Somerset's Fran Wilson confident of Ashes success

Wilson made her England debut on the recent tour of Sri Lanka

Somerset batter Fran Wilson believes the England women's team will retain the Ashes when they travel to Australia in the new year.

The 18-year-old from Malmesbury was picked for the trip to Australia after impressing on her debut tour to Sri Lanka in November.

"I think it's quite evenly matched so it'll be a good test for both teams," Wilson told BBC Sport.

"But I still think we'll come out on top. We're pretty confident."

The University of Bath student had a nightmare debut in Sri Lanka getting out for a golden duck in England's first one-day international match.

Sri Lanka was amazing but I think in the back of my mind I always wanted to go to Australia for the Ashes tour Fran Wilson

But after that her performances improved sufficiently in the Twenty20 matches to earn her a call-up for the Ashes tour.

"Obviously I had a bit of a dodgy start but I was really pleased to go out in the Twenty20s and do really well," she said.

"Sri Lanka was amazing but I think in the back of my mind I always wanted to go to Australia for the Ashes tour.

"Other than the World Cup, it's the pinnacle of any cricketer's career, so it's amazing.

"It's such an historic event because there's hardly any Test matches in women's cricket."

England will play three one-day matches and five Twenty20 internationals before defending the women's Ashes in a four-day Test at Sydney's Bankstown Oval.