The Weber WBBL|07 is seeing several changes in the squads due to player injuries, personal reasons, and even the pandemic posing problems. Sydney Thunder’s prominent bowler Shabnim Ismail decided to withdraw from this season due to a knee injury. A big loss for Sydney Thunder considering Ismail’s crucial role in the previous season’s final match where they defeated Melbourne and took home the trophy.
Sydney Thunder has taken quick action for this problem though. They have signed England’s Issy Wong as the replacement for Ismail. The 19-year-old fast bowler was preparing for a holiday to Sicily when she got her call-up for Thunder. Wong displayed excellent bowling for the Central Sparks at the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Charlotte Edwards Cup in 2021.
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Sydney Thunder sign Issy Wong for WBBL07 🔥 – one of the most exciting young fast bowlers in the women’s cricket world at the moment.#WBBL
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 4, 2021
In the former tournament she scalped 14 wickets while in England’s domestic T20 competition, she picked 4 wickets and bowled with an economy of just 6.4. Earlier in the year, Wong traveled with England to New Zealand and dismissed 6 batters. She also played in The Hundred’s inaugural season this year and was part of the Birmingham Phoenix squad.
Upon her signing with Sydney Thunder, Issy commented, “It was a no-brainer. When you get such an opportunity you can’t say ‘no’ to it. This really is a great opportunity for me. I’m still very young, and to have this sort of exposure, and in such a respected league as the WBBL, is super-exciting.”
She continued to tell the Thunder fans of what could be expected from her, “I play an exciting brand of cricket, I’m always looking to take the positive option. I play with passion; I wear my heart on my sleeve when I’m out on the pitch.”
I try to enjoy those pressure moments because it is a privilege to be playing in those situations. It’s something I look to enjoy. I always look to take the positive option and to be brave. Sometimes it just doesn’t come off. However, I think if I’m positive in my decision it comes down to execution.”
“I don’t like to sit in the change rooms afterward and think, ‘I wish I tried this, or ‘I wish I’d gone for that. I don’t like to leave anything out there.”
Sydney Thunder’s head coach, Trevor Griffin expressed his views about the new addition to the team, “Issy is a quick bowler who wants to bowl fast. What I like about her is apart from the fact she wants to bowl fast; she always wants to make an impact on the game. That means she wants the ball, she can bowl at the different phases of the game, whether that’s the power play, the middle phase, or at the death. She can also come into bat and hit a long ball if that’s needed as well.”
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