Lauren Filer is embracing the challenge of becoming one of the fastest bowlers in women’s cricket, as the England seamer continues her pursuit of the elusive 80mph barrier ahead of a pivotal international summer.
Known for her raw pace and aggressive intent, Filer represents a new generation of fast bowlers redefining traditional perceptions of seam bowling. While quicks have long been associated with intimidation, Filer admits her personality does not always reflect that stereotype. “Lottie (Charlotte Edwards) told me I need to stop smiling after bowling bouncers,” she said. “She says, ‘It just loses its effect’. So I’m someone that likes to scare people and likes to be mean, but I probably won’t show it with my face.”
Despite the smile, Filer’s numbers mark her growing impact at international level. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), she has taken 29 wickets in 19 matches at an economy rate of 5.32, highlighting her effectiveness as a strike bowler. In T20 Internationals (T20Is), she has claimed 8 wickets in 12 matches with an economy of 7.60, continuing to develop her role in the shorter format.
Her ambitions stretch beyond wickets alone. Filer is chasing one of the most significant milestones in the women’s game—breaking the 80mph (128.7 km/h) barrier. Only Shabnim Ismail has officially surpassed that mark, delivering a record 132.1 km/h (82.1 mph) ball during the 2024 Women’s Premier League. Filer herself has come temptingly close, clocking 79mph during a T20 international against India last summer.
“I’ve always said it’d be great to hit it,” Filer explained. “But I want to get faster and more consistently. It’s not necessarily about a certain mark or anything like that, it’s trying to be as consistent as possible with my speed.” Her focus on consistency reflects the demands of modern cricket, where sustained pace can be just as damaging as outright speed.
Filer’s rise has been swift. After graduating with a sports science degree from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2022, she quickly transitioned into the professional ranks with Western Storm before breaking into the England setup. Her ability to generate steep bounce and discomfort batters has made her a valuable asset across formats.
In recent months, she has worked on refining her action to improve efficiency and durability. “I have had a little change with my run-up,” she said. “We don’t get a lot of time to do any sort of technical changes with our calendar, so it’s been nice to strip it back and try to look at stuff I can be more efficient with or try to improve myself.” These adjustments are aimed at maintaining her pace while reducing physical strain.
Filer is also keen to expand her influence in key moments of matches, particularly at the death in limited-overs cricket. “I’ve always wanted to be an impact player and try to do something that not many people can do,” she said. “I want to try to get better at the death and be an option for Nat (Sciver-Brunt) at that time, it’s something I still want to develop.”
With an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on the horizon, Filer is pushing to secure her place in England’s squad after narrowly missing out in 2024. Conditions in England are expected to favour seam bowling, potentially playing to her strengths. As she continues to fine-tune her game and push the boundaries of pace, Filer stands on the brink of something special. If she can combine her speed with consistency, she may not only cement her place in England’s attack but also challenge one of the defining records in women’s cricket.
(Quotes sourced from The Telegraph)
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