Damali Bell's meteoric rise through the cricketing ranks is likely to be completed this week when he makes his debut for the national team.The Cleveland County bowler has gone from being a footballer, who played cricket in the summer, to a member of the national squad with a genuine chance of cementing a permanent place in the side.While Bell's performances in his club's successful Eastern Counties campaign played a large part in his selection for the squad, his natural ability as an athlete, and being a fast left arm bowler hasn't hurt him either.He gives head coach David Moore an extra option with the ball, and is quick enough to pose plenty of batsmen problems.“I really didn't expect to zip past the Under-19s and come into senior team, so it was surprising to me,” said Bell. “I'm trying to come out here and do the best that I can do.”It's quite a change for the former Boulevard Blazers and national team footballer, especially as his performances for Blazers had marked him out as one of the best players in the Premier Division last season.Bell though didn't feel like football could offer him the opportunities he was looking for, and once Moore asked him to be involved, there was no doubt in his mind as to what he was going to do.“For me I didn't think that football was leading me anywhere, so I decided to take cricket and here I am in the senior team,” said Bell. “I'd never really played football for the senior team, so I thought I try this.”Making his debut this week is purely a matter of when, and not if, for Bell, but the young fast bowler isn't getting ahead of himself.Right now he's just happy to be with the senior squad in Dubai picking up as many tips as he can from the more experienced members of the squad.Skipper David Hemp spent a good ten minutes with Bell during the team's first net session at the ICC's Global Cricket Academy in Dubai on Sunday talking to him about how to deal with different situations.“It's a good opportunity for me, I'm happy to have gotten in the team.,“ said Bell.“I'm happy that the coach has given me the opportunity to come here and play and help better myself.“I'm really finding this experience good.”Bell could spend much of the next year playing cricket. As well as senior team duty, he is also likely to be a major part of the Under-19s' push to qualify for the World Cup.And a good week here could see him return again in April, when Bermuda come back for the Division Two qualifiers.