The 14-year-old has played friendlies for Uppingham Town this summer and recently took three wickets in her first league game for the club.

Rachel, who lives in Bisbrooke, has been playing against boys for a couple of seasons and she has taken the step up to adult cricket in her stride.

She said: "When I walk on to the pitch the other team think I am going to be rubbish. When I play for the Under 13s the boys don't like it when I get them out and the Under 15 teams hate it even more."

Last month Rachel made her debut for Uppingham in the Grantham and Melton Cricket Association league.

She responded by taking three wickets for 25 runs against Syston Town, including the wicket of Steve Punchard, who she got out after he had scored a century.

"They congratulated me afterwards and said 'well bowled'," said Rachel, who also plays for the Leicestershire county girls cricket team.

"I don't try any harder when I'm bowling against the men. I just enjoy bowling and taking wickets."

Girls are allowed to play in junior age group teams up to two years younger than they are so Rachel has been able to play alongside her 11-year-old brother Jamie for Uppingham Under 13s.

Mum Tricia is proud to watch her son and daughter playing cricket together.

She said: "We went to watch them play at Market Deeping recently and I heard one of their players say 'they've got a girl playing for them so they can't be very good.

"Then she started bowling and I heard someone say 'blimey she's quick'.

"It's funny when she plays with the boys because when one of them takes a wicket they jump all over each other celebrating but when Rachel gets a wicket they just go up to her and shake her hand."

Stamford Girl's School pupil Rachel, who also plays for Rutland Hockey Club, caught the cricketing bug on family trips to Uppingham Town Cricket Club. Dad Charles turns out for the second team and he began coaching her.

She recalled: "I always joined in when they were practising it but I never really enjoyed it at first. I liked more exciting sports like hockey and gymnastics."

Rachel's experience of vaulting in the gym helped establish a consistent run-up to the wicket when she started bowling.

Her speed was recently timed at 76km per hour, which equates to 50mph.

Though she loves to bowl and field, Rachel is not as keen on batting, especially when the boys and the men don't make any allowances for her being a girl.

She would love to be a role model for other girls taking up the game. Rachel added: "My friends all go horse riding and none of them like cricket. I wish more girls would play cricket.

"I want to keep playing and I represent the England ladies' team one day."