Lauren Filer: England’s fast bowler who could lead them to Women’s Ashes 2025 glory against Australia | Cricket News

Eighteen months ago, Trent Bridge, the 2023 Women’s Ashes Test, unleashed a gem of raw, fast bowling in Australia. It just wasn’t what we expected.

Issey Wong burst onto the scene at the age of 20 when she made her England debut across all three formats last year, and only three months ago she scored a stunning hat-trick in the inaugural Indian Women’s Premier League to see Mumbai Indians to the final.

Wong was fast becoming the face of the Ashes, his image plastered across almost every promotional campaign for the 2023 series, only to be overlooked for Test match selection in favor of relatively unknown Lauren Filer.

And it’s the 24-year-old who now carries the weight of England’s future on his shoulders as they prepare for the Ashes Down Under starting on January 11, hoping for a first series win over the old foe for 11 years.

“That will definitely be our toughest challenge,” Filer said Sky Sports. “Australia are a very, very good side but it’s just a matter of getting on top and using everything we’ve done over the last few months.

“Obviously it’s nerve-wracking, but I think we’re in a really good place, and actually the nerves are not the ‘we’re not ready’ nerves. We’re just excited to go out there and play.”

The last time Filer featured for the Aussies, his first delivery in international cricket on that sunny day in Nottingham in June 2023 saw the debutant’s extra pace hit Ellyse Perry on the pads; the decision was reversed as a result of the review.

Filer played four sides, including Perry twice, bowling both himself and Tahlia McGrath back-to-back as part of a fiery second-innings burst as he showed both the skill and the temperament to succeed at the elite level.

England have carefully managed Filer’s career since, however, with Wong perhaps serving as a cautionary tale; since playing in white, all against Ireland.

Filer did not appear again for the remainder of the 2023 multi-format Ashes, despite shocking Australia so much in the Test match that England were playing the long game.

And the fast bowler has had to remain patient, having played in 12 of England’s 18 ODIs since their tour of Australia 18 months ago, and only seven of their 28 T20 internationals, including the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. for being ignored on the undoubtedly rotating surfaces of the United Arab Emirates.

But in England’s recent series win in South Africa, Filler was more of a mainstay in the attack, taking advantage of the kind of quick and faster track that can be expected in Australia as well.

His 3-32 in the second ODI win in Durban was the fourth time a speedster had won his 12 matches in the 50-run format, with the stumps of Tazmin Britts, Sune Luus and Nonkuuleko Mlaba all smashed. impact in a performance that was only overshadowed by Charlie Dean’s hat-trick.

Such a display was far from a fluke, too, with eight of Filler’s 20 ODI wickets at an average of 17.65 being bowled, his added pace, which consistently tops the 70mph mark, regularly rushing the opposition and battering their defenders.

“With the role I play, I know I’m not necessarily going to get every ball right because I’m trying to bowl as fast as I can,” Filer said.

“I think the support of (head coach John) Lewis and (senior) Heather (Knight) means it’s actually a really healthy place to be in … because before I played in England, I probably didn’t feel that way.

“Plus I feel like the pitches here (in Australia) suit me quite well. I’m looking forward to the series, hopefully I’ll get out there and have some fun.”

Filer further extended the tour of South Africa in December by filling in for the injured Keith Cross as part of a devastating new-ball partnership with Lauren Bell as England beat the Proteas by 286 runs in the series-ending Test match.

Bell was rightly named man of the match for his stunning figures of 8-76 in Bloemfontein, but Filler’s 3-65 should not be overlooked, and on another day it could be richer rewards.

And who’s to say his day won’t come in the Ashes?Fieler is far from an unknown, he’s back in the summer of 2023, but he’s still just as capable of striking fear into that top Australian line-up rather than underestimating England’s esteemed opponents.

“They are a very good side, they have been for many years now,” said Filer.

“It’s in their home country and obviously everyone around us wants us to lose. Having watched the home ashes a few years ago, I know how well the crowd made me work, so I know how they can they: kind of affect everything.

“But I think for us it’s all about focusing on what we do as a team. South Africa prepared really well for it, we played some really good cricket there.

“I think we’re in a good place. It’s definitely going to be a tough couple of weeks, but as long as we keep pushing ourselves, that’s the key.”

The face of this year’s ashes. You can just look at him.

Women’s Ashes 2025 schedule

All dates and times UK and Ireland

• First ODI. 11.30pm, Saturday, January 11 – North Sydney Oval
• Second ODI. 11.05pm, Monday 13 January – Junction Oval, Melbourne
• Third ODI. 11.05pm Thursday 16 January – Ninja Stadium, Hobart
• First T20I. 8.40, Monday, January 20 – Sydney Cricket Ground
• Second T20I. 8.40am, Thursday 23 January – Manuka Oval, Canberra
• Third T20I. 8.10, Saturday, January 25 – Adelaide Oval
• Testing. 3.30 Thursday 30 January – Sunday 2 February – MCG, Melbourne