Marylebone Cricket Club Launches Initiative to Nurture Female Cricket Broadcasting Talent
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), in collaboration with Sky Sports and Take Her Lead, has launched a groundbreaking competition to nurture and support the next generation of female cricket broadcasting talent. The winner of the “MCC’s Young Female Broadcaster of the Year” initiative will have the opportunity to join Sky Sports’ broadcast team for the highly anticipated Hundred Final at Lord’s.
This innovative program aims to expand opportunities for young women aspiring to forge careers in the cricket media, particularly in the field of broadcasting. The move comes in the wake of the remarkable growth in women’s cricket, as evident from the record-breaking attendances and TV audiences during last summer’s England vs Australia Ashes series, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
A distinguished panel, comprising representatives from MCC, Sky Sports, current broadcasters, and chaired by Isa Guha on behalf of Take Her Lead, will evaluate the entries and select a winner and five shortlisted runners-up.
The finalists will be invited to Lord’s on July 17 to meet the Sky and BBC teams involved in the live coverage of the England vs New Zealand Metro Bank Women’s T20 International.
The winning candidate will then be invited back to Lord’s on August 18 to be part of the Sky Sports team for their live broadcast of the Hundred Final. Additionally, the winner will have the opportunity to undergo training with Sky Sports and Take Her Lead in preparation for the prestigious event.
The competition is open to aspiring female cricket broadcasters between the ages of 18 and 24, who are encouraged to submit video or audio showreels showcasing their skills in match commentary, match reporting, or presenting.
This initiative is a testament to the joint commitment of MCC, Sky Sports, and Take Her Lead to fostering gender equality and inclusivity in cricket and sport. MCC, through its MCC Foundation Hubs program, is actively working to increase girls’ participation in the game, while Sky Sports has an unrivaled portfolio of women’s sport coverage, accounting for over 70% of all televised women’s sport in 2023.
Take Her Lead, established in 2022 by broadcaster and former England cricketer Isa Guha, aims to advance equity and inclusion, as well as increase participation for women and girls in all aspects of the sport.
Bryan Henderson, Director of Sky Sports Cricket, expressed the network’s enthusiasm to partner with Take Her Lead on this MCC-led initiative, stating their commitment to providing opportunities for women taking their first steps in the broadcast industry and looking forward to welcoming the winner to the Sky Sports team for the Hundred Final.
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