Susie Rowe, called up by England for the tour of Australia, has put her teaching career on hold in order to concentrate on cricket.

Rowe (pictured), who also plays hockey for Canterbury, was called up to the England team for the first time for November’s tour to Sri Lanka and featured in all three of the Twenty20 internationals but not the two one-dayers as England returned home unbeaten.

The 23-year-old batted only twice in the sub-continent, scoring a best of 24 not out but impressed enough to earn a place on England’s 15-strong squad for next month’s trip to Australia.

That has forced her to quit her new job as a teacher in order to concentrate fully on her
cricket and she is adamant she won’t live to regret the decision.

"To get this call-up so soon in my career means a lot to me - I can’t quite believe it all, to be honest," said Rowe.

"It is a real shock to the system. It wasn’t something I could even dream
about.

"I just didn’t think being involved in the tour to Australia was even possible for me but when I got selected to go to Sri Lanka, I started thinking ‘wow this could actually be something in my reach’.

"I was determined to make it happen and am pleased I have done that and for me in Australia, any opportunity to play would be fantastic."

Rowe admits she is relishing whatever opportunities come her way in Australia having waved goodbye to part-time cricket and joined the MCC Young Cricketers programme at Lord’s.

"It is difficult to leave your job but it is something I wanted to do and something I had to do if I am going to make the most of my cricket career," she added.

• Watch England’s women live in Twenty20 action on Sky Sports on January 12 and 14.For more information, including the full tour schedule and results, go to www.ecb.co.uk