Excited Issy Wong trains with players she watched in the 2017 World Cup final

Rookie fast bowler Issy Wong is delighted to be part of England’s group that returned to training on June 22. The England and Wales Cricket Board announced the 24-member training squad with chances of cricket resuming with a proposed tri-series between England, India and South Africa in September.



“It’s really exciting, I didn’t expect it at all so to be given the opportunity to go back to training and get some overs under my belt is really exciting and I can’t wait to showcase it all over the summer as well,” said Wong.



“I was at Lord’s for the World Cup final in 2017 and nine of those winners are in this training group, so to go from watching them as a fan in the stands to now training with them is absolutely crazy. It’s the start of a really exciting journey for me I hope.”



Wong is one of the players who has been awarded regional retainers as part of the new eight-team domestic tournament where she will represent West Midlands regional team. The 17-year old earlier signed to be part of the Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, which has been postponed to 2021.



Wong, the youngest player to play in the Women's Cricket Super League, represented Southern Vipers in three matches during the 2019 season of the now defunct competition. “It was really amazing to be part of KSL, the whole experience down in Southampton really showed me as a player that I am doing the right things, and there was so much to learn from really senior girls and overseas such as Danni Wyatt, Tammy Beaumont and Stefanie Taylor,” she said about her experience of the tournament.



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“Besides making the final, the best part was joining up with a professional squad. It was my first taste of full professional cricket and I enjoyed every second, especially the environment around the team and the fun that we had down there was a highlight.”



Wong, a Warwickshire Academy player, made her way through the system starting with joining the age-group competition as a nine-year-old.



“Warwickshire has been a massive part of my development, throughout the ages they let me express myself with my bowling and always let me just be me, also allowing me in age group cricket to play as an all-rounder, which helped all of my cricket skills and overall just enjoy the game as much as possible,” she added.



“Being able to take what I had learned from age group cricket into senior cricket was really rewarding and to come away with two trophies last year (Senior T20 Cup and Under-17 National winners) was incredible. Although, without a shadow of a doubt I wouldn’t be anywhere without people at Shrewsbury School, from cricket staff to teachers, they were all so helpful every step of the way, and obviously being the first girl to play in the first team was an amazing experience and it is one of my favourite things to say’’.



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