The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a bold new initiative to make cricket the most inclusive sport in the country. With an additional £2 million in funding over the next two and a half years, the ECB aims to provide free cricket opportunities to state school children, create talent pathways for young individuals from state schools, and support aspiring British South Asian cricketers in their journey towards professionalism. This initiative is a response to the findings of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), which identified several barriers to inclusion in the sport.
The ECB’s new charity partners in this endeavour include the MCC Foundation, African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) Programme, and the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA), all working together to break down barriers and promote diversity within cricket. Additionally, long-term collaborators Chance to Shine and Lord’s Taverners will receive increased funding to expand their cricket programs in state schools, particularly those with a high percentage of students eligible for free school meals, as well as children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Image: England Cricket Board
The focus of this initiative is to broaden the reach of cricket in state schools. The partnership with Chance to Shine will see cricket being introduced into more state schools where at least 40% of students qualify for free school meals. This extension will offer up to 20,000 additional students in 150 schools the opportunity to experience cricket for free during the school day.
Collaborating with Lord’s Taverners will result in cricket programs being delivered in more schools catering to students with disabilities or special educational needs. Last academic year alone, increased funding enabled cricket to be introduced in 400 new schools, benefiting approximately 13,000 children. This expansion will see cricket programs implemented in another 200 schools, reaching an additional 7,000 students.
Partnering with the MCC Foundation will facilitate high-quality coaching and match play opportunities for thousands of state-educated young people. The MCC Foundation will expand its network of hubs, increasing their number from 77 to approximately 150 by 2025. These hubs will provide free training and match play opportunities to around 2,000 additional young people by 2025, with at least 45% of these places allocated to girls. Each county will have at least one hub, with many located in hard-to-reach communities.
These hubs will not only focus on talent development but also have a transformative impact beyond the cricket pitch. Participants are expected to experience increased happiness and confidence, better focus and performance at school, and access to mentors.
The ECB will partner with the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to address the disparity between British South Asian participation in recreational and professional cricket. While around 30% of recreational players are estimated to be from British South Asian backgrounds, this drops to approximately 5% among male professional cricketers. SACA has already provided a platform for seven British South Asian male cricketers to sign professional contracts. With new funding, SACA will expand its player showcase during the summer, introduce regional fixtures, and offer additional winter training. These measures are expected to provide opportunities for an additional 50 players.
ACE, is also focused on increasing Black participation in cricket, becomes an official Charity Partner. It secures three-year funding to expand in six cities, London boroughs, and engage 42,000 young people, supporting national cricket clubs.
ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould stated, “If we are to realize our ambition of making cricket the most inclusive sport, we have to break down barriers which have stopped children and young people from state schools and ethnically diverse backgrounds realizing their potential.”
