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 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, as each side eventually clinched its title.
At just 18, Rosa also curated a series of short 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 glimpse of her role on the production crew. The experience was complemented by a prior visit to Sky's Osterley headquarters, where she observed the inner workings of cricket broadcasting from the studio floor. There she learned how live cricket coverage is directed, sampled various facets of live‑sport production, toured the Sky Sports News studios, and more.
During the Osterley tour, Rosa sat down with Jo Osborne, Sky's head of women's sport, for an insightful conversation about navigating a career in sports media. She then participated in a final prep session with the cricket production team to fine‑tune her on‑air responsibilities for the upcoming Hundred final. Now in its third edition, the MCC Young Female Broadcaster competition—backed by Sky Sports and the cricket charity Take Her Lead—aims to broaden pathways for young women who aspire to careers in sports broadcasting. The initiative seeks to uncover, nurture, and promote the next wave of female talent within cricket commentary and production.
The competition attracted a record 50 entries this year, the highest number to date. A judging panel comprising 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 quality of the show‑reel submissions and unanimously selected Rosa as the winner.
Rosa is currently studying journalism at Cardiff University and hails from Warwickshire. Her passion for cricket sparked at age nine when her sister Mae took her to Edgbaston to watch a Warwickshire match. By 16, she had secured ECB media accreditation and launched her own platform, "Rosa Talks Ball," while still in secondary school. She later co‑hosted and produced the weekly podcast "Two Tiers Deep" with Northamptonshire cricketer Chloe Hill, a series that delves into every tier of the women's game.
Additionally, she founded "TIERED," the first monthly magazine dedicated exclusively to women's county cricket. Reflecting on her day at The Hundred final, Rosa said, "Broadcasting live from the field with the Sky Sports team was an unforgettable experience. This competition, in partnership with the MCC 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 broadcasting world!" Bryan Henderson, Sky Sports' director of cricket and NFL, added, "We were thrilled to support this brilliant initiative again, especially with a record 50 entries demonstrating its growing importance.
Over the past three years, the programme has helped talented women establish themselves in sports broadcasting. Rosa is a genuine talent, and we were proud to feature her on‑screen during our coverage of The Hundred final." Isa Guha, founder of Take Her Lead, praised Rosa's performance, stating, "She has consistently shown talent, curiosity, and professionalism throughout the programme. We have no doubt she has an incredibly bright future ahead, and we look forward to continuing to support her broadcasting journey." The Hundred final coverage on Sky Sports also featured a range of other cricket content, including the latest highlight videos, key moments, and information about streaming options without a contract.
The competition continues to serve as a catalyst for young women eager to break into the world of sports media, offering mentorship, hands‑on experience, and a platform to showcase their abilities to a global audience.