Issy Wong signs up for inaugural WPL
Shropshire cricket star Issy Wong has secured a five-figure deal at the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction.
The teenage fast bowler – a former Shrewsbury School student – was snapped up by the Charlotte Edwards-coached Mumbai Indians for about £30,000.
There she joins England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was sold to Mubai for around £320,000, while another England star – Sophie Ecclestone – went to UP Warriorz for £180,000 and India’s Smriti Mandhana was sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore for around £340,000.
Former England batter Lydia Greenway hailed the eye-watering sums splashed on the top talent as a seismic shift for the women’s game.
She said: “It’s massive. The amount that Smriti Mandhana has just gone for is unheard of in our game.
“You’d be lucky if you made that out of the whole of your career as an international female cricketer, going back a few years.
“It’s a life-changing amount of money. It’s about the security of it.
“I know these players can now just focus on playing, but I think for the youngsters, as well to see this happening, hopefully it will just encourage a few more young girls to pick up a cricket bat as well.”
