Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent

Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent MBE made history as the first black woman to play for the England women’s cricket team, serving as a key member of the squad that secured the 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup in Australia. Debuting for England in 2001, she showcased remarkable resilience, overcoming a serious back injury at 19 with support from programs like the Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme (TASS), returning to elite sport. Her exceptional talent was recognized with the UCL Sportswoman of the Year award in 2007, concurrently earning her a Master’s degree in Chemistry from University College London. Following this success, the team further secured victory in the 2009 Women’s World Twenty20, clinched the NatWest One Day series 4-0 against Australia, and retained the Women’s Ashes.

Her significant impact was further cemented by her appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2021, the same year her Sky Sports team won a BAFTA award in the Sports Category. Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent’s influence continues to expand, evidenced by her appointment to the ECB Board as a Cricket Non-executive Director in 2023. Further recognizing her profound contributions to sports and diversity, Loughborough University awarded her an honorary degree in 2023. In 2024, she was featured as a castaway on the prestigious BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Desert Island Discs.’ Looking ahead, Rainford-Brent is slated to receive the Women in Sports Innovation Award at the Women of the Year 2025 Awards, underscoring her ongoing legacy and impact in the sports world.