ARRAN Thompson, the England international women's cricketer from Barnoldswick who has served her apprenticeship with Thornton and Rolls-Royce, has helped to re-write the record books with a marvellous performance for her country in India.

The 20-year-old helped to lift the morale of a beleaguered England team by sharing in a world-record opening stand of 200 in the three-day Test against India at K D Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow, a far cry from the days spent developing her technique from the age of 10 in the Craven League and more recently in the Ribblesdale League.

The record partnership was all the more remarkable given England's struggles on the tour, which has brought only one victory in the opening warm-up game of the trip and has also included a record low score in one of the three one-day internationals, all of which were lost.

In partnership with Caroline Atkins, the Loughborough University student set up the chance of a record on the first day of the test by batting through for an unbeaten 150 stand.

It was slow and painstaking stuff, but it forced the Indian attack onto the back-foot for the first time in the series and set-up a nerve wracking night for her mum Val and dad Richard back in West Craven as they waited for news of the record bid.

The stand finally ended at 200, with Arran making 85.

"I was up at 4.20am trying in vain to find out on the teletext whether they had made. And then again at 7am," said Mrs Thompson.

"I eventually got to know at 10.30am. To be honest communications haven't been all that bright because the mobile they are sharing isn't operating as well as it could, but we've managed to talk most days from the team hotel and she rang at close of play.

"Obviously she was very pleased, although there was some disappointment that they both didn't make it to hundreds.

"Reaching that kind of total demands a lot of concentration, but Arran's a girl who really gets the bit between her teeth when she has to. She's a very determined girl.

"We're pleased for the team. They're a young set who are gaining experience and we've always thought they were better than the scores have suggested. Hopefully this performance will give everyone a boost and they can build on it.

"From Arran's point of view, it's been a good trip. She made her best score of 65 no in the opening game against Women's Cricket Association of India and also took her first test wicket. Obviously we're very thrilled for her and the team and for Caroline, who shared the stand with her.

"How long the record will stand is impossible to tell, but both records have stood for quite a while."

In fact the world record was set in 1990 by two Australian girls, which underlines the calibre of the achievement.

A flood of calls arrived at her parents' home from well-wishers on Tuesday as news of the success filtered through.

Nowhere will the success be more welcome than at Rolls-Royce CC, where their new recruit carried off the club's batting prize in her first season at the club. As events in India have confirmed, she may be a young woman, but she's a very gifted one and a hard act for the local lads to follow.