BARNOLDSWICK cricketer Arran Thompson has put her text books to one side to prepare for her first examination at international level after being handed her England debut today.

The 18-year-old all-rounder was named in the England women's side for the first of five one-day internationals against South Africa.

Thompson was set to play at Chelmsford in a match shown live on Sky Television and admitted her selection was "out of this world."

The second game is at Trent Bridge on Thursday before the series moves on to Canterbury on Sunday and Taunton and Worcester next week.

However, by next week Skipton High pupil Thompson will be back behind her desk continuing her 'A' levels. So it's in the first three games that the Lancashire player will be hoping to make an impression with places in England's World Cup squad in New Zealand this winter up for grabs.

Thompson, who plays men's cricket for Thornton-in-Craven in the Craven League and women's cricket for North Riding in the Northern Premier League, owes her call-up to her performances in club cricket, with Lancashire and during winter training sessions with the England squad at Nottingham.

"I had a couple of good training sessions and then it was just a case of hoping. It was fantastic to be selected," said Thompson, who makes the step up from the England 'A' and junior ranks.

She sealed her place in the series opener by making 46 at number three in a warm-up game against Staffordshire.