SHE shies away from the comparison, but Lauren Cheatle is treading a similar path to superstar Ellyse Perry.
Already dubbed "Ellyse Perry 2.0" by her teammates, Cheatle is in line to make her international debut at the age of 17 after being selected in the Southern Stars' Twenty20 squad for their upcoming series against India. 
Like Perry, who made her inter-national debut at 16, Bowral-born Cheatle is a pace-bowling all-rounder who made her first appearance for the NSW Breakers at 15.
"It's incredibly humbling being compared to such a great ambassador for women's sport and someone who has done so much for the game," Cheatle said. "If I could do anything that Ellyse has done over her career I'd be more than happy." Though rivals in the Women's Big Bash, Cheatle and Perry play together for NSW and Perry, 25, has been hugely impressed by her teammate.
"She's extremely talented and -skilful but also her composure, confidence and self-belief are huge attributes for her," Perry said.
"From the first game she played she was totally unfazed by the occasion, so it's really wonderful to see her do so well and earn her -selection in the Aussie team." The call-up came as a total shock to Cheatle, who is in the middle of her first season of T20 cricket.
She hasn't had much opportunity with the bat for the Thunder, but her ability to swing the ball into right-handers has been hugely effective.
"I'm just really excited to be part of this squad and I'm really eager to learn off all the experienced heads in the side," Cheatle said.
"It was really a shock, I didn't expect it at all. I kept asking if it was real and I kept saying thank you. I missed half the call because I was so excited." Cheatle will fit in the three T20 games this month before she begins her final year at school, but first-up is Saturday's double-header between the Sixers and Thunder at the SCG.
She is looking forward to the occasion, though combating Perry is going to take some planning."She's one of the best players in the world, so we have lots of plans," Cheatle said.