Alexia called into England cricket squad

The three-week tour will be the first time a women's u19s team from this country has ever travelled to the southern hemisphere.

"I am absolutely chuffed," she said. "It's fantastic to be picked especially since it's the first of this kind in the junior women's teams."

The 19-year-old, who lives in Bexhill but studies sport and leisure management at Loughborough University, will meet up with the squad on Christmas Eve with the team jetting off the following day.

"It's the best Christmas present ever," she added.

England will play six matches in an Inter-State tournament which will include teams from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, before ending the tour with two international matches against the Australia u19s in Canberra.