Rosa Simkin, the 2026 recipient of the MCC Female Young Broadcaster of the Year award, earned the competition’s top prize by taking part in Sky Sports’ live broadcast of the Hundred final at Lord’s on Sunday. During the innings break of both the women’s and men’s finals, Rosa conducted quick‑fire interviews with Trent Rockets captain Georgia Adams and Manchester Super Giants star Noor Ahmad, moments that were captured as each side went on to claim their respective titles. At just 18, Rosa also contributed bite‑size highlight reels for Sky Sports Cricket’s digital platforms and produced content for the official Lord’s Instagram account, offering viewers a behind‑the‑scenes look at her day on the production floor. The broadcast team encouraged viewers to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience.

Before the big day, Rosa visited Sky’s headquarters in Osterley, where she was given a comprehensive tour of the broadcast operation. She observed how cricket coverage is directed from the studio, got hands‑on exposure to the various components of live sport production, and explored the Sky Sports News studios.

During the visit, she met Jo Osborne, Sky’s head of women’s sport, for an insightful discussion about navigating a career in the industry. Rosa then wrapped up her preparation with a final briefing from the cricket production crew ahead of the Hundred final.

Now in its third edition, the MCC Young Female Broadcaster competition—backed by Sky Sports and the women‑focused cricket charity Take Her Lead—aims to broaden opportunities for young women who aspire to careers in sports broadcasting. The initiative seeks to discover and nurture the next wave of female talent in cricket media. The competition attracted a record 50 entries this year, the highest number to date. A judging panel that included Sky Sports’ director of cricket and NFL, Bryan Henderson; MCC chief marketing officer Katie Maier; Take Her Lead founder and former England cricketer Isa Guha; and veteran broadcasters Alison Mitchell and Georgie Heath, praised the high quality of the showreel submissions and selected Rosa as the winner.

Rosa is a journalism student at Cardiff University and hails from Warwickshire. Her passion for cricket began at age nine when her sister Mae took her to Edgbaston to watch a Warwickshire match.

She earned ECB media accreditation at 16 and launched her own platform, Rosa Talks Ball, while still in school. Since then, she has co‑hosted and produced the weekly Two Tiers Deep podcast with Northamptonshire all‑rounder Chloe Hill, a show that delves into every tier of the women’s game. She also founded TIERED, the first monthly magazine dedicated exclusively to women’s county cricket. Reflecting on her experience at the Hundred final, Rosa said, "Broadcasting live from the field with the Sky Sports team was an unforgettable experience.

This competition, supported by the MCC, Sky Sports and Take Her Lead, has already opened doors for me—from filming behind the scenes at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge with Take Her Lead, to visiting Sky HQ, conducting media interviews, hosting podcasts, and ultimately sharing the stage at Lord’s with the Sky Sports crew. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next in the world of broadcasting." Bryan Henderson, Sky Sports’ director of cricket and NFL, added, "We are delighted to be part of this fantastic initiative again, especially after seeing a record 50 entries this year, which highlights the competition’s growing importance. Over the past three years, the programme has helped launch the careers of several talented women in sports broadcasting. Rosa is a genuine talent, and we were proud to feature her on‑screen for our Hundred final coverage." Isa Guha, founder of Take Her Lead, commented, "Rosa has consistently demonstrated talent, curiosity and professionalism throughout the programme.

We have no doubt she has a very bright future ahead, and we look forward to continuing our support as she progresses in her broadcasting career."