FROM THE MAGAZINE: England fast bowler Issy Wong pays tribute to her predecessors and ponders a thrilling Ashes summer in an interview with Tanya Aldred
This is an abridged version of Tanya Aldred's interview with Issy Wong for the August 2023 issue of The Cricketer. To read the full article, grab a copy of the magazine by clicking here.
Issy Wong grins a wicked grin.
England's young fast bowler, smooth and rhythmic, sharp as a pin, knows a thing or two about making an entrance. She hit the game at the right speed, on the right track, at the right moment, bouncing on her toes into our living rooms and towards the stars.
"I've timed it very well," she says, "we are very grateful to them [the older players] for putting in the hard yards.
"By the time I realised that you needed to earn money to buy food, to pay bills, run a car, England women were professional. Agh, I thought, if you want to do it, you have to dream big.
"When I was 15, 16, there were whispers of these regional contracts coming in, and it was like – OK, I don't even have to play for England. That could be really cool. And by the time I sat down at school to do A-Levels I could say – I can do this now!"
In a turn of a heel, she has found herself the new face of the new generation of English female cricketers. She's 21, speedy, shorn, smart and easily-breezily charismatic – with an eye on an 80mph delivery and that precious ability to turn the game with a moment of magic.
She only made her international debut last summer, but had already appeared in the Big Bash, and in the winter was picked up for £30,000 in the inaugural Women's Premier League, playing every game for tournament-winning Mumbai Indians and grabbing the competition's first hat-trick.
"Last year it felt like we were saying that, with The Hundred and the Commonwealth Games, it was going to be the biggest women's cricket summer of all time," she says. "Now we're looking at a massive Ashes series in the best stadiums in England and thinking this is going to be the biggest English summer ever – it just keeps getting better."
Wong became something of a fan favourite during the WPL, what with that hat-trick, hitting her first ball for six and grabbing three wickets in the final. Not bad for someone who flew over not expecting to play a game.
Issy Wong bowling for the Mumbai Indians in the WPL [ARJUN SINGH/SPORTZPICS/WPL]
"It was so unknown, we dealt with that really well, we just kind of smiled our way through it. One of the mantras was 'in with anger, [she inhales] out with love' [and exhales].
"We rocked up at training the first day and there were only men's balls, because whoever organised it hadn't thought about it, and we were just – it is OK, we'll use these for today, tomorrow is a new day.
It was a fantastic experience to practise dealing with that uncertainty, and a fantastic competition to be part of... the first thing I've won since under-17 national finals and my first senior winners medal of any description, so I'll take that with both hands."
Wong was in year four when Chance to Shine rolled up at her primary school in Bentley Heath, Solihull. Hooked, she trotted down to the local Knowle & Dorridge club.
Not long afterwards, Warwickshire spotted her and by the time she was 11, she was wearing the team shirt, by 18 she was training with England. But her debut, when it came in the Test against South Africa last year, still took her by surprise.
"I wasn't due to be in the squad, I got added very late and thought I was filling in the numbers. But it was a fairytale week of red-ball cricket, whites, being fed every two hours – fantastic."
England went into the Ashes as total underdogs. Australia are the No.1-ranked ODI and T20 side, the reigning ODI and T20 World Cup winners.
"We're not trying to kid ourselves," says Wong. "We know they're the best side in the world. What they have created is that culture of excellence, something we've been trying to catch up with.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Sophie Ecclestone bowling at Alyssa Healy having played with her at Sydney Sixers and UP Warriorz over the winter, it will be really interesting to see how players at the top of the game who know each other that little bit better go about competing really fiercely against each other."
She gets a lot of media requests because she talks so well, and because she talks so well, so the requests pile up. It's quite a lot for a 21-year-old to deal with.
"When it's felt like a chore I've always thought – this is how the game grows, someone putting their personality out there and someone else connecting with that. There's a balance, maybe I've not found that balance yet, I'm just trying to say what I think unless what I think is outrageous in which case I'll keep it to myself.
"How many times have you watched a film because there's an actor you like who is in it? The more the game grows, the more little girls might be thinking maybe I can be one of those actresses one day – and that's really positive."
Inside our August 2023 issue of The Cricketer magazine, you'll also find:
- David Gower and Mike Gatting reminisce over lunch
- Ricky Ponting faces our questions on coaching, batting and The Ashes
- Tim Wigmore says this is a golden age - and Rashid Khan is king
- George Dobell gives his take on the ICEC report
- Mike Brearley on how behaviour in the dressing room has changed
- Gareth Copley is next up in our series of cricket's great photographers
- James Coyne discusses county cricket's loan system
- Barney Ronay wonders if 'Bazball' is becoming a cult
- Huw Turbervill reports on the World Test Championship final
- Kent are this month's county in focus
And much, much more...
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