TASMANIAN Roar all-rounder Meg Phillips believes her upcoming winter playing county cricket will be beneficial to her both on and off the field.

Phillips, who turned 19 on Monday, is the first female recipient of the Adam Gilchrist Scholarship.

The scholarship, which is funded by the Lord Taverners, will allow the former Scotch Oakburn student from Evandale the opportunity to fulfil her dream of playing cricket in that part of the world.

‘‘It is a real honour,’’ Phillips said in Launceston yesterday.

‘‘It is an amazing opportunity and it just shows how much development is going into the women’s game that we are now getting opportunities like this [like male cricketers do].

‘‘I know that it is a very good competition over there, similar to the domestic standard here, so it will be a really good challenge for me.

‘‘I like that I’m going to go there and have to push myself to do really well against really good cricketers, and I think that is the best way to help myself as a cricketer.’’

In what will be her first trip overseas, Phillips, who has also played basketball for the Launceston Tornadoes, said England vice-captain Heather Knight [one of the Roar’s international players this summer] had given her plenty of words of advice about what to expect.

Fellow squad members Corrine Hall and Emily Smith are also likely to be playing county cricket.

Phillips, a right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler, made her debut for the Roar as a 16-year-old in 2011-12.

She is coming off her best season at domestic level, which includes an innings of 68 off 109 balls at the top of the order against the ACT.

The Roar had their best summer on record, winning six matches in the T20 competition to finish in the top four, and picking up two wins in the 50-over league.

‘‘I feel I started to mature as a player and feel more confident out on the field this summer and I am starting to feel at home and comfortable and finally starting to contribute,’’ she said. ‘‘Being able to go on this trip is going to help further that, and I’m going to gain more experience.’’