"SLEDGING" is bound to be rife - and accepted - in this summer's Ashes Test Series but, when it's aimed at a teenage girl, well that's a different matter entirely, writes Mervyn Collins.

However, Holly Penwarden has the best possible answer to the opposition wind-up merchants, get them out or hit them to the boundary.

The 17-year-old Worcester girl has cemented her place in senior cricket at Pershore, while also proving herself to be one of the brightest prospects in the female game in the country.

A student at Worcester Sixth Form College, Holly only joined Pershore three seasons ago having made an impact at Dominies and Guild at junior level and she has made fabulous strides at The Bottoms.

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"I think I'm the only girl playing in the Birmingham League," she admitted. "There were two more but I think their clubs got relegated. There are plenty of comments aimed at me when I get to the wicket to bat or come on to bowl but I just ignore than and get on with enjoying my game."

And, if any future opponents want to poke fun at the talented teenager, then just ask members of Lichfield's second string who were on the wrong end of the right-arm inswinger's spell of 6-20 recently that included a hat-trick!

Holly started her cricketing career as a nine-year-old alongside brother Harry at Dominies where her potential was unlea-shed at junior level before a move up to the senior game at Pershore.

Holly's dad Charles and clubmate at Pershore, Trevor Rid-ings, have both helped her progress to the men's senior circuit with both men being part of the Worcestershire Cricket Board's coaching and management set-up.

There's a real Pershore feel to the Under-17 girls side with Charles acting as manager this summer, Trevor is head coach and Luke Eversham acts as a coach.

The latter pair are also involved with the Under-15 squad where another coach is Bottoms clubmate Paul Bozward.

The success of junior cricket at Pershore is reflected is that 19 players have been selected for county squads with Holly progressing to the England Under-17 Academy and first team all-rounder Tom Bales currently in the Academy squad at New Road.

Holly, meanwhile, hasn't finished her representative aims just yet with a place in the England Women's team her ultimate goal.

She has already played for the national Under-15 side and is currently involved with Junior Super Fours - a regional system that acts as pre-selection for the England squad.

"I just love cricket," Holly admitted. "I'm involved with the Under-19 Development squad at the moment and getting into the England squad would be just great."

If she does it during the next couple of years then she could become the youngest player ever to play for the ladies team. And, listening to someone who just can't wait for her next match, you wouldn't back against Holly creating a piece of cricketing history.