FRAN Wilson is hoping that England can use the pressure of being the home team in the Women’s Cricket World Cup to their advantage.

The 25-year-old, from Minety, was named in Mark Robinson’s squad to play in the tournament, which begins next month, and the Western Storm ace is looking forward to the whole event.

“You don’t realise just how much the crowds make a difference,” Wilson told the Gazette & Herald.

“Since the game has gone professional we are getting larger crowds and that does help get you pumped. Not many people get the privilege to play in a home world cup so I am pretty lucky.

“There is the pressure of the home crowd, but if we can turn that in to a positive then hopefully we can do well.”

Wilson, who has been training at the ECB’s performance centre in Loughborough as preparations for the tournament heat up, is looking forward to returning to Taunton when England face Sri Lanka in Somerset on July 2.

“Taunton is a special place for me as that is where it all begun,” said ex-Somerset player Wilson, who now plays her county cricket for Middlesex.

“It is generally a great wicket to bat on, but they have made a few changes to the wicket over the last couple of years to make it a little more bowler friendly.

“I’m also looking forward to playing at Bristol because a lot of the girls that I coach will come along and watch.”

Wilson found out that she had secured her place in the 15-women squad last Thursday but admits she was a little nervous prior to her meeting with coach Robinson.

“I was okay the night before, obviously finding out (whether I’d been selected) was on my mind,” she said.

“I was trying to avoid Mark Robinson a little bit because he was going around having meetings with everyone – at that point I didn’t want to know, but it is great that I have got my place in the squad.

“I know that my dad (Mike) and my brother (Chris) will be coming along to watch me.”

England get their tournament underway on June 24 when they face India at Derby.