Laura Marsh could follow in the footsteps of England captain Clare Connor.

That is the view of Clare herself after 14-year-old Laura's stunning tour debut in Barbados for Brighton College.

Laura produced a wicket with her first ball in her first game and a hat-trick in the first over of her second match.

She is coached by all-rounder Clare who is a teacher at the College and just back from leading England's World Cup campaign in New Zealand.

Clare said: "Laura reminds me of myself.

"She is so competitive and wants to play cricket with and against boys and go on and play for England.

"It's really exciting for me to see her progress and she's certainly got some talent.

"She had showed enough to prove that she wouldn't be out of her depth playing in Barbados and so it proved.

"It must have been quite a shock to all those tall 15-16-year-old Bajan boys when they saw Laura come up to bowl her accurate seamers. She is so tiny, there is nothing of her. To get a hat-trick is a great effort."

Laura only got into the team when a player withdrew. She is friends with Kate Oakenfold, the England under-17s cricketer who is also at the college, and turns up regularly to train with John Spencer, the former Sussex player who is head of cricket.

Clare added: "I thought she could learn plenty from going on the tour and I think she did."

Laura was also in the netball squad that toured with the cricketers.

Clare said: "She is a good all round sports girl. She's also good at hockey and is in the South East squad."

Laura, from Rotherfield, would love to follow in Clare's footsteps.

She said: "I want to captain England. It is great that I can get tips from Clare.

"When I got my first wicket in Barbados the team-mates of the boy who I got out were making fun of him. I was nervous because I'm small and they were really big, but I enjoyed my hat-trick. The first was caught at deep mid-wicket, the second was lbw and the third boy played on.

"It was my second hat-trick. I also got one playing for Sussex."

England under-17s international Kate, 16, added: "I think I helped Laura a little by being the other girl in the team. We're good friends."

The Sussex player will join a combined under-19s and senior training session at Trent Bridge from January 13-14.