Introducing… Sarah Rawoo, Community Cricket Coach at the Surrey Cricket Foundation
As part of our ‘A Life In Cricket’ Campaign, we will be talking about the passionate and committed individuals who work in cricket.
In this episode we meet Sarah, who tells us about her career to date and why she’d recommend a career in cricket to a young person.
Watch Sarah’s video below and keep scrolling to learn more about Sarah and her career.
How did you originally get into cricket?
My main influence to start playing cricket was through family, I had cricket mad grandparents and my older brother played cricket so naturally I decided to join in. My brother would bowl at me in the garden so he could practice, so I didn’t really have a choice! I began playing at my local club, where I was the only girl in my age group for a while and then continued to play adult cricket and County age-group.
What did you do before you worked in cricket?
When I started at SCF, I was straight out of university! I did an Undergraduate Degree in Sports Coaching and Science, writing my dissertation on the impact of female representation within cricket. From there, I went on to do a Postgraduate PE Teaching Degree.
When did you first join the Foundation?
I started at the Foundation in September 2022, so I am still fairly new to the club.
Why did you join the Foundation?
Cricket is something that I have been passionate about for a long time, and when leaving university I was unsure I wanted to pursue a career in teaching. The role at Surrey came up and after being involved in coaching throughout my time at university, I knew it would be something I would enjoy and I was keen to make a difference in the game.
What do you most enjoy about your current role?
I love the variety. Getting to work on different programmes, going into different schools. Everyday is different but I am still doing something I love every day. It is also very rewarding, part of my role includes going into schools and introducing cricket to girls who may not have the opportunity otherwise, and seeing them enjoy it and then go on to play cricket for local clubs is amazing.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your role?
Being a young female in cricket can definitely bring challenges but the support from Surrey and the Foundation is unmatched. Gender disparity within the role can be quite challenging. Despite cricket developing over recent years, this is something I still struggle with! Going into sessions, knowing I have to prove myself more than my male counterparts can be a challenge but I’m happy to do it if it means there will be more change further down the line.
What are you most looking forward to in cricket in 2023?
I am really looking forward to the season ahead, watching the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at the moment which is great to see. Also looking forward to watching Surrey defend the County Championship title in 2023.
To learn more about the ‘A Life In Cricket’ campaign, click here
To learn more about the Surrey Cricket Foundation, click here
