Lauren's "whirlwind" summer

2023 is definitely a year that Lauren Filer will look back on with a great deal of pride.

The 22-year-old Western Storm seamer was called into the England squad for the Ashes, made her international debut in an Ashes Test and finished the summer by being named Player of the Series after taking eight wickets  against Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series.

She’s now had time to reflect on her remarkable year, and we caught up with her this week to look back on the last few months.

“It’s hard to put into words,” she said. “I’ve used the word ‘whirlwind’ to describe it because it was completely unexpected. It was so exciting and I just tried to take in every moment because I didn’t think it would happen this year.

“It was nice to come in and take a few wickets. When you’re playing against the best players in the world it’s nice to know that you can compete alongside them. Hopefully, I showed that I can do that.

“The plan was to run in as hard as I could and bowl as fast as I could and try to use my bounce. That’s what I like to do. I like to be an impact bowler. I might go for a few runs but hopefully I’ll take a few wickets along the way. It’s been great to have the backing of England, Western Storm and London Spirit this year to play that role. It’s been really good to have been able to have that consistency across the summer.”

How did it feel to win the Player of the Series award against Sri Lanka?

“Obviously, it was a really nice thing to happen. I wasn’t expecting it at all. When I got told, I was a bit nervous about doing the interview. Everyone was saying ‘well done’ and cheering me on, so it was lovely to have that backing from the team. It was a really good way to end the summer.”

Did sharing the dressing room with Storm teammates Heather Knight and Dani Gibson make the transition to international cricket easier?

“Definitely! Gibbo and I have both said that we’re glad we had each other to share the experience with. It could have been quite daunting but as soon as we got there we realised that it was a great environment to be in. Having each other and Heather did make it that little bit easier to settle in.”

What plans does Lauren have for the winter?

“There are a few tours coming up, so I’m hoping to be involved with those. I’ll be doing a fitness block in the next few weeks to try and get my strength up. I’ll also be looking to get bowling again soon. It’ll all come thick and fast, so I’ll just need to prepare as well as I can.”

What does Lauren put her recent success down to?

“The change in my action over the winter really helped. Jack Brooks really helped me with that. Having the backing of Trevor Griffin has been important too. I feel like I’ve really been backed by every team that I’ve played for this year. Having the backing of your coaches and having them show that they trust in what I can do has really helped me to kick on.”

What does she hope that next summer will have in store?

“Hopefully, I can stay in or around the England environment. That’s my goal. Hopefully, I can be more consistent for the team. I’m going to take in what’s happened this year and not get too ahead of myself. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, listen to advice and keep trying to get better.”