Ebony Rainford-Brent’s first introduction to cricket was aged 9 when the charity Cricket for Change visited her primary school. It had not been long since her elder brother had been killed, and she threw herself into the sport. She had a natural ability for it, excelling at cricket, football, basketball, and athletics at school and local championships – including the English Schools’ Athletics Championships. But she decided to focus just on cricket.

Her promising sporting career took a break after she gained a severe back injury aged 19, suffering from prolapsed discs and a pars defect. This was a dark time for Ebony, and NHS doctors even advised her against playing any sport. Whilst she took on their advice, she was still determined to play and got help from the Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme programme, and she was fit enough to represent her country at the 2007 World series in India. 2007 would also see her named UCL sportswoman of the Year and see her graduate with a Masters in chemistry.

Ebony Rainford-Brent Sporting Career

Ebony started playing for Surrey in their under 11’s team and continued playing for them throughout her senior career. She captained the team, and they were promoted to the top flight of domestic women’s cricket, the LV County Championship Division One.

Ebony’s greatest achievement comes from being part of the team who won the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2009. Within three months of winning this, the team won the Women’s World T20 and retained the Ashes.

Ebony Rainford-Brent Media Career

Since retiring from professional cricket, Ebony Rainford-Brent has become a popular sporting pundit, TV Commentator, and radio broadcaster, covering the female and male games.

She has worked for various TV channels, including Sky’s coverage of The Hundred, the White Ball Series for BBC, and Channel 4, covering the 2021 India-England test series, as well as presenting Newsround, and BBC Breakfast, and being a regular pundit for Sky Sports.

She has also been one of the hosts of BBC Radio’s The Women’s Sport Show, talking about the role that women play in sports and BBC’s radio Test Match Special where she contributed to men’s domestic and international matches.

Since 2017, Ebony has been hosting her own podcast, The Art of Success, where she sits down with top-level high performers from various industries to talk about their strategies for success. Guests have included former Press Secretary Alastair Campbell, athlete Kriss Akabusi, ex-rugby player Maggie Alphonsi, Paralympian Ellie Simmonds, TV Presenter Richard Osman, and actor Jim Carter. She has also appeared on Sue Anstiss’ podcast, The Game Changers, where she discusses diversity in cricket.

CHARITY

Ebony received her MBE not only for her services to cricket but also for her charity work.

She is the Chair of the Ace Programme – The African Caribbean Engagement Programme – which helps support underrepresented talent “from the Grassroots to the Elite”. She is a trustee for the England and Wales Cricket Trust, and an Ambassador for Beyond Sport, ICC, and WASH United. During her playing career, she was one of the first England women cricketers to be invited to be an Ambassador for A Chance to Shine, which provides coaching and speaking opportunities to help inspire young girls to access cricket.

In 2011, she became the cricket executive for the Lord’s Taverners charity, helping develop national programmes to support disabled and disadvantaged young people to access sport.

Ebony Rainford-Brent Corporate work

With over two decades of experience in high-performing environments, Ebony Rainford-Brent provides keynote speeches, consultancy, and professional cricket training.

She has been the first female Director of women’s cricket for Surrey County Cricket Club, works with the Surrey Cricket Board to help develop the women’s game, and is a Master Practitioner of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).

Ebony Rainford-Brent Speaking Topics

– Women in Sport

– Cricket

– Leadership

– Business

– Media

– Peak Performance

– Teamwork

– Overcoming Obstacles

– Determination

With a remarkable story, Ebony Rainford-Brent is an in-demand sporting, keynote, and after-dinner speaker who will have audiences eating out of her hand.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent for your corporate event.

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