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 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 ultimately secured its respective 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 role within the production crew.
The experience gave her a unique perspective on how a major cricket event is packaged for television and social media audiences. Earlier in the week, Rosa visited Sky's headquarters in Osterley to observe the inner workings of broadcast production. She shadowed the studio directors responsible for steering live cricket coverage, toured the Sky Sports News studios, and participated in hands‑on sessions that demonstrated the various technical and editorial elements that bring a live sport broadcast to life. The visit culminated in 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 attended a final preparation meeting with the cricket production team to fine‑tune her on‑air responsibilities for the Hundred 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 purpose is to broaden pathways for young women who aspire to careers in sports broadcasting and to uncover fresh female talent within cricket media. This year the competition attracted a record 50 entries, the highest number to date.
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 seasoned broadcasters Alison Mitchell and Georgie Heath—praised the overall quality of the showreels and selected Rosa as the winner. Rosa is a journalism student at Cardiff University and hails from Warwickshire.
Her love affair with cricket began at age nine when her sister Mae took her to Edgbaston to watch a Warwickshire match. By sixteen, she had earned ECB media accreditation and launched her own platform, Rosa Talks Ball, while still in 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. 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, 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 eager to see where this journey leads me next in the world of broadcasting." Bryan Henderson, Sky Sports' director of cricket and NFL, added, "We are delighted to support this outstanding initiative once again.
The record 50 entries this year underscore the competition's 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 feature her on‑screen for our Hundred final coverage." Isa Guha, founder of Take Her Lead, commented, "Rosa has demonstrated exceptional talent, curiosity, and professionalism throughout the programme. We have no doubt she has a brilliant future ahead and look forward to continuing our support on her broadcasting journey." The Hundred final broadcast on Sky Sports showcased the tournament's most thrilling moments, with both the women's and men's finals delivering high‑octane cricket that kept viewers glued to their screens.
Sky Sports also highlighted a range of other cricket content, from live matches to exclusive video highlights, and promoted its flexible streaming options that require no long‑term contract. The partnership between MCC, Sky Sports, and Take Her Lead continues to foster a pipeline of skilled female broadcasters, ensuring that the voices shaping cricket's future are diverse and representative.
Rosa's involvement at Lord's marks a significant milestone not only for her personal career but also for the broader mission of increasing female representation in sports media. Her journey—from a nine‑year‑old fan at Edgbaston to a live on‑air broadcaster at one of cricket's most iconic venues—illustrates the impact that targeted development programmes can have on emerging talent. As the competition looks ahead to its next edition, organizers hope to attract even more aspiring broadcasters, further enriching the cricket broadcasting landscape with fresh perspectives and innovative storytelling.