Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is delighted to announce that Mel Jones, Dr Catherine Ordway and Emma Staples are the recipients of the MCC Spirit of Cricket Award for 2025.

The trio have been instrumental in organising and funding ways for the Afghanistan women’s cricket team to flee their country and safely evacuate to Australia.

They facilitated the urgent evacuation of the team to Melbourne and Canberra, when they faced imminent danger in their homeland.

In January of this year, three and half years on from the initial evacuation, the team stepped out at the Junction Oval in Melbourne to play their first match as an Afghanistan Women’s XI to begin a new chapter in the story.

This evening, Emma and Catherine, accepting on Mel’s behalf too, were presented with the Spirit of Cricket Award by Lord King, MCC President and Mark Nicholas, Club Chair, at this year’s MCC Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s, which was hosted by stars of BBC’s Test Match Special. The pair had flown over from Australia for the event.

The Spirit of Cricket Award, in memory of Christopher Martin-Jenkins, was created in 2013 by MCC and BBC to honour the former President of the Club, and Test Match Special commentator, who was passionate about promoting the spirit of the game.

The three women have since set up a programme called Pitch Our Future, a programme that empowers and supports the players from the Afghanistan Women’s XI with safe training facilities, educational opportunities, and pathways to continue their cricketing journeys.

It was announced recently that the MCC and MCC Foundation had established a Global Refugee Cricket Fund, an initiative through which Pitch Our Future will be the first beneficiaries.

Rob Lynch, Director of Cricket and Operations at MCC, said: “We are thrilled to be able to make this presentation to this group of women who completed an incredible feat in getting these players to safety.

“It was a monumental effort and with the Afghanistan Women’s XI playing their first match earlier this year, it was clear that this was the moment we should recognise them with the MCC Spirit of Cricket Award.

“The presentation at the Cowdrey Lecture was a very special moment and I hope everyone agrees that their outstanding work represents the true spirit of the game.”

Mel Jones said: “This is beyond special. Receiving the Spirit of Cricket Award is humbling, and it is reflective of a large body of tireless work for a situation that is more than just cricket.

“In amongst feelings of sadness, frustration, and anger around the Afghanistan women’s team’s plight, there was also so much hope, inspiration, pride and celebration.

“To the countless people within cricket who helped, both in Australia and across the world, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  

“To the players themselves, your spirit is an inspiration and although nothing can replace what you have lost, hopefully your story will serve as an example to cricket to never leave behind the people who play and love this wonderful game.”