Colvin could miss Australia and New Zealand tour

Holly Colvin could miss England's tour of Australia and New Zealand for the sake of her education. Colvin, the slow left-armer, said she would be prepared to miss the trip Down Under in February and March if her chances of getting into Cambridge University would be compromised.

"If it came to the crunch I would put my education first and stay at home," Colvin told The Argus newspaper. "Women's cricket is not yet professional and I have to think of my future career."

The tour runs at the same time as some of her final-year A Level studies, including a one-off Test for the Ashes. She said there could be room for compromise in that she may consider playing the Australian part of the trip.

"It would be heart-breaking to miss the tour," said Colvin, who earned her England call-up on the eve of the last Ashes, in 2005. "I love my cricket and would relish the opportunity to help defend the Ashes. I might try and play in the Australian leg, even though that could mean missing a couple of weeks of school."