I first found cricket through a taster coaching session at school. I didn’t grow up with the game as a constant at home, so those early sessions were the thing that opened the door for me. From the moment I hit my first ball I was obsessed. I began playing with a group at Stockwell Park School and I was the only girl with fifty boys. I played in a tournament where they needed to have a girl on the team to enter and that’s where I was talent scouted.
From there, I worked my way through the pathway playing with Surrey and eventually being invited to play for England Women. Cricket went on to shape my life. I was proud to represent England and to be part of a World Cup winning squad in 2009. Beyond my playing career, I’ve covered men’s and women’s cricket for broadcasters including BBC and Sky Sports, working on major ICC tournaments, World Cups and Ashes series.
I launched the ACE Programme in 2020 to address the lack of access for under-represented communities in cricket. It has since engaged over 40,000 young people, operating hubs and academies across six cities, supporting players from their first experience of the game through to performance environments and professional contracts. Seeing ACE grow into a nationally recognised pathway for players has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career. I currently serve on the ECB Board and my mission is to shape the future of cricket through equity and innovation.
Cricket has opened up so many opportunities for me through my career and my message to women and girls considering getting involved in the game is that cricket needs you. Whatever your route in – playing, coaching, working, volunteering or following the sport – cricket has a space for you.