Following the team's success, Sarah Taylor, from Seaford, will be joining team mates as they head off to New Zealand for their one-day international series.

Her father Ralph Taylor said the 18-year-old has always loved sports.

"She played for Seaford Boys' Under Nines Football and when she couldn't play any more because of her age, I volunteered to set up a girls' side.

"She also loved playing tennis at the Salts recreation ground."

Her big break came when Clare Connor, Sarah's Sussex team mate and former England captain, spotted her potential at the age of 12 and later offered her a scholarship to Brighton College.

Sarah, also the opening batsman for the England team, then went on to play in the first XI boys' team.

One of the former Seaford Primary School pupil's achievements include being one of the youngest players to make a century.

Mr Taylor said his wife Helen and the rest of the family including brother Alex, 17 and sister, Rebecca, 19, were extremely proud of Sarah's talent.

He said, "We owe our thanks to the many people who helped her along the way.

"She has always been into sports and I think we always knew that someone would eventually realise that.

"We thought it might be tennis or hockey but obviously cricket is her best love and now she is an England player."

Bob Sinclair, a family friend who recalls Sarah's talents at football when she was younger, praised her skills and added, "I would like to see a young Seaford Personality of the Year award — I would love to see that in the future.

"There must be other talented young people that Seaford is not aware of."