London has the largest representation in a landmark campaign from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), with seventeen women from across the capital recognised for their contribution to cricket as part of a new campaign celebrating 53 women in the sport.
Among them are broadcaster and former England Women player Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE and cricket commentator and presenter Nikki Kappor-Chaudhuri, two Londoners who have each carved out a place for women in cricket on and off the pitch.
The pair are two of 53 women to have a purple seat unveiled at Edgbaston ahead of the first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, in a nod to the number of years since the inaugural Women’s Cricket World Cup was held in England in 1973.
Rainford-Brent first discovered cricket through a taster session at school, going on to represent England and be part of the World Cup winning squad in 2009, before building a career as a broadcaster covering major tournaments for the BBC and Sky Sports. In 2020 she launched the ACE Programme to address the lack of access for under-represented communities in cricket, which has since engaged over 40,000 young people across six cities.
Kapoor-Chaudhuri grew up immersed in cricket as the daughter of a former Indian first-class cricketer, playing county age-group cricket from the age of eight. She now works as a freelance broadcaster with the BBC, covering ICC tournaments, the IPL, WPL and domestic cricket, determined to open doors for the next generation of women in cricket media.
The 53 illustrate the breadth, diversity and richness of the cricket community today, from those who played a starring role in England’s 1973 World Cup winning team, to former England star turned commentator Isa Guha MBE. Among the London contingent are:
Clare Connor CBE – Cricket legend and Managing Director of England Women and Deputy CEO of the ECB, captained England for six years and became the first female President of MCC.
Donna Fraser OBE – Director of People and EDI at the PCA, spent over 20 years as a professional athlete before championing equity and diversity across professional cricket.
Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE – Founder of the ACE Programme and Broadcaster, launched the ACE Programme in 2020 which has since engaged over 40,000 young people across six cities.
Emily Marshall – Digital Content Producer for England Women, brings fans closer to the team through authentic storytelling across social media.
Georgina Mackenzie – Safeguarding Lead at the ACE Programme, mentors young people and supports families across the programme having come to cricket just two years ago.
Isa Guha MBE – Founder of Take Her Lead and Broadcaster, was the first woman of South Asian heritage to represent a senior national England team in any sport.
Izzy Gurney – Programme Manager and Safeguarding Lead at MCC Foundation, designed and manages the national Coaching Scholarship Programme equipping young female coaches across the country.
Kate Stephens – CEO of Chance to Shine, has helped 8 million children take part in cricket, half of them girls.
Kenzie Benali – Presenter and Broadcaster, has worked closely with the ECB across domestic and international fixtures since the inaugural season of The Hundred.
Kira Chathli – England Women and Surrey Player, progressed from Dulwich Cricket Club through the Surrey pathway to the England Women ODI squad.
Marilyn Smith – Chair of Middlesex CCC Women’s Cricket Committee, came to cricket in her twenties and played in the first ever MCC women’s game.
Meg Lay – Groundskeeper at Lord’s Cricket Ground, became the first woman to prepare an international cricket pitch and led the first-ever all-female grounds team at Edgbaston.
Nikki Kapoor-Chaudhuri – Commentator and Presenter, is one of the few South Asian women in cricket media, covering ICC tournaments, the IPL and WPL for the BBC and beyond.
Nimet Nathani – Financial Accountant at the ECB, joined cricket as tournament accountant for the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and now calls Lord’s her office.
Sara Yasin – Coach and Youth Ambassador, was the first female participant on the Wicketz programme in Southampton and now gives back as a coach, umpire and Lord’s Taverners Youth Ambassador.
Sheromie Brewster – Coach at the ACE Programme and Head of Cage Cricket London, has launched Cage Cricket initiatives in Barbados and Sri Lanka alongside her community coaching work.
Theresa Peters – Accessibility Liaison Officer at The Kia Oval, has spent 28 years at Surrey CCC ensuring cricket is accessible and welcoming for everyone.
The number has been selected given its symbolism, but the campaign exists to celebrate and inspire women of all backgrounds to play a role in the future of the game, to feel inspired by the stories, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and want to get involved – whether that’s working, volunteering or playing, because they can see a place for themselves in cricket.
The purple seats have been installed into the stands for the duration of the tournament as a highly visible recognition of women who are shaping the future of the game for generations to come and whose everyday contributions keep the sport thriving – often behind the scenes. In a nod to the colour associated with the Suffragette movement, the seats act as visual markers of recognition – celebrating women who are not just elite athletes, but coaches, grassroots volunteers, community leaders, broadcasters, officials, organisers and changemakers who are changing the game at every level, showing that there is a place for everybody in cricket and inspiring other women and girls to want to get involved themselves.
Each seat represents a different name, with a QR code directing fans to read their individual stories. This transforms the iconic stadium into a living story space, where storytelling becomes part of the matchday experience.
On unveiling the campaign, Kate Aldridge, Director of Business Operations and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at ECB, said: “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be a brilliant celebration of our sport but it also provides an important platform to change perceptions and shift visibility. Through The 53 we are placing women’s stories, contributions and impact directly at the heart of one of the great stadiums of our sport.
“We want to spotlight a few of the incredible women across England and Wales who are thriving in the game, opening up access and being role models for the next generation. By giving these stories a platform, we hope people are inspired to get involved in the game across all roles and at every level.
“As we welcome the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup back to England and Wales, we’re proud to celebrate not just elite performance, but the dedication, passion and contributions of women who make up our game.”
