Last updated at 16:44, Thursday, 31 January 2013

HARD-hitting batsman Laura Marshall has the potential to play for England Women, believes a leading local cricket coach.

DUBAI DATE Laura Marshall is off to Dubai with the Lancashire Under-19 Girls Emerging Players squad

As the defending champions prepared to embark on their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Mumbai tomorrow, Alastair McDougall, cricket development officer for Barrow and Copeland, said of the Lancashire under-19s player: “Potentially she’s very good, she’s got great hand-to-eye coordination. She times the ball exceptionally well and hits the ball as hard as any of the men.

“Once she sorts her shot selection out and she matures a little bit she will be a good batsman.”

Her next target will be to get through to the super fours, an elite county system for women, with McDougall adding: “Once women get through to that, which is like the top 50 players in the country, then they’ve got the opportunity to go on to the England development squads as well, and she has trialled for that.”

However, on the immediate agenda for the outstanding teenager is a trip to Dubai in February as part of the Lancashire Under-19s Girls Emerging Players squad who are heading to United Arab Emirates. Marshall joined Lancashire at the start of last season, having previously played for Cumbria. She also plays North Lancs and Cumbria League cricket for Lindal Moor seconds.

The right-handed batter from Ulverston is also capable with the ball and recently returned to bowling following an injury.

A talented cricketer and footballer, Marshall played both sports competitively during her school years at Ulverston Victoria High.

In fact, so prolific was the striker in front of goal for Dalton Girls that Blackburn Rovers snapped her up for their academy ranks. Marshall left the Ewood Park club aged 15, and since then football has taken a backseat to cricket.

First published at 16:30, Thursday, 31 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk