Brown, 20, from Wingham, is now based at Canberra where she is studying industrial design at the Australian National University. The fast bowling all-rounder will play for the ACT Meteors in the Women’s National Cricket League starting early next month. Brown is confident the Meteors will fire this season and reasons a couple of strong showings here will increase her hopes of gaining national selection.

“We've made a couple of big signings – world class players,’’ she said.

“We're going to have a good side.’’

The Ashes series will start with the first of three one day internationals at Brisbane on October 22. Two of the games will be played at Coffs Harbour. 

There’ll be a day/ight test at North Sydney Oval in November following by three T20 matches. Brown’s chances of getting a call into the Australian side received a boost when was named in the Cricket Australia’s National Performance Squad (NPL). She’ll be in Brisbane for the next two weeks training with former Australian representative and Cricket Australia high performance coach Lea Poulton. Next week the squad will work with the Australian players in a pre-Ashes camp. They’ll also play practice matches against the Australians and Brown figures this will be another chance to shine.

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“It was a bit thrill to get chosen in the squad, I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to train with Lea and also with the Australian team,’’ Brown said.

“If I get picked to play in the practice matches – well, that’ll be a great opportunity.’’

Opening bowlers generally have to be nursed through a summer and Brown figures that some strong early season form could put her right in the frame for a national call-up should one of the front line trundlers break down or be rested.

Earlier this year Brown toured Sri Lanka with an Australian under 21 team. This was her first overseas trip.

“The team went really well – we won five of the six games,’’ she said.

However, Brown admits she was surprised by the Sri Lankan heat.

“It was so hot and I found it hard to adjust. Fortunately we had our nutritionist there to look after us and make sure we kept hydrated,’’ Brown said.

She was reasonably happy with her form with the ball, but didn’t get many opportunities with the bat.

Last summer Brown made her debut with the Melbourne Renegades in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), where she performed strongly and picked up one player of the match award. It looks certain she’ll be with the Renegades again for WBBL 3 to start in early December, although her signing has yet to be confirmed by the franchise.

The new WBBL season will start in early December.