County cricket’s best and brightest have been celebrated for their outstanding achievements in the 2024 Business of Cricket Awards (BOCAs). 

The awards took place at Edgbaston Cricket Ground on Thursday, 14 November, recognising excellence across the First-Class Counties and MCC and the key contributors behind the scenes. 

Yorkshire Cricket’s Groundstaff Jasmine Nicholls, who became the first woman to prepare a pitch at Headingley earlier this year, won the prestigious Rising Star award. 

Jasmine was the first woman to be appointed to the groundstaff at Headingley in April 2023, and this year she has continued to break the glass ceiling within the turf industry, which only has a two percentage representation of women working in it. 

Pictured Jasmine Nicholls (left) of Headingley’s ground staff clearing the water from the ground after heavy rain during day 3 of the Ashes test between England and Australia.

At the start of the year Jasmine showed incredible bravery and courage by opening up about her struggle with mental health. Jasmine’s story went went viral on social media – with her blog post viewed on X by more than 124k+ and her story opened-up communication across Yorkshire Cricket and also across the sporting sector by helping more people come forward to talk and share their own experiences. 

Jasmine said: “I have two young nieces who I absolutely adore and I want them and the rest of my family to be proud of me and for my nieces to know that they can do whatever they put their mind to. For me this means stepping out of my comfort zone.  

“Every game at Headingley I make sure I’m visible and out working on the ground so girls like my nieces can see that they can do whatever they want. And I want to play my part in making it normal for women to be in every job possible in cricket. In the past I’ve found it difficult to talk – particularly in the darkest parts of my life – even to family. 

Struggling isn’t anything to be ashamed of, it just means you need a little support to help you along the way. Looking back I’ve learnt that darkness fades. No matter how bad things seem, something good will be coming your way.” 

Jasmine Nicholls pictured alongside Richard Robinson, the Head of Grounds for Yorkshire.

In 2024, Jasmine has continued to work collaboratively and challenge herself. She joined an all-women grounds team from various industries and made history as they prepared the pitch at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 3 March.  

Jasmine then went on to become the first woman to ‘prepare’ a pitch at Headingley, as she led the team at the stadium to cultivate conditions for the England v Pakistan women’s game on Sunday 19 May, while she had previously played a part in priming the field for the England men’s T20.  

Jasmine said: “To be the first female here at Headingley, and to create my first international pitch, you can’t get much better than that.” 

Jasmine (second from left) joined an all-women grounds team from various industries and make history as they prepared the pitch at the Emirates Stadium in March 2024.

Jasmine (second from left) joined an all-women grounds team from various industries and make history as they prepared the pitch at the Emirates Stadium in March 2024.

2024 BOCA winners: 

Tickets or Membership Sales & Marketing Campaign of the Year
Winner: Gloucestershire Cricket 

Sustainability Campaign of the Year – Waste
Winner: Warwickshire County Cricket Club 

Best Digital Creative Content
Winner: Durham County Cricket Club 

Communications Campaign of the Year
Winner: Lancashire County Cricket Club 

Community Engagement Campaign of the Year
Winner: Worcestershire County Cricket Club 

Transforming the Women’s Game
Winner: Hampshire County Cricket Club 

Customer Retention Initiative of the Year
Winner: Essex County Cricket Club 

Best Digital/Data Innovation
Winner: Lancashire County Cricket Club 

Most Welcoming & Inclusive Stadia
Winner: Warwickshire County Cricket Club 

Best Development or New Facility (over £500,000)
Winner: Marylebone Cricket Club 

Best Women’s International Spectator Experience
Winner: Hampshire County Cricket Club 

Best Men’s International Spectator Experience
Winner: Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club 

Best Development or New Facility (under £500,000)
Winner: Leicestershire County Cricket Club 

Sponsorship Campaign of the Year
Winner: Hampshire County Cricket Club 

Best Domestic Spectator Experience
Winner: Glamorgan County Cricket Club 

Best Spectator Experience – The Hundred
Winner: Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club 

Raising the Game EDI Initiative Award
Winner: Surrey County Cricket Club 

Rising Star
Winner: Jasmine Nicholls, Yorkshire CCC 

Dinesh Patel MVP
Winner: Ben Warren, Somerset CCC 

ECB Chair, Richard Thompson, said: “Huge congratulations to all of this year’s BOCA winners. It has been a privilege to celebrate the very best of the work carried out by First-Class Counties and MCC across England and Wales this year. 

 “The innovation and dedication shown has been truly inspiring. It’s fantastic to see the impact of Hampshire’s extensive efforts in growing the women’s game, Warwickshire’s continued commitment to sustainability, Lancashire’s ground-breaking digital strategy, and so much more. All this work shows a real commitment across the game to becoming bigger, better and more inclusive.” 

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