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Issy Wong brings energy and excitement to her audition as England's new playmaker

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Issy Wong wasn’t meant to play. She was part of England’s Test squad against South Africa as a traveling reserve. She was meant to steam in in the nets and give England’s batters a hard time. She was meant to potentially run the drinks and soak in as much of international cricket as she could from the sidelines before she got a real go.

Yet, when Emily Arlott had to be withdrawn from the squad quite late in the piece, it was Wong who got the nod to play ahead of ‘senior’ seamer Freya Davies.

For a while now, there have been whispers around Wong and the energy and excitement she could bring to the England team. Her speeds were thrilling, her energy infectious, and her passion and exuberance, mixed with a sense of clarity, came as a breath of fresh air.

Wong was supposed to be England’s answer to Tayla Vlaeminck and Darcie Brown – an aggressive fast bowler who would have the opposition hopping around. She was supposed to be their point of difference in what is a largely similar right-arm swing cartel. She was supposed to be the bowler who injected life into a contest when things were drifting. In short, Wong was supposed to be England’s fast, fiery enforcer: their next Katherine Brunt.

It was fitting then, that it was Brunt, the OG, who handed Wong her Test cap on the opening day of the one-off game in Bristol.

“Being around you for the last couple of years has been a pleasure,” Brunt said at the cap presentation. “As soon as you came into the group, I was excited for you, but also a bit defensive. From day one, your talent was undeniable, but for me, it was the fire in your belly that makes you run around on your tiptoes and try to knock all of our heads off… You can’t coach that!”

As she fought back tears and reeled off some “confusing advice”, you couldn’t help but think the baton was being passed: Kathy B had identified her successor.

Handed the ball in the ninth over on Day 1, Wong charged in against a tentative South African top-order, hitting the 115 kmph mark early in her spell. (It would be close to the fastest she managed through the game).

The aggression was clear from the very outset – a short ball that saw Laura Wolvaardt weave out of the way – with animated ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ accompanying every delivery that she bowled. While the pace wasn’t quite Vlaeminck-esque, Wong’s late swing caused plenty of trouble, even resulting in her maiden international wicket.

Off her 12th ball of the day, Wong tempted Wolvaardt into an off-drive. The delivery, that appeared to be moving away in the air, pitched and swerved in to the South African who was halfway through her shot when she saw the ball snaking between her bat and pad on its way to clattering into middle and leg stump.

As Wolvaardt gaped in horror, Wong pulled out her trademark celebration. Charging towards the slip cordon, her right-hand pointed towards the sky and left-hand stiff alongside her torso, she gave a whoop of delight. Her teammates raced in her direction, some applauding, others jumping; excitement clear on each of their faces.

Even from miles away, you could see shades of Brunt in every movement.

As the match progressed, Wong appeared more and more comfortable in the middle; like she belonged. The nerves were non-existent; the trademark smile never left her face. Bundled in a sweater, often stationed at mid-on, you could tell she was having the time of her life: this was a childhood dream come true.

Whenever the 20-year-old came into the attack, she put South Africa to the test. While the pace and carry she managed to extract from the pitch was impressive, it was the accuracy, relentlessness and late swing that really stood out.

For all the talk of her pace, she used the short ball sparingly: only as a way to ruffle up the batters; as a reminder that they couldn’t plonk forward and hope to negotiate her from there. She used it as a means to mess with their minds. And it worked. 

Lauren Bell (L) and Issy Wong (R) (ECB/ Getty Images)

 After castling Wolvaardt in the first innings, Wong altered her plans in the second, choosing to hit a hard length. With dark clouds hovering and spots of rain around, she got the ball to lift sharply off the surface, catching the South African opener off guard. Wolvaardt loosely wafted at the next delivery – a wide-ish ball – before tentatively pushing the next two to cover. Wong’s pace and unpredictability had clearly thrown her off her game…

Off the final ball of the over, Wong had her woman – caught at gully, going after another wide, short of length delivery. It was the kind she had left alone all day – until, that is, the fast bowler had shaken her up.

Wong took off in celebration and England went berserk. They were well in control of the game, and weather permitting, looked almost certain to wrap up a win the next day.

Up in the stands, Brunt was beaming. 

Even on Day 4, as the covers came on and off and rain thwarted England’s attempts to secure a win, it was Wong who injected life into the contest. She had South Africa hopping around, creating chances whenever she took the ball. She was the only one who troubled Tumi Sekhukhune – her extra pace rushing the nightwatcher and getting her to edge a couple of deliveries that were angled across her. When Wong came on it seemed as if the discipline Sekhukhune had shown fleetingly abandoned her.

Wong could do that to you – force you into something unnecessary – just like Brunt could.

While she has not yet inherited her idol’s eccentric expressions, (or the new ball), in only her first international, the 20-year-old was England’s playmaker. Her bowling is full of heart, passion and plenty of skill that she will further develop in the years to come.

England may not yet have an answer to Vlaeminck or Brown, but in Issy Wong they do have their next attack leader – one who will inspire another generation of children to run in hard and bowl as fast as they possibly can. One who will show a whole new group of people that cricket is for them too. One who will bring a fresh energy and excitement every time she takes the field. And one who, like her hero, will grow to be the heartbeat of the team.

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