Lauren Bell returns to Sydney Thunder for Women’s Big Bash League 2026

Sydney Thunder have confirmed the signing of England right-arm seamer Lauren Bell for the upcoming Women's Big Bash League 2026 season. The 25-year-old bowler returns to the club after previously representing them during the 2023/24 campaign and is scheduled to be available for the entire tournament. She joins fellow England international Heather Knight in a squad captained by Phoebe Litchfield and coached by Lisa Keightley.

Bell enters the competition following an impressive stint in the Women's Premier League 2026, where she took 12 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru alongside Thunder opener Georgia Voll. Keightley praised Bell as a world-class talent capable of taking wickets with the new ball and making crucial contributions at different stages of an innings.