LAUREN WINFIELD plans to bat her way to Ashes glory after being selected for the England Women’s Performance Squad.

The Stamford Bridge cricketer was named by the ECB as one of 21 players that will represent England throughout the winter and she is part of a 14-strong squad that will fly to the West Indies later this month.

Winfield, 23, will take part in a T20 Tri-Series with New Zealand and the Caribbean hosts before a three-day ODI series against the West Indies starts in Trinidad on October 29.

Ashes heroes Katherine Brunt, Laura Marsh, Heather Knight and Anya Shrubsole are not going on the tour as they recover from injury and, with a 15-player squad chosen in December to try and defend the Ashes in Australia, Winfield sees this month’s foreign excursion as a perfect chance to show the selectors what she can do.

Winfield was picked for the summer Ashes squad but did not take part in the series. She did, however, score 74 when opening the batting and captaining the England Academy side which played the Australians in August.

“I am really thrilled to be selected,” she said.

“Obviously I am itching to get an opportunity to get my name down on the teamsheet and hopefully that will happen in the West Indies.

“Every game is an opportunity and I just need to keep doing what I am doing and hopefully my chance will come.”

As a wicket-keeper batsman, Winfield is up against one of the world’s best with the gloves in Sarah Taylor. But she is taking the opportunity to learn at every stage and added: “My current priority is to battle my way into the side as a batter.

“Being a back-up ’keeper is another string to my bow and will always stand me in good stead. I can only control my own skills.

“I didn’t play in the last Ashes series but I still got some fantastic experience and the confidence you get from being an Ashes winner is irreplaceable.

“This is massive for me. My childhood dreams have become reality and at some points I didn’t think I would get here.

“This tour is really exciting for a lot of us younger players.

“You don’t wish injury on anyone but I am hoping for the opportunity and, should it arise, to take it.”

Winfield brought the Ashes trophy to Stamford Bridge at the end of the victorious series and said she loves going back home and turning out for the club’s second team whenever she can.

“It’s nice to go back there when I can and I play for our second team. It’s more a bit of fun,” she said. “It’s just nice to be able to put something back into the club.”