Catriona Matthew will be the experienced hand in a European team packed with rookies for the defence of the Solheim Cup in Colorado later this month.

The 12-strong side for the biennial match with the USA features the English youngster Charley Hull, who played for GB&I in the amateur Curtis Cup at Nairn last year and is now set to become the youngest player in Solheim Cup history at the age of just 17.

Both the European and the USA sides were finalised after last night's conclusion of the Ricoh Women's British Open, which was won by the world No.2 Stacy Lewis.

While Matthew, a veteran of six previous cup contests, had long been assured of her place on the European team through the qualifying points list, Hull was handed one of four wildcards by team captain, Liselotte Neumann.

The Woburn rookie turned professional this year and finished runner-up in her first five events on the Ladies European Tour. Hull was also part of Europe's Junior Solheim Cup team that was captained by Neumann in Ireland two years ago.

"I find Charley energetic, fearless and I think she's just a great competitor and a great addition to the team," said Neumann, who believes her mix of youth and experience can help Europe win on American soil for the first time. "We've never won over there and it's a big challenge but I feel that this is really the team that's going to do it for us."

As well as Hull, Neumann's other captain's picks were Caroline Hedwall of Sweden, England's Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Italy's Gialia Sergas. The total number of rookies in the team will be six and, in addition to Hull, Ewart-Shadoff and Sergas, that number also includes Caroline Masson from Germany and the Spanish duo Carlota Ciganda and Beatriz Recari.

Matthew, one of five members of the 2011 winning team who are heading for the US, said: "It's one of my favourite weeks of the year. We have a new team with a lot of rookies but it is a good team."

Meg Mallon, the US captain, gave one of her two wildcards to Michelle Wie while Morgan Pressel's fourth- place finish in the Women's British Open saw her squeeze into the qualifying places.

European Solheim Cup team Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Carlota Ciganda (Spa), Catriona Matthew (Sco), Caroline Masson (Ger), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Karine Icher (Fra), Azahara Munoz (Spa), Charley Hull (Eng), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (Eng), Caroline Hedwall (Swe), Giulia Sergas (Ita)

United States Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, Brittany Lang, Lizette Salas, Morgan Pressel, Michelle Wie, Gerina Piller