CLARE CONNOR has vowed England's women cricketers will not wilt under the hostile bowling during their New Year tour Down Under.

The 23-year-old Brighton College English teacher, who has again been selected as vice-captain of the squad, anticipates Australia and New Zealand's bowlers to be quicker than anything this country can produce.

But she expects that to suit the England batsmen against the world's two top-ranked countries on the hard wickets.

"We're considered as underdogs but won't consider that we are," said Connor.

"The squad are a positive group of girls and will only think about winning.

"The bowling will be very fast, but we can cope with that. The hard wickets will suit our batting and we can hold our own with the ball."

England are competing in a triangular series against the two countries, which starts on Saturday, January 29, against Australia in Sydney.

And the England squad will have to compete against players at the height of their season in roasting conditions.

New Zealand put paid to England's World Cup defence two years ago in the semi-final at Madras and Australia won the one-day series here last summer.

But the England players have been preparing for the winter trip with weekend squad meetings at Trent Bridge and individual sessions with coaches Paul Farbrace and Graham Dilley.

Left-arm Sussex spinner Connor, who has five Test and 24 one-day international caps, said: "We've just signed a fitness contract with the ECB, which is a new innovation where we're all given individual targets to meet by the time we travel out.

"Our progress is monitored and we also will be having sessions with a sports psychologist to help us with our preparation."

Women's cricket at national team level has become much more professional since it merged with the ECB 18 months ago.

As well as the fitness programme, the squad are financially supported through the board's sponsorship deals which also aid the men's side.

But the women still have to combine their cricket with full-time jobs.

"Thankfully most employers are understanding, but some of the girls have had to give up their jobs to go on tour in the past," said Connor.

"Brighton College has been brilliant about it because I'm going to end up missing three weeks of term.

"It's difficult to juggle a job with all the training that's required and it's becoming increasingly harder, but that's where good time management skills come into play."

Connor was appointed vice-captain earlier this year for the Test series against India and is being groomed to take over from skipper Karen Smithies after next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

She celebrated her promotion in the team by taking a hat-trick during the one-day series.

Women's cricket in England has quadrupled in the last year with 5,000 playing, but Australia are still ahead of the pack with 20,000 players.

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