By Gabrielle Lewis

There will be none of the usual 18th birthday revelries for Lydia Greenway on Wednesday night.

Greenway (left) celebrating with Laura Harper in Australia

The eve of the home debut for England's women means the party will have to wait.

Greenway's apprehension ahead of the series against South Africa is hardly surprising.

Her introduction to the senior stage could not have been harsher. A late call-up to the Ashes squad, she did not even have time for jet-lag to kick in from the Under-19 tour to Australia before she was back on a plane Down Under.

Having made 88 at number three in the warm-up match against the hosts' emerging side, The Shooting Stars, Greenway found the world champions an awesome adversary in the two Tests.

Her scores were 5, 1, 31 and 0.

"It was quite a surprise to have been asked to join up with the seniors, because of my age," she said. "I didn't think I would get in for a couple more years.

"Having just come back from three weeks in Australia probably helped as I was used to the environment. It gave me an idea of what to expect with the seniors.

"Facing the Australians was daunting and I had a few butterflies, but it all happened so quickly, I didn't really have time to think about it."

But the experience has served her well. The left-hander's performance and approach has earned her a recall by head coach Richard Bates.

Some people say I seem older than I am, but I don't always act it. I've got a reputation for being a bit batty Lydia Greenway

And with club-mate Charlotte Edwards as England's vice-captain, Greenway has a valuable ally in the ranks.

Both have held the mantle as the youngest player in the squad, with Edwards making her debut at 16, and Greenway has benefited from the knowledge her batting partner has built up over the last seven years.

"When we're batting together, she guides me and if I play some dodgy shots she tells me to keep my head," Greenway added. "So her being there is important to me."

There is no question of Greenway's immaturity upsetting the balance either. She spends much of her time off the field socialising with older players and is consequently not distracted from her cricket by other teenage diversions.

Music from the 1970s and 80s is her thing, not Radio One's playlist.

"I don't feel I miss out on anything. I go out with the girls after cricket and that is my substitute for going out on a Saturday night like most teenagers," she said.