PLYMOUTH cricket prospect Amara Carr is busy putting the finishing touches to her preparations before heading off to South Africa at the end of the month as part of the England youth set-up.

The city schoolgirl is joined on the nine-day trip to Cape Town by her Plympton Ladies and Devon team-mate Jodie Dibble.

The teenagers are included in England girls' under-17, newly-created development squad which will play five matches between March 31 and April 8.

Both girls are 15 years old with Carr attending Hele's School, at Plympton, while Sidmouth-based Dibble studies at Taunton School.

The pair play for Plympton Ladies in the South West Championship, although Jodie hails from Sidmouth and still plays her junior cricket with her home club.

Over the winter they have attended sessions in preparation for the tour at the National Cricket Centre at Loughborough University.

They also attended sessions at Devon's cricket centre as members of the county's Emerging Player Programme.

Amara's dad, cricket coach Warren Carr, who has overseen the rise of Plymstock's Heather Knight to the England women's set-up, said his tour afforded a great opportunity for his daughter.

"Despite both going to school and living in different areas, the girls are friends having come through the county ranks together," said Carr, whose son James is presently training to become a coach.

"They are both very good prospects.

"Amara is a top-order bat and wicketkeeper, while Jodie is a left-arm quick bowler and middle-order bat.

"Jodie has also captained the county's under-15 girls side.

"Amara has been invited to attend the final day of the England Academy Training camp to spend the day working with England 'keeping coach, Bruce French.

"I think Amara's passion for the game of cricket came from her brother, James, and not from me.

"But I'm sure they'll have a great time and will both benefit from the experience."

Former England skipper Clare Connor, now head of women's cricket at the ECB, echoed Carr's sentiments.

She said: "The players have a wonderful opportunity ahead of them.

"This is the first time we have compiled an under-17 development squad and, after a six-month block of winter training, it will be great to see them compete."

The intensive nine-day programme will include specially designed age group matches against Lancashire U19s, Western Province U19s and Bristol Phoenix.

The first of the tourists' Easter fixtures is on March 31 between England U17s and Western Province U19s at the Frank Reid Field.

England U17 squad: Georgia Adams (Sussex), Thea Brookes (Worcestershire), Amara Carr (Devon), Deanna Cooper (Kent), Aylish Cranstone (Hampshire) Jodie Dibble (Devon), Cordelia Griffith (Essex), Alex Hartley (Lancashire), Sophie Luff (Somerset), Gwenan Mai Davies (Wales), Lucy Maxwell (Warwickshire), Lauren Parfitt (Wales), Carla Rudd, wicketkeeper (Sussex), Lizzie Russell (Warwickshire), Dee Tress (Kent).