By Claire Taylor England Women's cricket team

After playing in the Women's World Cup at the end of 2000, I reached decision time in my struggle to balance my working life and playing cricket for England.

The last World Cup was a real eye opener for me

I'd seen some of the best players in the world fight it out in the final and had gained insight into the standard of personal preparation and mental toughness required to make an impact at this level.

I decided in the weeks after the World Cup that I wanted to reach that level and realised some sacrifices would have to be made.

There was pressure from work to start taking the next steps towards promotion; increased responsibility and a change in management style that I wasn't sure I liked.

But an opportunity to take voluntary redundancy presented itself midway through the next year and I eventually left my London flat, moved back into the family home in Reading and started life as a semi- professional cricketer.

I say 'semi-professional' since we're not actually paid to play, but we are given funding to help us make more time for cricket and to pay for all the training required to make us ready for international competition.

I support myself by taking part-time coaching jobs or short IT contracts so I've got time to fit in training and tours

Coming over to New Zealand during the English winter is an important part of my preparation for the next World Cup in early 2005.

Facilities and the sport culture here in New Zealand make it an obvious choice for concentrated training.

There's easy access to facilities and a high standard of club competition for practice before the all important state competition starting in December.

This is my second winter in Christchurch and I've settled in very quickly this time.

This year I'm boarding with a cricketing family, father Ray and son Sam play cricket for Sumner, mum Heather organises suburban cricket in Christchurch and daughter Rebecca plays for Canterbury and will be travelling to India with the New Zealand Women's team in November.

Batting against South Africa during the home summer series

It's great to get together on a Saturday night and chat about cricket over a shared jug of beer.

I've also been provided with a car this year for getting to and from training. It's going to be a great help with upper body strength - there is no power steering.

I'm also practising my 'Dukes of Hazard' entry techniques - feet first through the window since I can't unlock the door on the driver's side.

I start work for the Canterbury Cricket Association in November as an operations assistant.

Until then I'm taking time out to relax after a hectic few weeks in England finishing the cricket season, working and getting ready to come out here.

I'll be meeting up with a couple of the other English girls over here as Mandie Godliman and Caroline Atkins are playing club cricket in Christchurch.

And Clare Taylor, Hannah Lloyd and Charlotte Edwards all arrive in New Zealand later in the year in time for the start of the State competition.

The invasion starts here.