise was the former England international reviewed it. It was making a mess of leg-stump.

Being in south Wales, you'd be tempted to make comparisons with Jack Mercer, the Glamorgan great. Though I'm not sure how that would play with the new audience the ECB are keen on.

In truth, this was right out of the James Anderson playbook. It was a swing-bowling masterclass from a knowledgable 20-year-old still making her way.

This wasn't just another day at the office. Her hat-trick ball, a wasteful leg-side delivery was a sign that the significance of getting Matthews and Taylor back-to-back was not lost on her.

"I got a bit carried away there," she told Sky Sports during the interval.

Already on England's radar, these are the kind of performances against high-calibre opponents that make you realise the next step is only just around the corner and that she'll be comfortable making it.

Bell added: "I can't say that crosses my mind really I'm just focusing on enjoying this competition. It's not really on my mind at the moment."

And the interest goes beyond her country. Her player profile is the most visited on TheCricketer.com since the women's Hundred got underway, ahead of Alice Capsey and Eve Jones.

^{After impressing with Southern Vipers, The Hundred the natural next step for Bell}

This is what the 100-ball competition was supposed to achieve. Exposing domestic players to regular high-pressure, quality and octane cricket. We'll probably learn more about these women over the next four weeks than during the previous three months and English cricket will never have looked stronger.

Freelance coach Trent Woodhill, who helped the ECB build The Hundred, believes the national team could see the benefit of the inaugural edition within 12 months.

"The England team are going to see an enormous benefit over the next few years with the advent of this format and the pressure the domestic player is going to be put under which is going to advance their cricketing careers," he told The Cricketer.

"Depth not only comes from performance, but performance under pressure. The women's competition being on television, that constant focus means there is no hiding. You will find that pressure will both help and hinder performance, but it provides you with more opportunities to add to your depth.

"When you're picking players for World Cups instead of looking at 15-20 players you end up looking at 20-30 players.

"As a coach, you try and create pressure environments but now you have the opportunity to do that through actual game time. We'll see that improvement in England's women's cricket jump in the next 12-18 months based on playing in these tournaments."

The rescheduled 50-over World Cup heads to New Zealand next March. Think what Lisa Keightley's options might look like even by then.