Laura Julyen Harper is an international cricketer who played for the England women's cricket team. At the time of her debut, she was the youngest player to have played for England.

She made her Test cricket

Women's Test cricket

Women's Test cricket is the longest format of women's cricket and is the gender equivalent to men's Test cricket. Matches comprise four-innings and are held over a maximum of four days between two of the leading cricketing nations...

 debut against Australia at Shenley in 2001 and last appeared against India in Delhi in 2005. In 6 Test matches she scored 182 runs at 22.75 with a best of 31 and took 11 wickets bowling off spin at 35.63 with a best of 5 for 66.

She has played 25 One Day Internationals, scoring 195 runs at 15.15 with a top score of 41 and taking 33 wickets at the excellent average of 16.3 with a best analysis of 5 for 12. She made her One-day International

Women's One-day International cricket

Women's One Day International cricket is the limited overs form of women's cricket. Matches are scheduled for 50 overs, equivalent to the men's game. The first women's ODIs were played in 1973, as part of the first Women's World Cup which was held in England...

 debut against the Netherlands in 1999 in the Women's European Championships at the age of 15 and won the player of the match award for a remarkable spell of 5 for 12. She also played in the World Cup in New Zealand in December 2000.

She earned her first international call-ups whilst studying for her GCSE

General Certificate of Secondary Education

The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...

 examinations at Truro School

Truro School

Truro School is a mixed independent school located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, UK. The current Headmaster is Paul Smith. Deputy Headteachers are Nick Fisher and Anita Firth . Phil Brewer is Assistant Head and Head of Sixth Form...

 and played whilst studying A-levels at Truro College

Truro College

Truro College is a tertiary institution located in Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. Following an exchange of governing bodies, Truro College merged with Penwith College in April 2008—the combined institution is known as Truro and Penwith College, though the sites retain their original names...

, Cornwall

Cornwall

Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...

. She played her regional cricket for Somerset women

Somerset County Cricket Club

Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...

 from 2001 to 2006. She played with the Braves from 2002 to 2003, the Super Strikers from 2004 to 2005 and the Emeralds in 2006 in the 'Super Fours' elite women competition. She also appeared for England under-21s Women in 2004.

She started playing cricket aged eight and began bowling off spin at ten. She played with Cornwall boys U-11s and progressed through the age groups, touring South Africa in 1997. She was selected for an England boys U-15 trial but chose to play for Somerset in the Women's County Championship

Women's County Championship

The Women's County Championship is the women's domestic cricket league in the British Isles...

instead.