A few years ago, Lauren Filer was stacking shelves and serving customers whilst working in Tesco.
Later today (Thursday) she could feature for England in a warm-up fixture against Australia A at Derbyshire.
The 22-year-old was named in England’s 15-player group for the Ashes, starting at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge on Monday, June 22.
“Obviously, it’s definitely a different lifestyle change to what I was probably living a couple of years ago,” Filer said.
“It’s a bit surreal that I’ve been called it hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s obviously all happened so fast to have the opportunity to be in this squad is fantastic.”
Filer first heard she had been selected for England after missing a phone call from Jon Lewis before he called her back to pass over his congratulations on being named in the squad.
And Filer says to be called up is a dream come true and everyone has made her feel so welcome.
“It means absolutely everything,” she added.
“It's the pinnacle of cricket and to be involved in the squad is amazing.It will be great to come up against one of the world's most successful teams.
“The team is great it has been a really nice environment to come into. All the girls are really good. I’ve probably played against most of them as well, so I know pretty much everyone in the team.
“It’s been a great environment to come into, I’ve been welcomed with open arms which is lovely.”
Filer has been a regular with Western Storm in recent seasons and plays her club cricket for Weston-super-Mare CC, where she began at the age of 10.
Seamer Filer has claimed eight wickets in her four Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy matches.
“I’ve always had support from my cricket club which is a really good thing,” she said.
“For someone like me to come from a cricket club like that is obviously a really positive achievement.
“Obviously I know that everyone at Weston is really supportive of me. It’s a great place to play cricket, a great place to come from.
Australia have won three of the last four Ashes, with England aiming to win back the series for the first time since 2014.
Filer said it will be a difficult task ahead, but they will go into their first Test next Monday believing in themselves.
“As a team we obviously have belief, but we can’t overlook the opponents we are facing.
“Obviously they are one of the best sports teams in the world, it’s obviously going to be a really big challenge, but we are up to that challenge.”
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