Imagine stepping onto the same pitch as your heroes. Training with them. Learning from them. Even interviewing them.
That’s exactly what The Rookie, a collaboration between Take Her Lead and The Hundred, is all about.
Now in its third year, The Rookie is part of our drive and commitment to make cricket a place where young girls can fulfil their potential and thrive, within the game and beyond. This isn’t just a behind-the-scenes tour, it’s an all-access experience that lets eight lucky winners join a women’s Hundred team for the day. From sitting in on team meetings to participating in training drills on the field, Rookies will experience the world of professional cricket first-hand.
Past Rookies have trained alongside the very best in the game, including Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Heather Knight, Phoebe Litchfield, and Sophie Ecclestone. As well as learning from them on the pitch, there has been the opportunity to sit down with these superstars and ask them questions on their cricketing journey and get advice on how to improve and develop.
Here is what some of past Rookies have said:
“I had the best day - it was better than anything I could ever have imagined. Yesterday evening I just wanted to do it all over again!” - Charlotte, Birmingham Phoenix Rookie 2024
“The best part of the day was training with some of my heroes, especially Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Alexa Stonehouse while bowling. It was also amazing to be made to feel part of the team.” - Hera, Trent Rockets Rookie 2023
“I learnt so much and it was great to live the life of a professional cricketer for the day.” - Grace, Manchester Originals Rookie 2023
“Getting the opportunity to go to Sophia Gardens and bowl in live nets against professionals, like Freya Davies, was just crazy.” - Alice, Welsh Fire Rookie 2023
The Hundred has played a massive role in moving the women’s game forward, and The Rookie is an extension of that progress, creating meaningful, personal connections between the next generation and today’s trailblazers. It’s about inspiration, but also about action: empowering girls to take what they’ve learned and bring it back to their teams, schools, and communities as ambassadors, leaders, and role models themselves.
Past Rookies are now active in their support of younger girls, with many completing their umpiring and coaching certificates. With these they are volunteering at their local clubs to umpire women’s age group games as well as coaching the younger girls. Our 2024 London Spirit Rookie has even gone on tour with her U11 - U15 girls’ teams to the Isle of Wight as a volunteer to help support and mentor the younger girls.
We are incredibly proud of our Rookies and the work they are doing, and we are so excited to offer this opportunity to eight more lucky winners this year. So, if you are a passionate ambassador for women’s cricket, and would love the opportunity to meet and train with your heroes this summer, we want to hear from you.
Applications are open. Your journey -begins HERE!