England mishandled ‘pin-up girl’ Wong – Robinson

England should learn from Issy Wong’s poor management, according to World Cup-winning coach Mark Robinson.

Wong made her debut in all three formats as a 20-year-old in 2022 and with her pace and aggression, was seen as one of England’s most exciting prospects.

After a form slump since 2023, she has since lost her appeal, and Robinson claims that all the hype and marketing she received did not help at such a young age.

“We thrust her forward without the foundations to cope”, Robinson, who won the World Cup with England in 2017, told TNT Sports.

“She was the pin-up girl of the ECB as a youngster, as a baby, and then when things got a bit difficult she didn’t have the tools to survive”.

Wong most recently participated in the white-ball series against Ireland in September, when the majority of the first XI were getting ready for the T20 World Cup, while signing a development contract with the ECB for 2024-25.

Wong was prominent in England’s advertising campaigns during the Ashes series in 2023, but she eventually gave up on consistency and was featured prominently in all of her campaigns.

Due to issues with her run-up, she was then dropped from their side during a difficult Hundred match against Birmingham Phoenix.

Then, surprise surprise, she made her only England appearance that year against Sri Lanka, where she scored 24 runs from two overs and three first-base no-balls.

Wong will play for Warwickshire in the new professional domestic team, where Robinson leads the men’s side, in 2025.

“Issy is doing really well and working hard – she’s still young at 22 and she’s quick, so her time will come again”, Robinson added.

“That’s something to learn,” he said, “how to handle players when we expose them, when to take them out, and when to protect them.”