Shipman earns academy call

HELEN Shipman is on the road to cricketing stardom after being invited to attend an England Academy training camp.

The 19-year-old, who captained Walmley Ladies CC to promotion to the Northern Premier League last season, will link up with some of England's brightest female cricket talents on a two-day course next Friday.

Shipman said: "I am looking forward to the challenge and learning from the whole experience.

"Hopefully it will help me to develop even further, especially as this is specific to the women's game.

"My aim is to progress as far as I can in the sport.

"What the England women's cricket team have achieved over the last few years is a real inspiration to all young cricketers looking to make the grade.

"I think everyone should aspire to be the best that they can be and I intend to go the extra mile in training to do so."

Shipman has played for Warwickshire Ladies teams since the age 11.

She has toured South Africa twice, in 2006 and 2008, winning both international tournaments.

The latter was as captain of Warwickshire under-19s.

Last year, she became the first female to become a member of the Elite Warwickshire Academy, which has always been reserved for male players and has produced players such as Warwickshire star Chris Woakes.

Former Walmley ace Woakes this week earned a call-up into the provisional squad for the Twenty20 World Cup and Shipman hopes to follow in his footsteps by working on her all-round game.

The former Bishop Walsh School pupil added: "I open the batting but, up until last year, I was also a leg spinner.

"I have been working on my off-spin this winter, though, and I am hoping to push on with that.

"It's important to have a few strings to your bow."