Rosa Simkin, who earned the prestigious MCC Female Young Broadcaster of the Year award for 2026, experienced the pinnacle of her competition prize when she joined Sky Sports' live broadcast team for The Hundred final at Lord's on Sunday. The event offered her a unique platform to demonstrate her broadcasting skills on one of cricket's most watched stages. During the innings break of both the women's and men's finals, Rosa conducted rapid-fire interviews with key players.
She spoke to Georgia Adams of the Trent Rockets and Noor Ahmad of the Manchester Super Giants, capturing their thoughts as each side celebrated their eventual triumphs. These succinct conversations added a fresh, youthful perspective to the coverage and highlighted Rosa's ability to engage athletes in high‑pressure moments. In addition to the on‑field interviews, the 18‑year‑old presenter contributed to Sky Sports Cricket's digital output. She curated a series of bite‑size highlight reels that were distributed across the network's online channels, and she produced behind‑the‑scenes content for Lord's official Instagram account.
Through these pieces, viewers were given a glimpse into a day in the life of a young broadcaster operating within a major sports media operation. Prior to the final, Rosa visited Sky's headquarters in Osterley, where she observed the inner workings of a live sports production.
She toured the Sky Sports News studios, sat in the control rooms where cricket coverage is directed, and learned about the myriad technical and editorial decisions that shape a live broadcast. The experience gave her a comprehensive understanding of studio direction, graphics integration, commentary coordination, and the fast‑paced workflow required to deliver a seamless viewing experience.
During her visit, Rosa also met Jo Osborne, Sky's head of women's sport. The conversation proved invaluable as Osborne shared insights on navigating a traditionally male‑dominated industry, building a personal brand, and leveraging opportunities to advance a career in sports media. The meeting was followed by a final preparation session with Sky's cricket production team, where Rosa rehearsed cues, reviewed interview scripts, and familiarised herself with the on‑field logistics for the upcoming final.
The MCC Young Female Broadcaster competition, now in its third year, is backed by Sky Sports and the cricket charity Take Her Lead. Its mission is to broaden pathways for young women who aspire to careers in sports broadcasting, while simultaneously identifying and nurturing emerging female talent within cricket media.
This year, the competition attracted a record 50 entries, reflecting growing interest and the importance of the initiative. The 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 broadcasters Alison Mitchell and Georgie Heath—was impressed by the high calibre of the showreel submissions.
After thorough deliberation, they selected Rosa as the winner. Rosa is a journalism student at Cardiff University and hails from Warwickshire.
Her passion for cricket was sparked at age nine when her sister Mae took her to Edgbaston to watch Warwickshire play. By sixteen, she had secured ECB media accreditation and launched her own platform, Rosa Talks Ball, while still in school. She later co‑hosted and produced the weekly podcast Two Tiers Deep with Northamptonshire player Chloe Hill, a series that explores every tier of the women's game. Additionally, she founded TIERED, the first monthly magazine dedicated exclusively to women's county cricket, further demonstrating her commitment to amplifying women's voices in the sport.
Reflecting on her experience at The Hundred final, Rosa said, "Getting the chance to broadcast live on the field with the Sky Sports team was a truly incredible experience and one I won't forget. This competition with MCC, Sky Sports and Take Her Lead is already opening doors for me, from filming behind the scenes at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge with Take Her Lead, to media interviews, podcasts, and, of course, my ultimate prize at Lord's with the Sky Sports team. I can't wait to see where it takes me next in the broadcasting world!" Bryan Henderson, Sky Sports' director of cricket and NFL, added, "Sky Sports was once again delighted to be involved in this brilliant initiative, and it was fantastic to see a record 50 entries this year showing just how important this competition is.
The legacy over the three years has led to some very talented women establishing themselves in the sports broadcasting world. Rosa is a real talent, and we were proud to have her as part of our on‑screen team for our coverage of The Hundred final." Isa Guha, founder of Take Her Lead, praised Rosa's performance, stating, "Rosa has shown real talent, curiosity and professionalism throughout the programme, and we have no doubt she has an incredibly bright future ahead. We look forward to continuing to support her on her broadcasting journey."