You may have seen people play cricket throughout Hong Kong. Two teams of players wear white. One player bowls (throws) a hard red ball. Another player tries to hit it with a wooden bat. Traditionally, cricket was played by men only but Mariko is helping to change this. This is what she told English Campus.

My father started teaching me about two years ago. I also took classes at Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC). My brother Toby, who is two years older than me, also started playing then, so it was fun to do it together. I’m better than him though!!!

I practice a lot with my father and brother. That has helped a lot. I also play for a women's team, the Cavaliers. I like team sports more for the camaraderie. It's usually a men's game but more and more girls are playing.

National team selectors saw me play and asked me to go to Bangladesh with the Hong Kong women's team. I am very lucky at the HKCC because I have a fairy godmother - her name is Anita Miles and she is the convener of women's cricket Hong Kong. She encourages girls to play and arranges coaching sessions, matches and socials. Because of her guidance and inspiration I trained hard and got the results I wanted. I trained nearly every day for three months. I spent my life in cricket gear!

The team spent 12 days in Bangladesh. This was a tough tour, but I'm very glad to have gone. We played four games against the Bangladesh national team who are really good. We played in huge test grounds. It was scary but great for team bonding.

It isn't a dangerous game if you concentrate. It's only dangerous if you are facing one of my fast bowls. Ha! Ha! Like any sport, there are precautions one should take - be fit, stretch before a match and pay attention to what's going on. The ball is very hard and if it hits you, it can really hurt - even kill you! I wear a helmet and other protection when playing.

I hope to see you playing cricket soon!

Mariko studies at Island School on Hong Kong Island. Her father is British and her mother is Japanese.

Visit the website of the Hong Kong Cricket Club and Kowloon Cricket Club if you want to learn to play. They have regular coaching sessions for beginners.

Mariko with her father, mother and brother