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World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent discusses the barriers she overcame in cricket

Ebony Rainford-Brent features in episode 10 of Sky Sports' My Icon series

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Ebony Rainford-Brent features in episode 10 of Sky Sports' My Icon series

Women's World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent pretended to be a boy as a youngster playing cricket.

Rainford-Brent was part of the England team that lifted the 2009 World Cup and remains the only black female to have represented England Women at international level.

She is now instantly-recognisable due to her commentary work across the globe, combining media duties with her role as Director of Women's Cricket at Surrey.

But Rainford-Brent would have lived a completely different life had she not been introduced to cricket as a 10-year-old by a lady called Jenny, who would go on to become her mentor.

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My Icon is a 31-part series on Sky Sports Mix, bringing you interviews with BAME sportsmen and women every day in October

Following her introduction to the game, Rainford-Brent was exposed to a range of barriers - racial as well as gender-specific - which she had never previously given much consideration to.

She even tied her 'hair up under her hat' and pretended to be a boy for fear of not being allowed to participate in coaching clinics as a young girl trying to make her way in the game.

Rainford-Brent talks about her journey in the latest instalment of My Icon, which premieres on Monday at 7am on Sky Sports Mix and is available On Demand. The episode is repeated on Monday at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm.

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Coinciding with Black History Month, Sky Sports' #MyIcon campaign brings you 31 exclusive interviews with top BAME sports personalities across the month of October. For more information click here.

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