SOMERSET and Western Storm player Sophie Luff has recently been named as part of the England Women’s Senior Academy and is looking to work hard and develop her game to force her way into the full international side.

The 22-year-old, who has played club cricket for Lympsham in the Somerset League, said: “I have recently been selected for the England Women’s Senior Academy and wanted some extra coaching support, so I asked Steve Snell who said he was happy to work with me.

“So far, we have had five sessions, working on a weekly basis which has been really good for me and helped me to concentrate fully on my batting, which is the main part of my game.

“Things have gone really well and I am happy the way things are going.”

Regarding the Senior Academy, the young batsman said: “I haven’t heard there are any tours planned at the moment but I hope to be going up to Loughborough as part of the group after Christmas.

“I need to keep on working hard on my skills.

"I think I’m quite clear what I need to do to get to the next level.

"The England women’s team are having quite a lot of success lately so, as a batter, it's hard to break into the top five at the present.

“However, if I keep on working hard and kick-start my season with Somerset in 2017 and get a few performances in the Women’s Super League, that will help me to get there.”