Foxes Focus - Isla-Rose Williamson

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Name: Isla-Rose Williamson

Team: U13’s and U15’s

Discipline: Right-handed Batswoman, Seem/Pace Bowler

Years at Leicestershire: 3 years

About you - shutter mode

Describe yourself in three words. Competitive, Competitive and erm...Competitive!

Where are you from? Barrow Upon Soar.

What is a fun fact about you? I am petrified of bees and wasps.

Do you have any pets? I have three dogs and one bearded dragon.

What is your favourite food? Steak.

If you could travel anywhere in the world [before COVID-19], where would you go? Caribbean.

 

Life as a Leicestershire County Cricket Club Player

Summarise Leicestershire CCC in three words: Enjoyable, Inclusive and Friendly.

When did you first get into playing cricket? I was 2 years old when my Mum taught me to bowl (but if you ask my Dad, he taught me everything I know!).

What is your favourite memory on the pitch? The first time being appointed as a Captain.

What is your favourite memory with your teammates? Being with the team in the changing room at my first county match, my face was aching from laughter.

Who is your favourite cricket player? Past or present. I can’t pick one so Ellyse Perry, Mitchell Starc, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.

Who are you most looking forward to watching on the pitch? Danny Wyatt or Tammy Beaumont.

 

Women’s Big Cricket Month

The ECB launched a campaign to celebrate Women’s Cricket to showcase stories in the women’s game and encourage more women and girls to play, watch or attend cricket across the next 12 months.

What encouraged you to first start playing cricket? Watching my dad play cricket.

Do you have a female role model within cricket you look up to? Katherine Brunt.

The ECB are encouraging women and girls to share their cricket stories to encourage more into playing, watching or attending cricket in the next year. If you could share one story, what would it be? Realising what a family friendly sport it is, I remember the intensity of watching England win the World Cup on holiday. All fourteen of us squished around the TV in a caravan on the Isle of Wight and then screaming & jumping around when we won.

What would you say to a woman or girl who is looking into playing cricket for the first time? Do not think about it, just do it!

 

A bit more about you

What is your favourite holiday destination? At home or abroad? Australia.

Apart from cricket, do you watch any other sports? Yes, I tend to watch the football.

If you could invite any 3 celebrities to dinner who would it be and why? Ben Stokes, Shane Warne, Freddie Mercury

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Going to the cricket nets near my house and seeing my friends.

 

The impact of COVID-19

How has the lockdown and delay to the season impacted you as a player and a captain? It has given me a new perspective on the game as I have had time to work on my cricketing awareness whilst away but, I’ve really missed the feeling of being part of a team.

How did you keep in touch with teammates, with coaches? Were you playing cricket in your garden? There was a lot of cricketing in my garden during lockdown as there is 8 of us in my house so, there’s always someone available to play! I spoke to a few of my teammates over social media and group chats.

What have you been up to during the lockdown? Mainly focusing on improving myself cricket wise, schoolwork and quality family time.

What was your first training session back like? Not very energetic at first but we soon got back into it and it was such a relief to do something ‘normal’ again.

Looking ahead to next season, what are you most looking forward to next season?  The normality of a longer season than this year with regular training/games and obviously winning as much as possible!

Do you have any team goals yet? Yes, I want our team to really strive to improve all-round next season to make up for missing so much this season.