Filer’s dynamic debut promises ‘exciting’ England future

As debuts go, Lauren Filer’s will go down in the dream category after the Western Storm fast bowler picked up two wickets, including the key scalp of Australia’s Ellyse Perry for 99, on day one of the Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

Filer, who comes from a cricket-mad family, started her journey at Weston-super-Mare Cricket Club alongside twin sister Jodie, who with mum and dad, Elaine and Martyn, were all in Nottingham to watch the 22-year-old presented with her England cap by captain Heather Knight ahead of play on Thursday morning.

Filer got the nod over Issy Wong, having taken eight wickets in four matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2023 and five in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, with Knight observing in the build-up to the Test match.

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Speaking last week, Filer said she almost missed the phone call telling her she had been picked by England

Knight said: “She’s a real impact bowler, I guess she’s a bit of an unknown, but she bowls wicket-taking deliveries and for me she’s one of the quickest, if not the quickest bowler in the country. She’s got skills, can move the ball both ways and ultimately we need a team that’s going to take 20 wickets.”

Head coach Jon Lewis also praised the speedster as a “genuine wicket-taking threat with good pace and swing” and offering a “point of difference”.

It did not take long for Filer, who only turned fully professional in October 2022, to prove her coach’s assessment correct after replacing Sophie Ecclestone at the Radcliffe Road End 40 minutes before lunch.

The fast bowler’s first ball nipped back to strike Perry on the pads and, after a long wait, the umpire raised her finger to spark scenes of jubilation on the field of play, as well as in the stands.

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Filer made an impressive England debut at Trent Bridge

That joy was short-lived as Perry called for a review, which showed a slight inside edge to deny Filer the perfect debut, before her next ball comprehensively beat the batter outside off stump. Her third delivery almost produced a catch in the gully.

“She has suddenly lifted this England team. Whenever she comes on to bowl, you want to watch. It is nice to see pace in the women’s game and she does have a really good short ball. She was not overawed by the big occasion,” said Charlotte Edwards. Nick Knight also praised Filer’s impressive “control”, likening her bowling action to that of the late Bob Willis.

That eventful first over was the quickest ever recorded by an English bowler in a women’s Test match since records began and with just her 18th ball, and with 20 minutes until lunch, the debutant struck as Beth Mooney – the No 1-ranked ODI batter in the world – forced off the back foot to be smartly caught by fellow pacer Kate Cross in the gully.

Again, it was Filer’s extra pace and bounce that drew the mistake from the left-handed opener, who had looked rock solid prior to the debutant’s introduction, with her five overs before lunch producing impressive figures of 1-16 as she hit top speeds of 76mph. Even the classy Perry was clearly discomforted at times.

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Filer was given just four more overs in the rain-interrupted afternoon session as Knight sensibly held the youngster back, not wanting to overwork her, but instead using her in short, sharp spells when really needed.

However, when she was called upon, Filer’s pace and steepling bounce immediately caused the two set batters, Perry and Tahlia McGrath, more problems once again, with the latter edging through a vacant first-slip area.

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Filer looked to have made an immediate impact on her debut by taking the wicket of Ellyse Perry, but it was overturned on review

Maybe it was that hurry up which helped produce the wicket of McGrath in the next over, bowled by a beauty from Sophie Ecclestone, before Filer’s extra speed also clearly troubled Jess Jonassen at the start of her innings.

Former New Zealand swing bowler Simon Doull clearly liked what he saw, saying on Sky Sports: “A little bit raw, with good things to work with, she has good hustle into the crease, quite strong. You can iron some of these things out, but the one thing you can’t coach is pace.”

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