Wilson lives dream after surprise call

Fran Wilson is one of four new players in the 15-strong England women's squad currently in Colombo, Sri Lanka

When Heather Knight told Fran Wilson last summer that England women's coach Mark Lane was on the phone and wanted to speak to her, Wilson did not believe her.

It turned out he was - and had the news that promising batsman Wilson, along with Knight, had been chosen in the squad to play a limited-overs series in Sri Lanka.

Wilson, Knight and company are now in Colombo for two one-day internationals and three Twenty20s.

Wilson, who turned 19 on Sunday, recalled her surprise call for ecb.co.uk.

“I’d just got a new phone so they didn’t have my number,” she said. “I just happened to be with Heather at the time and she said, ‘Laney’s on the phone’ and I said, ‘you’re having a laugh’.

"I thought she was joking around, but she wasn’t; she was telling the truth, which was nice.”

Wilson is one of four new faces in a 15-strong squad along with Beth MacGregor, Lauren Griffiths and Susie Rowe.

But the Somerset starlet says she and the other three already feel at home in captain Charlotte Edwards’ tour party.

“Everyone’s been really nice and supportive so we don’t even feel like newcomers any more,” she added. “It was a really good team environment.”

Wilson divulged the advice she has had from the senior members - "don’t worry too much about everything and just enjoy it" - before revealing: “That’s definitely what I’m going to try and do."

Part of the Academy squad that went to Bangalore in March for a 10-day high performance camp, Wilson hopes that experience of sub-continental conditions will aid her should she make her full international debut in Sri Lanka this month.

Wilson gained experience of subcontinental conditions with the England women's Academy during March's camp in Bangalore

“I’m so glad I went now because going to Sri Lanka it’s really good to have some experience of touring conditions,” Wilson said.

“I think the conditions are going to be similar out in Sri Lanka, so it was really good experience going to India.”

If Wilson made a positive impression in Bangalore, she boosted her prospects further with a couple of impressive innings as part of the ECB Development XI that retained the women's European Cricket Championship title in August.

Batting at number three, the right-hander struck 76 from 85 balls against the Netherlands and, the next day, 53 not out from 58 deliveries versus hosts Scotland.

“It was more just performing at the right time,” she admitted. “The Netherlands probably aren’t the best opposition, but it was just the right time, the right place, which gave me a lot of confidence.

“That’s half the of the battle - dealing with the pressure of performing for your country - so that was really satisfying.”

Regardless of the experience Wilson has built up this year, she is refusing to entertain too many preconceived ideas in Sri Lanka

“I’m just going out with a bit of an open mind,” she revealed. “I’m guessing that it’s going to be quite similar to India, as in the playing conditions.

“But I think we’ve all got to be quite adaptable. We don’t really know what to expect going out there because it’s not a country England have toured very often.

“It’s important that we’re really open-minded going into the tour.”