Not all 16-year-olds are confident enough to talk to the media.

But Chloe Skelton was happy to talk to The Local Answer – her first ever interview – about her burgeoning cricket career and dealt with the questions as confidently as she does any bowler she has faced over the past few seasons.

It helps, of course, if you’ve got something to talk about and Chloe is clearly one of Gloucestershire’s rising stars.

A big-hitting opening bat, Chloe has just been selected by the county to go on a girls’ under-17 tour to Sri Lanka in February.

That’s a big trip by anyone’s standards – the furthest Chloe has ever been is Berlin – but she can’t wait to step on the plane on 6th February.

“I’m looking forward to it so much, it’s so exciting,” she said. “I’ve never played outside this country so it will be a real test. The pitches will be different and the cricket will be different. It will be good fun.”

Chloe talks in the same uncomplicated way that she bats.

“I like to hit the ball as far as I can,” she explained, “I prefer to hit fours and sixes rather than get ones and twos.”

And the Hartpury College student has certainly managed to smack the ball a long way on more than a few occasions when turning out for Newent men’s 3rd XI, the club just down the road from her Longhope home and for whom she plays when not turning out for Gloucestershire.

“My favourite shot is the pull shot and I’ve cleared the Newent pavilion quite a few times,” she laughed.

“I prefer playing with the girls but playing with the men is fun as well. It’s a challenge.”

What’s even more remarkable, considering she’s already rubbing shoulders with and against the finest cricketers of her age in the country, is that she only started playing the game three years ago.

But those three years have certainly changed her life in a big way.

“I just love cricket,” she said. “It’s a great sport. I like the competitiveness of it. I like the fact that you are always involved whether batting, bowling or fielding. There are so many different areas that you can apply yourself.

“You need to be confident as well as committed and you’ve got to concentrate at all times. One slip-up and it can change a game.”

While batting is Chloe’s stronger suit, she also bowls right-arm medium pace. She enjoys fielding, too, which is not the case with every teenager.

“I don’t want to sound big-headed but I’m a pretty good fielder,” she said.

There was always a chance that Chloe would play sport of some sort because dad Steve was a decent rugby player back in the day, playing for Drybrook, Cinderford and Berry Hill in the centre or as a full-back.

He’s long since packed away his shoulder pads and gumshield however and recently started playing cricket at Newent.

“I’d never really played before,” he chuckled. “Chloe got me into it and she taught me quite a lot.”

You can add ‘teaching’ to the growing list of qualities that ex-Dene Magna pupil Chloe clearly has, because after starting in Newent 3rds, dad was promoted to the club’s 2nds last season and ended the summer as the top runscorer!

Not that Steve is comparing his achievements with those of his daughter.

“She’s won awards every year since she joined Newent,” said her proud dad. “She’s well established in men’s cricket and is challenging herself all the time. She’s always setting the bar higher and is very dedicated.

“When she’s playing for the Newent, the ball has ended up in the crops a few times.

“It’s been a meteoric rise, a very, very steep upward curve. She first played for the county with the under-15s and is now one of the more established players in the county team.

“She lives and breathes cricket.”

So how did she get involved in the sport?

“It was through her cousin Ellie Pensom,” said Steve. “She wanted to play cricket at Newent and asked Chloe if she’d come along and support her. She did and ended up really enjoying it.”

That love of all things cricket has not rubbed off on Chloe’s younger sister Lucy but eight-year-old Samuel, who is part of the club’s All Stars programme, which encourages youngsters to take up the sport, is getting some expert tips from his big sister.

He’s got a long way to go, of course, to match Chloe who, despite her many achievements already, is only at the start of her cricketing journey.

“I want to go all the way,” she said. “I want to try to pursue a career in cricket. I like to think I’ve got a chance.”

And if everything goes to plan, where in the world would she most like to go and play?

“Australia,” came the immediate reply. “I’d love to play there, that would so cool. The hot climate, the famous grounds... that would be lovely.”

And if she did get to play at those famous grounds like the Gabba, Sydney and Melbourne, there would inevitably be many media requests for interviews that she’d have to deal with.

So how did this interview go?

“It was very good, thank you!” she laughed.

Good manners as well! Chloe has surely got every chance.