Cooper Connolly IS22: Maiden Test Wicket, Card to Know
Cooper Connolly trapped Matthew Breetzke lbw via a successful DRS review on Day 1 of the series-deciding 3rd Test in Cape Town, picking up his maiden Test wicket in only his second Test appearance. The 2025-26 TGI Cricket Traders IS22 is the card collectors are reaching for.
What did Connolly do in Cape Town?
South Africa looked comfortable at 203/1 before the afternoon session flipped. Bavuma fell bowled by Lyon for a duck, then Connolly had Breetzke trapped in front for 2, Australia's DRS review upheld on the spot. The collapse took South Africa from 203/1 to 220/4 at tea.
Mitchell Starc dominated with the second new ball, finishing 6/72 as the headliner. South Africa were all out for 329 in 82.3 overs: a competitive total in a 1-1 series decider that has WTC Final stakes attached, with an Australian win nearly confirming their berth at The Oval in June 2027.
What is Connolly's IS22 card?
IS22/36 sits in the 36-card International Series insert set from the 2025-26 TGI Cricket Traders release. The retail version is unnumbered and pulls at roughly one per ten packs. Here is the full Connolly card inventory from this set:
- IS22/36: International Series, unnumbered, approximately 1 per 10 retail packs
- ISG 22: IS Gold /139, Luxe-exclusive (not available in standard retail)
- IL06/09: Illustrious, Luxe
- ILA6: Illustrious Alternate, retail
- Team of Tournament /350
- Base card with set-wide Silver parallel (1 per pack), Mojo Opal, and Mojo Opal Gold 1/1
- No autograph: the 12 signers in this set are all BBL/WBBL players only
Why does IS22 matter for collectors?
Connolly is 23, the youngest Australian to take an ODI five-wicket haul (5/22 vs South Africa in Mackay, August 2025), the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year 2026, and an IPL starter for Punjab Kings. Cape Town was only his second Test, which leaves a long runway ahead.
The 2024-25 TLA/TGI set already featured him as STR 17 (Season to Remember) and BO13/18 (Breakout Player), so the paper trail is building. IS22 is his headline retail card in the 2025-26 cycle and the one pegged directly to this Test summer. Add it to your Traders binder and track it privately in CardLoft alongside the rest of your collection.
How do you find IS22 in the International Series checklist?
The IS set runs IS01 to IS36: IS01 to IS24 cover men's internationals, IS25 to IS36 cover women's. Connolly sits at IS22, one of only two spinners in the men's block alongside IS21 Matthew Kuhnemann. He is the only Connolly card in the entire 36-card set.
The retail IS22 carries no serial number. If you see a stamped number, that is the Luxe-exclusive ISG 22 /139. Two separate physical cards (009/139 and 124/139) have confirmed the print run at /139; any catalogue listing that says /100 is incorrect.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cooper Connolly's IS22 card numbered?
No. The retail IS22 is unnumbered. The Luxe-exclusive IS Gold version, coded ISG 22, is numbered /139.
What is the difference between IS22 and ISG 22?
IS22/36 is the standard retail insert, unnumbered, pulling at roughly 1:10 packs. ISG 22 is the IS Gold parallel numbered /139, available only in Luxe hobby boxes.
Does Connolly have an autograph in the 2025-26 TGI set?
No. The 12 autograph signers are all BBL/WBBL players. Connolly is not among them.
Was Cape Town Connolly's Test debut?
No. He debuted in the 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka at Galle on 6 February 2025. Cape Town was his second Test.
What other Connolly cards exist in the 2025-26 TGI set?
A base card (number unconfirmed), ISG 22 /139 (Luxe), IL06/09 Illustrious (Luxe), ILA6 Illustrious Alternate, and a Team of Tournament card numbered /350.
