“We will never underestimate New Zealand as a team.” Feiler said on the eve of the second ODI in Worcester. “We have to be careful because we know they can hit big balls and take wickets. We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves and throw everything without really thinking, but we are all working on our performance and building on the momentum from the last game. We will continue this to the next game.”
Piller herself was particularly proud of her economy rate (3.60) in the Durham game. Despite England head coach John Lewis saying that wickets were the key she could provide and that going for a few extra runs was not important in the bigger picture, she conceded just two boundaries and a wide in her quick new-ball burst, which she admitted lifted her up to play her main role with gusto without having to maintain an extra level of control.
“Lewy always said the run wasn’t that important,” Filer said. “But it was really nice to have that control at Durham. It was really nice to be able to turn around and see it on the scoreboard when you only had 3:30 to go, because you probably didn’t have to have that control last year.”
Filer believes this is evidence of her growing understanding of the game and bodes well for her role at the World Cup, where she will need to mix her length and speed more to cope with slower conditions.
“On the pitches I’ve played at Durham – and most pitches in England – the top of the stumps is the best option,” she said. “On slower pitches you’ll use the quicker ball, but then it’s important to use the slow balls, the yorkers and whatever else you get on the pitch wisely. I didn’t feel like I needed to do that last game, but maybe going forward I can show what I can do.”
Filer’s quickness, coupled with her increasingly varied transformations, means she could yet be deployed in a role similar to that played by Jofra Archer for the men at the World Cup. Ability to return mid-inning if a breakaway is needed.
“I want to do what Jofra does,” she said. “Obviously he has tremendous control and his slow balls take a lot of wickets. But I’m trying not to look too far ahead. I can’t say I’ve been given a specific role yet, but as time goes on we’ll see where we are.
“I think we’ve worked pretty hard on accuracy, especially since our debut.” she added. “I think I’m in a good position in that regard. Getting away from my basic pitch, showing my variations and really using it as a threat. When you play against the best players, you can’t always throw the same pitch, so I’ll keep working on it until the World Cup. “
Filer admits she can’t guarantee a central role at the World Cup, especially given the omnipresence of England’s spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn. “It’s so hard as a seamer. You want to play so badly but you can’t push anyone out of the team,” she said. “They’re really world-class. Even if one of them doesn’t have their best day, the other two will come flying in with three or four wickets.
But whatever happens, Filer knows he will have the support of a dressing room he describes as “the best environment I’ve ever been in.”
“It’s a place where you can just be yourself.” She said. “As a team, we trust each other to do what we do well, and that’s really important. Even on days that aren’t going well, knowing that you have the support of your teammates when you walk out on the field and that you have a shoulder to cry on is really special. It’s work, and hopefully it’s something we can continue for many years.”
Andrew Miller is ESPNcricinfo’s UK editor. @miller_cricket
