Rosa Simkin, the 2026 recipient of the MCC Female Young Broadcaster of the Year award, earned the competition's top prize by joining Sky Sports' live broadcast team for the climactic Hundred final held at Lord's on Sunday. During the innings break of both the women's and men's championship matches, Rosa conducted rapid-fire interviews with key players, including Georgia Adams of the Trent Rockets and Noor Ahmad of the Manchester Super Giants, each of whom later helped their side secure the title. At just 18 years old, Rosa also contributed bite‑size highlight reels for Sky Sports Cricket's digital platforms and produced content for Lord's official Instagram account, offering fans a behind‑the‑scenes glimpse of her day working alongside the production crew.
Her involvement gave viewers a fresh, youthful perspective on the event and demonstrated the practical skills she has honed through the MCC programme. Before the final, Rosa spent a day at Sky's Osterley headquarters, where she was given an insider's tour of the broadcast operation. She observed how cricket coverage is orchestrated from the studio, interacted with the various components of live‑sport production, and explored the Sky Sports News studios. The experience also included a one‑on‑one conversation with Jo Osborne, Sky's head of women's sport, who shared valuable advice on navigating a career in sports media.
Rosa then joined a final prep session with the cricket production team to fine‑tune her role for the live broadcast. The MCC Young Female Broadcaster competition, now in its third year, is backed by Sky Sports and the cricket‑focused charity Take Her Lead. Its mission is to broaden opportunities for young women who aspire to careers in sports broadcasting, while identifying and nurturing the next wave of female talent in cricket media. This year the competition attracted a record 50 entries, 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 seasoned broadcasters Alison Mitchell and Georgie Heath, praised the quality of the showreels and unanimously 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. By sixteen she had already earned ECB media accreditation and launched her own platform, Rosa Talks Ball, while still in secondary school. She later co‑hosted and produced the weekly "Two Tiers Deep" podcast with Northamptonshire cricketer Chloe Hill, a series that delves into every tier of the women's game. In addition, she founded TIERED, the first monthly magazine dedicated exclusively to women's county cricket, further cementing her role as a champion for the sport.
Reflecting on her experience at the Hundred final, Rosa said, "Broadcasting live from the field with the Sky Sports team was an absolutely 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 headquarters, 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 thrilled to be part of this outstanding initiative again, especially after seeing a record 50 entries this year, which underscores the competition's growing significance.
Over the past three years the programme has helped launch several talented women into the sports broadcasting arena. Rosa is a genuine talent, and we were proud to have her on‑screen for our Hundred final coverage." Isa Guha, founder of Take Her Lead, remarked, "Rosa has consistently demonstrated talent, curiosity and professionalism throughout the programme. We have no doubt she has an incredibly bright future ahead and we look forward to continuing our support on her broadcasting journey." The Hundred final, now broadcast live on Sky Sports, showcased thrilling moments from both the women's and men's contests, with each side ultimately lifting their respective trophies.
Sky Sports also highlighted the latest Hundred videos, key match moments, and upcoming deals, while promoting its flexible streaming options that require no long‑term contract. Through initiatives like the MCC Young Female Broadcaster competition, Sky Sports and its partners aim to keep expanding the pipeline of skilled women in cricket media, ensuring that the voices and perspectives of the next generation are represented on screens worldwide.
Rosa Simkin's achievement stands as a testament to the power of mentorship, opportunity, and dedication in shaping the future of sports broadcasting.