The government has pledged to invest £35 million over the next five years in grassroots and state school cricket.
The funding will see 16 state-of-the-art all-weather cricket domes built in cities across England to host two T20 World Cup games to be held in England: the women’s edition in 2026 and the men’s edition in 2030.
The domes will be built within culturally diverse communities where “data have indicated low levels of physical activity”. It follows the launch of the first of these domes in Bradford last year.
Three cricket charities – Chance to Shine, The Lord’s Taverners, and the ACE (Afro-Caribbean Engagement) program – will boost funding by £14 million to help the game reach more state schools, where the game was recently overshadowed Is. Year.
That investment is expected to “bring 2,500 new equipment to each school involved in the program and help 930,000 pupils play cricket over the next five years”.
Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Richard Thompson, said it was “an important moment to enable the game to make significant investment in areas where, until now, it has not received the support it deserves”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I first saw the magic of cricket as a child watching Hampshire play at my local ground in Southampton.
“For the youngsters watching their first match today, the attraction to go out and enjoy the game is just as strong, especially as we look forward to hosting the Women’s and Men’s T20 World Cups.
“Based on the great work of organizations like ACE and Chance to Shine, there is huge potential to grow the sport even further and open it up to everyone from all backgrounds and in all parts of the country.
“That’s why I’m so proud that today we’re making a huge investment of £35 million in grassroots cricket, to drive participation in schools, encourage healthy lifestyles and create world-class cricket for local communities. , so that facilities can be provided throughout the year.”
The investment announcement coincides with New county session begins But, more curiously, on the same day as the game’s latest appearance before the committee in February, the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee released its latest report on equity in cricket, which included evidence from the ECB, the Independent . From the Commission for Equity in Cricket (which delivered a report last year) and Colin Graves.
The report said the ECB should “keep a close eye on progress to ensure this continues.” Yorkshire is on the path to recovery“following the return of Graves as chairman, and ensuring there is “no return to ‘business as usual’ which allowed a culture of discrimination to take root and flourish at the club” until former player Azeem Rafiq Did not share his experiences.
Investment will supercharge cricket’s appeal
By Lucy Fraser, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
In his book, More than a game: the story of cricket’s early years, Sir John Major recalls how shocked and angry his deputy PM Michael Heseltine would become during Cabinet meetings when Major and his Chancellor Kenneth Clarke would pass small pieces of paper around between them. Heseltine wondered what was so bloody important. Was there a crisis? Resignation of a minister? Was Sterling Crashing? No, those were test scores.
Cricket is a huge part of our national life and is at the heart of being British. A game that balances individual skill, collective effort, and the need for timing and strategy. It touches the hearts of millions of people every summer – whether they played the game in school or as an adult, or have always enjoyed the experience of being a fan in the stands. A game that brings communities together. With informal conventions, an abundance of data, and an incredibly rich and detailed vocabulary.
There is a lot to love and admire about English cricket. Thirteen million people describe themselves as passionate sports fans and 1.1 million children play sports in some form. The Ashes remains one of the most vibrant and interesting competitions in the sporting calendar. The women’s game has expanded rapidly, with 717 new women’s and girls’ teams established in 2023 – an increase of 20 percent over 2022.
But despite its enduring popularity, there is still room for cricket to grow and become a sport that is accessible to millions of people from every background and every walk of life across the country.
The ECB has worked extensively in recent years to make cricket a game for all. A commitment to use the funds raised by selling stakes in a hundred teams for the development of the game at the grassroots level. Potential for 54,000 disadvantaged children to play cricket in 700 schools in the first year of a targeted scheme funded by the ECB. A concerted effort to reduce the cost of fees paid by parents for coaching and matches.
As a Government, we understand what a powerful role cricket can play in getting millions of us active and helping young people develop and achieve their potential. And that’s why we’re going to invest £35 million in schools and charities that are working at the grassroots level of English cricket.
Our investment will help broaden the appeal of cricket and break down any barriers that stand in the way of any young person being able to pick up a bat or ball for the first time. Funding for the things we know is already making a difference, and initiatives are led by people who understand cricket and its role in communities.
