TALENTED teenager Rochelle Petty is going places in the world of sport - after making her mark for England at the age of 18.

The teenager, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has just returned from Holland where she made her debut for her country in the European women's cricket championships.

As part of the English Cricket Board's (ECB) under-21s development squad, she opened the bowling for England in their victorious match against Scotland.

Then team went on to win their other matches during their week-long trip, against Ireland and Holland.

Rochelle, a former pupil at Thirsk School, has just finished her studies at York College and next month is going to Leeds Metropolitan University to study PE.

She plans to become a teacher - but is also determined to continue with her cricketing career.

"It seems a bit sexist - but you can't really make a living out of playing women's cricket," she said.

The teenager, who lives in St Mary's Walk, took up the sport at 11, encouraged by her cricket-mad father, Barry.

She is the only female in the Thirsk side, which plays in the York Senior League, and also plays for the Yorkshire Women's team.

When she was 15 she was selected as one of only two girls to train with the Yorkshire Academy at Headingley and has now trained with them for three years.

"That has just been so helpful to me. I can't describe how useful it has been. I've learnt so much," she said.

She has also been selected for the England Academy and she was playing in the Super Fours tournament at Loughborough earlier this year when she was spotted by selectors for the Holland trip.

"I was on holiday in Spain when the call came through and I was speechless," she said.

Sarah Pickford, vice-chairwoman of the Yorkshire Women's Cricket Association, said they were delighted at Rochelle's success.

"While still only 18, Rochelle has been a member of the Yorkshire first team squad for a number of years already and is now seen as a core part of the team," she said.

She added: "Academy staff have been impressed by her dedication and commitment to learning and growing both as a person and as a cricketer which sets a great example for others."