By Damian Derrick

Fran Wilson bases her batting on Ricky Ponting and Marcus Trescothick and her fielding on Paul Collingwood.

So setting her sights high is clearly not an issue for the 18-year-old Somerset player as she embarks on her first full England tour.

"I like to think I'm quite an attacking player and I like to think I base the way I play as they would," Wilson told BBC Bristol.

"They take their game to the bowlers and try and put them on the back foot."

As a fan of the shorter form of the game, Wilson works just as hard on her fielding as she does on her batting.

And with backward point being her favourite position, she has no objection to being compared to England's finest fielder.

"I've got a little way to go but I think I've got the potential to be the Paul Collingwood of women's cricket," she said.

The middle-order batter first showed potential in the back garden of her parents' home in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

At the tender age of 11, her mum took her down to Bath, which was the nearest club to offer girls cricket.

Within three years she was playing for Somerset Ladies as well as appearing in various men's teams.

And plying her trade in the men's game has hardened her up and made her even more determined.

"The ball comes on a lot quicker, which personally I like because you can hit it harder and if definitely improves your game," said Wilson.

I don't just want to go on tour and sit on the sidelines, I want to play and hopefully in the next year I can cement my place in the team Fran Wilson

"I like the ball bouncing high because I like playing off the back foot."

Wilson is one of four uncapped players called up for the tour of Sri Lanka, where England will play two one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games.

Her chance comes after experienced trio Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin and Sarah Taylor opted to miss the trip, giving Wilson a golden opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place in Charlotte Edwards' side.

"I don't feel as much like a newcomer as I thought I would," she said.

"There is a really good feeling around the squad at the moment and I really feel like part of the team."

Head coach Mark Lane added: "It's just been a really good progression for her.

"We're all very, very excited about what she brings and I have to say she's impressing everyone."

The tour is the prelude to the main event of the winter - the defence of the Ashes.

And Wilson is happy to admit that she already has one eye on the trip down under.

"I don't just want to go on tour and sit on the sidelines, I want to play and hopefully in the next year I can cement my place in the team," she said.

"I think if I do well in Sri Lanka then I've got a good chance. It would be an amazing experience to go to Australia and play in the Ashes."

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