Lauren Bell has savoured the opportunity to take on greater responsibility within the England women’s cricket team this summer.

The Swindon-born cricketer has been ruled out of the remainder of the white-ball series against Sri Lanka through illness but has been becoming a big part of the national team this summer by shouldering some of the burden of replacing the legendary Anya Shrubsole.

Bell has been entrusted with opening the bowling and taking on some crucial overs, and she has thoroughly enjoyed her expanded role with the national team.

She said: “Throughout the World Cup and especially the Ashes after Katherine retired, I’ve obviously taken on a bit of the role of opening the bowling and bowling some important overs at the end. 

“That's where I want to be as a bowler and that's what I want to do and have that responsibility.  

“I kind of thrive under it. I know that it isn't always going to go the way I want it to go. But I love having that responsibility and being backed by Heather [Knight] and Jon [Lewis] to do that is pretty big.” 

Bell was part of England’s run to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup this year before taking 14 wickets across the multi-format Women’s Ashes series.

The Southern Brave ace spoke about the increased pressure which has come with the burgeoning interest in the women’s game in the last few years.

She said: “That is one of the best things but also one of the hardest things about growing up in this environment - everything we've done is under a microscope and is on the world stage. 

“But I wouldn't have it any other way. 

“I had that experience in the Ashes, I obviously went for quite a few in the second to last ODI, the one we lost, and I had to bounce back.  

“I had two days to bounce back, I spoke to Heather and spoke to Lewy and they still had the confidence in me to go out and do it again.  

“These things happen in cricket, and I think I'll learn from that experience and next time hopefully, I'll deal with it a bit better.” 

Metro Bank have partnered with the ECB to attract and keep more women and girls in the sport. They have pledged to treble the number of girls’ cricket teams by 2026. Understand more at www.metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket.