BELL OF THE BALL

Lauren backing her new action to bowl over Australia

- By David Charlesworth

LAUREN BELL believes she has taken a big step towards her aim of being the best women's fast bowler in the world with a remodelled action that brought success in South Africa.

Bell has spent much of the past year diligently working on technical tweaks to stay more upright when she bowls, which has allowed her to swing the ball both ways and gain additional pace and bounce.

Her efforts look to be paying off after an eight-wicket match haul in England's Test triumph over the Proteas in Bloemfontein before Christmas, giving Bell a spring in her step before the Women's Ashes.

Bell said: "The whole change of action is in a really good place, so now I'm not so much in a technical place.