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 2026 Women's Big Bash League season. The announcement was made on October 12, 2026, with Bell set to be available for the full campaign.

Bell returns to the Thunder having previously represented the club in the 2023/24 season. She will join fellow England international Heather Knight at the Sydney-based franchise, with Phoebe Litchfield captaining the side. Sydney Thunder Head Coach Lisa Keightley welcomed the signing.

"Lauren is a world-class bowler and someone we’re really excited to have back at the Thunder this season. We’ve seen what she can do at the highest level. She has the ability to take wickets with the new ball, but what really stands out is how she can impact a game at different stages of an innings. She brings a lot of experience to our group, but she’s also still only 25 and continuing to develop her game. She works incredibly hard, is always looking to get better and will fit really well into the culture we’re building. “To have Lauren available for the full season is a huge boost for us, and we believe she can play a really important role in what we want to achieve this year," Keightley said in an official statement.

What does Bell bring to the Thunder's bowling attack?

Bell arrives at the Thunder with a strong record across franchise cricket in the months leading into the season. In WPL 2026, she claimed 12 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, demonstrating her ability to perform consistently in high-pressure T20 environments.

Georgia Voll, who is a Sydney Thunder opener, played alongside Bell during the WPL 2026 campaign in India. Bell's performances in that competition underlined her value as a frontline pace option capable of contributing across different phases of a T20 innings.

What did Bell say about rejoining the Thunder?

Bell is familiar with the Thunder's environment from her earlier stint and has spoken about her enthusiasm for returning to the group. She will link up again with Georgia Voll, with whom she shared the WPL 2026 experience at Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

"I love Sydney, I love the group and we’ve got some exciting new additions since I was last here so I can’t wait to get going with the girls. The WBBL has the best talent in the world, and as a cricketer that’s how I believe I will get better... playing and challenging myself against the best in the world. I’ve obviously played against Phoebe [Litchfield] many times and we seem to have pretty good battles but it will be nice to have her on my side now and watch her score runs. Volly [Georgia Voll] is super fun and talented and I was lucky enough to play with her in India and I can’t wait to do it again in Sydney. Playing for England has certainly helped me understand my own game and my experience within cricket has grown since I was last with Thunder. I hope I can bring that winning mentality to this group," Bell said in the statement.