England captain Heather Knight delivered a powerful speech to debutant Lauren Filer to still be the “little girl that tears in, bowls quick and tires to take poles" after presenting the bowler with her first cap.
Roared on by a small section of friends and family from Weston-super-Mare CC, the club she has played since she was 10 and becoming their first international women's cricketer, including Mother Elaine Filer, Sister Jodie Filer and Father Martyn Filer, saw the 22-year-old pick up two wickets to help England keep the opening day of the multi-format Women’s Ashes Test in the balance after Australia finished on 328-7.
The right-arm pace bowler had opener Beth Mooney caught by Katie Cross at slip for 33, for her maiden international wicket, before removing Ellyse Perry with a sharp 76mph delivery, thanks to a superb catch by Nat Sciver-Brunt, to leave the Australian batter stuck on 99
The 22-year-old seamer nearly had the dream start after bowling Perry initially out on her very first ball for LBW but it was overturned on review.
Filer's first over produced the quickest, with an average speed of 116.4kph, by any English bowler in women's Test match cricket since speeds were recorded, in a post shared by The CricViz Analyst on Twitter.
And despite the match delayed due to rain, Filer, who only signed her first professional contract last October, would finish with impressive figures (14-1-65-2) on a day to remember at Trent Bridge.
And Knight, who grew up in Plymouth, said it was her privilege to present her with first cap.
“Lauren, as one West County girl to another, it’s a real honour to be able to give you your first (England) cap,” she told England Cricket in a video released on social media.
Like Filer, Knight plays for Western Storm, where she led and captained the side in the Women’s Cricket Super League, leading the team to two titles in 2017 and 2019, before women’s cricket was reformed in 2020.
Storm now play in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Charlotte Edwards Cup.
And Knight continued by praising Filer’s rise, since joining Storm in 2020, saying: “I think it’s been a pleasure for me to dip in and out of Storm, but also see how much you have developed so fast, and also hear about how quickly you’ve developed.
“And I think Trevor (Griffin), Luffy (Sophie Luff) all the girls down there (are) so proud of you and I think it might come to a few people as a shock. But I think that’s testament to how much you have developed, how quickly you have done that, and how hard you have worked at your game. So, congratulations.”
Knight also offered Filer some guidance.
“And what I would say, a bit of advice, still be that young girl that wants to run in, ball quickly and take poles," she added.
“Obviously, your family is here today. (I am) delighted for them to be here. I think this cap symbolises all the hard work you have put in but the sacrifices that these guys have made and all the people that have been here on your journey to get to this place.
“But I also would say this is the start of your journey as well, start of your journey in an England cap and just be that little girl that tears in, bowls quick and tires to take poles. Good luck.”
The second day of the five-day series in Nottingham starts again this morning.
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