Dani Gibson has become an instant inspiration for hundreds of young Gloucestershire cricketers after progressing all the way from the county under-13s girls’ team to winning a call-up to the England senior squad for the Women’s Ashes, which get underway next week.

The 22-year-old all-rounder made her Gloucestershire debut in 2014 and is vice-captain of the regional Western Storm for whom she is joint highest run scorer this summer, as well as the leading wicket taker in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

This is Dani’s first England senior call-up after being a travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

And her selection will have caused a particularly loud cheer from the Gloucestershire Girls’ under-11s squad... who she coaches!

Laura Charles Price, the head of women’s and girls’ cricket at the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news and we’re all so pleased for Dani who has worked incredibly hard over such a long period of time to make her England dream come true.

“Dani is the first player to have come all the way through our pathway to the England squad, and we are certain that she will not be the last.

“It’s fantastic for the girls in her under-11 squad – they can all say ‘our coach plays for England!’ – and will inspire everyone involved with women’s and girls’ cricket in the county.”

Dani, who attended Dean Close School in Cheltenham and Hartpury College, began her club career aged nine with Dumbleton who formed their first under-13 girls’ team in 2014.

A powerful striker of the ball, she is also an accurate bowler with the ability to take wickets at important times.

England head coach and former Gloucestershire pace bowler Jon Lewis said: “Dani is one of the form cricketers in the country, she is improving both with bat and ball and if selected in the team, offers us a dynamic cricketer who can change the momentum of the game.”

The England Test squad will play Australia A in a three-day warm-up fixture at the Incora County Ground, Derbyshire, starting on Thursday and then kick-off their Ashes summer with a five-day Test at Trent Bridge (June 22nd-26th June).