What's new

[PICTURES] The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Discussion thread

Good to see the ECB back making a net profit. English cricket could not have afforded another year of financial losses.
 
Btw I do not know much about Matthew Mott but he seems to have a stellar CV and I am sure that he will work with Eoin Morgan to keep the LOI sides within the top tier internationally and (hopefully) delivering more silverware.
 
Somerset: Arrest made after cricketer hospitalised

A South African cricketer has been hospitalised after being assaulted outside a pub, police have said.

North Petherton player Mondli Khumalo, was attacked near the Green Dragon pub in Friarn Street in Bridgwater, at about 03:00 BST on Sunday.

The 20-year-old was given emergency treatment and remains in hospital.

A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and has been released under investigation.

Mr Khumalo, who plays as a fast bowler for North Petherton, previously played for South Africa's under-19s team.

Avon and Somerset Supt Richard Turner said: "We're taking steps to ensure Mondli's family in South Africa are being kept fully updated on his condition, as well as how our investigation is progressing.

"A full investigation is underway and we've carried out house-to-house enquiries and are continuing to review CCTV footage from around the area to ensure we gather all available evidence.

"We know there were a large number of people in the area at the time and we'd appeal for any eyewitnesses to come forward, especially if anyone has mobile phone footage showing any part of this incident."

North Petherton Cricket Club said in a statement: "All at North Petherton Cricket Club are in shock at the incident in Bridgwater that has led to our much-loved overseas player Mondli Khumalo being hospitalised in Southmead Hospital in Bristol this morning.

"We extend our heartfelt support to Mondli for a full and speedy recovery. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and colleagues in South Africa.

"Our thanks to those that helped Mondli, especially the health service staff on scene and at hospital."


https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-61636892
 
England tour of Netherlands (2022)

England Men's ODI squad named for The Netherlands Tour

England Men's selection panel have named a 14-strong squad for the three-match ODI series of The Netherlands starting at Amstelveen on 17 June.

England ODI Squad

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) Captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Brydon Carse (Durham
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
David Payne (Gloucestershire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
David Willey (Yorkshire)
Luke Wood (Lancashire)

Lancashire seamer Luke Wood and Gloucestershire paceman David Payne are the uncapped players named in the squad. This will be Wood's first call-up to the senior squad, and Payne has been involved previously in last summer's ODIs against Pakistan.

Commenting on the selection of the squad, England Men's White-Ball Head Coach, Matthew Mott, said:

"I'm very excited to be coaching a strong squad for my first series in charge. We have tremendous depth with a blend of youth and experience. We want to continue to play in an expressive style and let our players showcase their skills and firepower.

"Luke Wood deserves his call-up. He has been consistent for Lancashire over the past 12 months and we have been monitoring his progression. If given a chance to play, I'm sure he will make most of his opportunity.

"This is a historic occasion for the sport and the first time England Men have played The Netherlands in an ODI series. We can't wait to head over to Amsterdam and put on a show for the thousands of fans travelling to support the team.

"The ODI side has had limited opportunities and last played in July. However, with about 18 months to the next ICC 50 over World Cup in India, our preparation will start ramping up with nine matches over the summer and a busy winter ahead against strong opponents."

The three-match ODI series, which are part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, starts a busy summer for England Men with Royal London Series against India and South Africa scheduled for later this summer.

ODI Series Schedule

1st ODI: The Netherlands v England, Friday 17 June, VRA Cricket Club, Amstelveen
2nd ODI: The Netherlands v England, Sunday 19 June, VRA Cricket Club, Amstelveen
3rd ODI: The Netherlands v England, Wednesday 22 June, VRA Cricket Club, Amstelveen
 
transparent opacity said:
Somerset: Arrest made after cricketer hospitalised

A South African cricketer has been hospitalised after being assaulted outside a pub, police have said.

North Petherton player Mondli Khumalo, was attacked near the Green Dragon pub in Friarn Street in Bridgwater, at about 03:00 BST on Sunday.

The 20-year-old was given emergency treatment and remains in hospital.

A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and has been released under investigation.

Mr Khumalo, who plays as a fast bowler for North Petherton, previously played for South Africa's under-19s team.

Avon and Somerset Supt Richard Turner said: "We're taking steps to ensure Mondli's family in South Africa are being kept fully updated on his condition, as well as how our investigation is progressing.

"A full investigation is underway and we've carried out house-to-house enquiries and are continuing to review CCTV footage from around the area to ensure we gather all available evidence.

"We know there were a large number of people in the area at the time and we'd appeal for any eyewitnesses to come forward, especially if anyone has mobile phone footage showing any part of this incident."

North Petherton Cricket Club said in a statement: "All at North Petherton Cricket Club are in shock at the incident in Bridgwater that has led to our much-loved overseas player Mondli Khumalo being hospitalised in Southmead Hospital in Bristol this morning.

"We extend our heartfelt support to Mondli for a full and speedy recovery. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and colleagues in South Africa.

"Our thanks to those that helped Mondli, especially the health service staff on scene and at hospital."


https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-61636892
Click to expand...

Oh my word
 
One thing to flag away from the action. During the lunch interval a number of faith and community leaders were on the pitch to mark the signing of a 'Unity Statement'. It is a project which has been driven by Mohammed Sadiq Patel, founder of the Heaven Help Us Cricket Club, and the Green Park Foundation. The statement, which has been endorsed by a wide range of different faith leaders as well as the ECB, sets out a collective commitment to eliminating discrimination, advancing equity and bringing together people from different nationalities, cultures, and religions. Those on the pitch presented ECB Interim Chair Martin Darlow with a signed commemorative bat to mark the occasion.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Harry Brook and Craig Overton have been given permission to leave the England camp and play for their respective counties in tonight’s round of Vitality Blast matches.

Brook will play for Yorkshire Vikings against Durham at Headingley and Overton will be at Taunton for Somerset’s match against Glamorgan.

Both players will return to the England set-up on Saturday.
 
England Men's Cricket Head Scout James Taylor is to step down at the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Taylor,32, was appointed full-time England Men's selector in July 2018 and became Head Scout in April 2021 following a restructure of England's high-performance programme. As Head Scout, he was an integral part of providing information into selection.

Commenting on the departure of Taylor, Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, Rob Key, said:

"James Taylor has been a great servant to English cricket both as a player and an excellent administrator over the past four years. He has a deep passion for the game and is attuned to the current demands of a modern cricketer, having played with and against most of the England set-up and pathway players.

"Everyone at the ECB would like to thank James for his hard work and dedication and wish him well in the next chapter of his career."

James Taylor, added:

"It has been an honour to hold the position of selector for three years and the last year as Head Scout.

"I would like to thank everyone at the ECB for all their support. We have had some fantastic highlights during that period that I will remember forever.

"The time is right for me to explore new opportunities, and I'm excited about what lies ahead."

Taylor was forced to retire in 2016 having been diagnosed with the heart condition ARVC, played seven Tests and 27 ODIs for England and had a distinguished county career with Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
 
Mark Alleyne and Neil Killeen will form part of Matthew Mott’s coaching staff for England Men’s ODI tour of the Netherlands.

Alleyne, an ECB Test scout and Assistant Director of Sport at Marlborough College, will be Batting Coach.

Killeen, Assistant Lead & Bowling Coach at Durham CCC, will be Pace Bowling Coach.

Both Alleyne and Killeen have worked with the senior England Men’s team before, Killeen with the ODI squad that played Ireland at the Ageas Bowl in 2020 and Alleyne with the IT20 squad during the recent tour of the West Indies.

The pair will work alongside Richard Dawson and Carl Hopkinson, who make up the rest of Mott’s coaching staff.

The travelling party leave for the Netherlands on Tuesday June 14, with the first ODI taking place on Friday June 17.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/n...100003167891741+&utm_campaign=Other+Campaigns
 
England Lions name squad for matches against South Africa

England Men's selection panel have named a 13-player squad for England Lions two Royal London 50-over internationals against South Africa starting on 12 July at Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.

England Lions Squad versus South Africa

Tom Abell (Somerset) (Captain)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Tom Banton (Somerset) (WK)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Steven Eskinazi (Middlesex)
Sam Hain (Warwickshire)
Adam Hose (Warwickshire)
Benny Howell (Gloucestershire)
Jake Lintott (Warwickshire)
David Payne (Gloucestershire)
George Scrimshaw (Derbyshire)
Will Smeed (Somerset)

Mo Bobat, ECB Performance Director, said:

"It's always great when we can bring some of our best and highest potential players together, particularly to take on senior international opposition. The two games provide an excellent opportunity to continue to grow our depth and assess players' readiness for England.

"The squad reflects a balance of England's next best players and some future players of note, as well as high performers from this season's Vitality Blast campaign.

"With these games coming at the same time as England ODIs versus India and a County Championship round, we're very appreciative of the collaborative approach of counties, enabling us to field strong teams."

The first match at Taunton will permit full squad participation to facilitate South Africa Team preparation for the international white-ball programme, but the second match at Worcester will be played as an 11-a-side List-A match.

England Men's Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood has been appointed Head Coach for the two matches.

Ends

Royal London Men's Internationals Schedule:

1st 50-over match: England Lions v South Africa, Tuesday 12 July, Coopers Associate County Ground, Taunton (11.00am start)

2nd 50-over match: England Lions v South Africa, Thursday 14 July, New Road, Worcester (11.00am start)
 
PRESS RELEASE - 21 JULY 2022
National Anti-Doping Panel decision – Tom Wood

The National Anti-Doping Panel has imposed a six month suspension on Derbyshire CCC cricketer Tom Wood after a hearing in June 2022.

Mr Wood tested positive for a prohibited substance in September 2021. The substance – terbutaline – was contained in an asthma inhaler and Mr Wood did not have the relevant Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in place before the positive test result. His subsequent application for a retroactive TUE was rejected by UKAD’s TUE Fairness Panel in December 2021.

Mr Wood was provisionally suspended by the ECB and was formally charged with two anti-doping rule violations under the ECB Anti-Doping Rules.

Mr Wood admitted the charges, and both the Panel and the ECB accepted that Mr Wood had no intention to breach the ECB Anti-Doping Rules.

As the six month suspension was backdated to January 2022, Mr Wood is now free to play cricket again.
 
MenInG said:
PRESS RELEASE - 21 JULY 2022
National Anti-Doping Panel decision – Tom Wood

The National Anti-Doping Panel has imposed a six month suspension on Derbyshire CCC cricketer Tom Wood after a hearing in June 2022.

Mr Wood tested positive for a prohibited substance in September 2021. The substance – terbutaline – was contained in an asthma inhaler and Mr Wood did not have the relevant Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in place before the positive test result. His subsequent application for a retroactive TUE was rejected by UKAD’s TUE Fairness Panel in December 2021.

Mr Wood was provisionally suspended by the ECB and was formally charged with two anti-doping rule violations under the ECB Anti-Doping Rules.

Mr Wood admitted the charges, and both the Panel and the ECB accepted that Mr Wood had no intention to breach the ECB Anti-Doping Rules.

As the six month suspension was backdated to January 2022, Mr Wood is now free to play cricket again.
Click to expand...

Tom Wood's statement

0V9dKG2.png
 
England Men's selection panel have named a 13-player squad for England Lions four-day match against South Africa starting on 9 August at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury.

Lions squad versus South Africa

Sam Billings (Kent), Captain
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Sam Conners (Derbyshire)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire)
James Rew (Somerset)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Dom Sibley (Warwickshire)

Mo Bobat, ECB Performance Director, said:

"We are delighted that the Lions will have a competitive fixture against the South African tourists. The squad strongly represents some of the country's current, next best and future England players. For some players, this game will be important preparation going into the Test series.

"These matches for the Lions are pivotal as we try to build the depth of players that can further enhance the way the Test team have been playing this summer. It is a reward for players who have scored runs and taken wickets this season in the LV= Insurance County Championship campaign and have caught our eye in how they've gone about their business.

"I would also like to thank The Hundred teams and respective Head Coaches who have enabled the eight players who are playing in the competition the opportunity to play for the Lions. We are grateful for their support."

England Men's Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood has been appointed Head Coach for the match.
 
Sam Billings (Kent), Captain
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Sam Conners (Derbyshire)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire)
James Rew (Somerset)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Dom Sibley (Warwickshire)
Click to expand...

These occasional Lions squads are always interesting primarily because they give a strong indication as to who is next in line for the England team when a first XI player loses form or gets injured.

There are plenty of decent English batters who have been picked for the Lions & will be snapping at Zak Crawley’s heels if he doesn’t get a big score in the first two Tests against South Africa.
 
Richard Thompson named as Chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board

The ECB has today welcomed Richard Thompson as the next Chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Mr Thompson, 55, will take up the five-year post on September 1, moving from his current role of Chair at Surrey County Cricket Club and will bring deep experience from his career across sport and business.

Following a rigorous selection process, chaired by Independent Director Brenda Trenowden CBE, the Nominations Committee unanimously recommended Mr Thompson to the ECB Board and he will succeed Martin Darlow, who has been in post as Interim Chair since April.

As Chair of Surrey County Cricket Club, Mr Thompson has overseen a successful period for the County on the field, off the field and in the community. His stewardship saw Surrey launch the ACE Programme in 2020, which is now an independent charity designed to engage a new generation of children and young people from Black communities within the recreational game and talent pathway.

Alongside this, Mr Thompson’s business expertise has seen the county redevelop the Kia Oval, future proofing the stadium as one of the premier cricketing venues in the country, whilst his tenure also navigated the county through the pandemic.

Outside of cricket, Mr Thompson is the founder and chair of M&C Saatchi Merlin as well as Chair of the broader M&C Saatchi UK Group; chairman of Southshore Group (an ITV-owned production company) , an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society and Chair & founder of Sport United Against Dementia (SUAD).

Richard Thompson, said: “I am immensely proud to become Chair of the ECB at what is a hugely important time for cricket

“Cricket has given me the chance to meet an incredibly diverse range of amazing people. Their passion, endeavour and love for the game is what I want to harness, to take our game forward, to new heights across England & Wales.

“Cricket should be the most inclusive sport in the country, welcoming people from all backgrounds, helping bring communities together. For those communities where we have fallen short, I will work tirelessly to restore their trust in the game.

With the Men’s & Women’s Ashes on the horizon, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in October and the recent successes in our red ball game, along with hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026 there is much ahead of us.

I am looking forward to using my experience and love for the game in taking this opportunity to give cricket a fresh start. Alongside the Board and senior leaders at the ECB, we will work with the counties and the recreational game. Collaboration and partnership will be the key to our sport’s future.”

Brenda Trenowden, CBE, commented: “We are delighted to announce Richard’s arrival to the ECB as Chair. His blend of exceptional commercial and cricket administration experience supports our aims to grow and diversify the game whilst guiding the game as we face challenging financial headwinds.

“I’d also like to say many thanks, on behalf of the ECB, to Martin Darlow, for his excellent stewardship in recent months. Cricket has faced many challenges in 2022 and Martin has helped steer the ship until Richard’s arrival, and I’m pleased that he’ll continue to provide his invaluable wisdom and insight through his role as Deputy Chair of the Board.”
 
Richard Thompson, ECB Chair - My vision for cricket

I begin as the ECB’s Chair today with a clear vision to unlock the huge potential to grow cricket at all levels and ensure it becomes the UK’s most inclusive sport.

Cricket has faced the reality of hard truths in recent times and, as we begin to acknowledge and address the issues in front of us, it is obvious we will only be successful if we are a united game.

I have worked in cricket for a long time and it is my conviction that we can be the most inclusive sport in the country - accessible to all regardless of race, gender, class or (dis)ability.

I have seen first-hand the positive impact our game can have through inspiring initiatives such as the ACE Programme and the value of people working together to achieve great things.

I am humbled that now I am in a position to be able lead that change across the whole game, while being under no illusion to the task in hand. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Barry O’Brien and Martin Darlow, who stepped up at a very difficult time for the game and for all they have done during their respective times as Interim Chair over the past year.

This is a reset moment for the ECB and the wider game and our opportunity to leave the divisions of the past behind.

As ECB Chair it will be my role to listen to different perspectives, to set clear direction and to build consensus around changes we need to make.

I will also look to strengthen relationships between ECB and all its stakeholders and to establish a shared vision for how we will work together to grow the sport we all love.

I am also personally committed to leading our work to rebuild trust among communities where it may have been lost, and no longer feel cricket has a home for them.

The painful testimony of Azeem Rafiq and too many others within cricket must act as a motivator for all of us to listen and learn and to understand how we can be better.

The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket will play a central part in that process and I expect its findings later this year to be challenging. It is focusing not just on race but also on gender and social background. Its findings must form the basis of constructive proposals that will drive lasting change across the game.

Having played club cricket for 35 years I know the power of the recreational game. It’s cricket’s superpower underpinning so many communities. It is clear to me that the health of grassroots clubs is the bellwether of cricket’s success more generally.

We will only continue to be successful at the elite level, and commercially, if we can get more people playing cricket with a broader socio-economic mix.

The increasing number of opportunities for women and girls to play at local clubs is a reflection of the growth of women’s cricket and provides clear evidence of the value of the game working together for a greater good.

I believe there are huge opportunities to grow participation amongst girls and boys and I will be doing everything I can to support County Cricket Boards and the network of clubs to deliver that aim.

At an elite level, I am looking forward to England Women returning to Lord’s this month while one of the first items in my inbox, and which has been the source of much debate in recent weeks, will be the men’s high performance review.

It is clear that we need a high-performance system that creates successful England teams over a sustained period, as well as a thriving domestic game while looking after our players’ welfare. We need a schedule which works for all our formats - Championship, 50-over, T20 and The Hundred, whose finals I am looking forward to on Saturday.

All of our England teams are the shop window to the game and their success inspires young kids to pick up a bat and ball to be like their heroes.

There is nothing quite like watching England beating the best in the world and there is much to build on from England Women reaching the World Cup Final earlier this year to the England Hearing Impaired and Learning Disability teams both enjoying comfortable series wins in Australia this summer.

The England Men’s team is playing an eye-catching style of Test cricket under the new leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes and are one of the most feared white-ball teams in the world ahead of two ICC tournaments in the next 15 months.

I look forward to engaging with the recommendations of the review in due course. I have been kept updated on the review throughout and have been impressed by its thoroughness. I am open-minded about how we can make our game better – both for our England teams and domestic cricket - and hopeful that we can build consensus among all stakeholders so that we build a system that works for players, fans and the whole of our sport.
 
Somerset have advised the English and Wales Cricket Board that the current domestic schedule is "unacceptable".

The club's response to the playing programme comes after a board meeting to discuss the ECB's ongoing review into the men's game.

A smaller top division in the County Championship and fewer days of cricket are among the review's proposals.

Recommendations are due to be published next week, with any changes needing to be agreed by two-thirds of counties.

Somerset say they "welcomed" the "overarching objective" of the review, led by Sir Andrew Strauss, which aims to deliver sustained success to the England side and help them become the best in the world in all formats within five years.

They were also unanimous in agreement that, after the impact of the pandemic and the current "macro-economic" challenges, reform was necessary "to ensure the game is sustainable in the short, medium and long terms".

With each county set to continue playing 14 Championship matches in 2023 - whatever the final recommendations of the report - Somerset's board do not want a repeat of this summer's schedule at Taunton.

"The current domestic playing programme, which resulted in only four one-day matches being played in Taunton over 43 days in the height of summer this year, with 17 Somerset players unavailable, is unacceptable to the club, its members and the South West's cricketing public," a statement said.

"Over a season, a diet of cricket across all formats which is satisfying for members, paying spectators and players is required."

Those games - in the One-Day Cup last month against Nottinghamshire, Durham, Middlesex and Sussex - all ended in defeat for Somerset, who won only one of their eight group matches having won the competition in 2019.

High-quality cricket can 'inspire' children
Director of cricket Andy Hurry had said the club were being "penalised" for producing quality players after losing eight key members of their squad to this year's Hundred, which was played alongside the 50-over format.

The club's board added it was "crucial the highest standard of men's and women's domestic cricket is available in the South West throughout the summer" to satisfy the "tremendous" demands of members and supporters and "to allow children to be inspired during school holidays and fall in love with cricket".

Other recommendations put to the ECB include establishing a "sustainable funding model" to allow non-Test venue clubs to "thrive" and continue to produce a pathway for talent to play county and international cricket.

The club say "ample time" is given to the counties to discuss any proposed changes with their members and supporters, as well as playing and support staff before anything is finalised.

The ECB was approached for comment by BBC Sport.
 
England's five-test Ashes series will take place in June and July next year, with the full schedule confirmed for both the men and women as they bid to hit back against Australia at home.

Ben Stokes will lead England for the first time in an Ashes series, with the hosts looking to regain the urn for the first time since 2015, and - after a four-day Test against Ireland - it will all begin at Edgbaston on June 16.

The series will then move onto Lord's (June 28-July 2) and Headingley (July 6-10), the scene of Stokes' 2019 heroics, before finishing at Emirates Old Trafford (July 19-23) and The Kia Oval (July 27-31).

It will be the first time in the Ashes' 139-year history that there is no Test in August in England - with the white-ball side looking to defend their 50-over World Cup later in the year from October in India.

The women's Ashes will begin with a five-day Test at Trent Bridge on June 22. That multi-format series then moves on to three IT20s and three ODIs, with the series winner decided by a points system as Heather Knight bids for home glory.

England's women haven't won the Ashes since 2013/14 and, like the men, were dominated in Australia in 2021/22.

A bumper home summer will continue for the men with four IT20s against New Zealand, the first of which is in Durham on August 30 and the last at Trent Bridge on September 5.

Jos Buttler's side will then face the Black Caps in four one-day internationals - in the teams' first 50-over clash since the 2019 World Cup final - before they host Ireland for three more ODIs towards the end of September.

The women, meanwhile, will take on Sri Lanka in three IT20s, and three ODIs.

In addition, the ICC has confirmed that the World Test Championship Final will take place at the Oval in June, while Lord's has been chosen to host in 2025.

"We're absolutely delighted to be hosting two Ashes series in 2023, as well as hosting Ireland men, New Zealand men and Sri Lanka women," said ECB interim Chief Executive Officer Clare Connor.

"Next summer will be huge for England women and England men. There are few events more special in English sport than a home Ashes series and I know that Heather, Ben, and their teams, will be excited and driven by the challenge of regaining the Ashes.

"I am particularly delighted that we have announced our England men and England women's fixtures side by side for the first time, meaning that supporters can enter the ballot or register interest for any fixture on the same day. June and July will be very special months for cricket in this country with the buzz of two Ashes series taking place simultaneously."


England's schedule for Ashes and bumper summer

Men

Test vs Ireland (Lord's) - June 1-4

First Ashes Test vs Australia (Edgbaston) - June 16-20

Second Ashes Test vs Australia (Lord's) - June 28-July 2

Third Ashes Test vs Australia (Headingley) - July 6-10

Fourth Ashes Test vs Australia (Emirates Old Trafford) - July 19-23

Fifth Ashes Test (Kia Oval) vs Australia - July 27-31

First T20 international vs New Zealand (Chester-le-Street) - August 30

Second T20 international vs New Zealand (Emirates Old Trafford) - September 1

Third T20 international vs New Zealand (Edgbaston) - September 3

Fourth T20 international vs New Zealand (Trent Bridge) - September 5

First ODI vs New Zealand (Cardiff) - September 8

Second ODI vs New Zealand (The Ageas Bowl) - September 10

Third ODI vs New Zealand (Kia Oval) - September 13

Fourth ODI vs New Zealand (Lord's) - September 15

First ODI vs Ireland (Headingley) - September 20

Second ODI vs Ireland (Trent Bridge) - September 23

Third ODI vs Ireland (Bristol) - September 26

Women

Ashes Test vs Australia (Trent Bridge) - June 22-26

First Ashes T20 international vs Australia (Edgbaston) - July 1

Second Ashes T20 international vs Australia (Kia Oval) - July 5

Third Ashes T20 international vs Australia (Lord's) - July 8

First Ashes ODI vs Australia (Bristol) - July 12

Second Ashes ODI vs Australia (The Ageas Bowl) - July 16

Third Ashes ODI vs Australia (Taunton) - July 18

First T20 international vs Sri Lanka (Chelmsford) - September 2

Second T20 international vs Sri Lanka (Derby) - September 6

Third T20 international vs Sri Lanka (Chester-le-Street) - September 9

First ODI vs Sri Lanka (Leicester) - September 14

SKY
 
Some fantastic fixtures coming up.

I’m in the ballot for an Ashes ticket.
 
The PCA Players’ Committee has released the following statement upon the publication of the ECB’s High Performance Review of Men's Cricket findings:

The PCA and the players welcome the findings from the ECB’s High Performance Review of Men's Cricket and wish to acknowledge its thanks to the review for its consultation with the PCA and the player representatives.

The PCA and majority of professional players agree that the current schedule is unsustainable and requires reform.

The PCA and the players support the vision to make England the best team in the world across all formats. For this to happen, players need to be allowed space to grow and develop with appropriate rest and recovery to maximise performance and protect player welfare.

It is important as a group of current players our voices are heard to provide a greater appreciation of the demands the current schedule has on player health and wellbeing. Players are encouraged to see the greater emphasis that is being placed on player welfare and this needs to underpin any future decisions on structure and schedule.

A significant majority of current players have supported six key fundamentals required for the game to move forward from:

Retaining an 18-county first-class system
Overall reduction in amount of cricket played
Greater emphasis on the County Championship during the height of summer and it not to be played alongside The Hundred
Maintaining an elite T20 competition for all counties
Reinstating a premier 50-over competition where the best white-ball players can compete

Growth of The Hundred

It is also clear high performing environments do not solely rely upon the domestic schedule and therefore see aspirations to reintroduce an England Under 17s pathway and an increased Lions programme as progressive steps forward.

The PCA Players’ Committee has begun to debate the merits of the findings of the review and more detail is needed. As a group, we will continue to work as a collective to achieve a positive outcome for the players and the game with the aim to futureproof the next generation of domestic and international cricketers in England and Wales.

Players are alert to the changing global landscape of cricket and feel all stakeholders have to act as a matter of urgency in the best interests of the game and for the betterment of the future.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"There was always going to be an element of compromise" &#55358;&#56605;<br><br>Michael Atherton gives his thoughts on the recommendations proposed by Sir Andrew Strauss' high-performance review into English cricket &#55357;&#56590; <a href="https://t.co/SxSsAtFXtL">pic.twitter.com/SxSsAtFXtL</a></p>— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyCricket/status/1572931489494360069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
The number of County Championship matches teams play in a season could be cut from 14 to 10 with a First Division of six teams, under proposals from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB's high-performance review also suggests dedicated windows for the One-Day Cup, T20 Blast and the Hundred.

The review - led by Sir Andrew Strauss - is aimed at improving the success of the England men's team.

"We must be open-minded to change," said former England captain Strauss.

Cricket future 'not all doom and gloom' - Strauss
Somerset tell ECB playing schedule 'unacceptable'
The ECB hopes the revised schedule will allow a greater balance between red and white-ball cricket, produce higher quality matches, ease the strain on players' workloads and better compete with franchise Twenty20 competitions such as the Indian Premier League.

Under the proposals:

The start of the County Championship would move from April to May and run continuously throughout the summer months - rather than being split between the start and end of the summer as it is currently - and finish in September, with teams playing a minimum of 10 games.
There would be two second division conferences of six teams, with one promotion place decided by an end-of-season play-off.
The One-Day Cup would take place in a single block in April and could include minor counties in an FA Cup-style knockout format.
The T20 Blast would reduce from 14 matches to 10 and would also be in a single block from the end of May to end of July.
The Hundred would be the only white-ball competition to take place in August, with 'first-class cricket festivals' offering specialist red-ball players not competing in that competition the chance to play extra matches.
Any changes to the domestic structure have to be agreed by two-thirds of the 18 first-class counties. The ECB hopes to have a final decision by November with an intention to implement the changes in time for the 2024 season.

Essex chief executive and interim chair John Stephenson told BBC Essex that as it currently stands, the club would not vote in favour of any reduction in the Championship.

ADVERTISEMENT

Strauss, a former ECB director of cricket, says the proposals will not please everyone, particularly smaller counties who may fear a loss in revenue, but is confident of reaching an agreement for the greater good of the game.

"It is impossible to keep everyone absolutely content," he told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.

"But what I would say is we have heard universally that the status quo is suboptimal. People want a different solution and that is what we have provided.

"I'm hopeful that the game is going to come together and see the advantages. My job is to talk to a lot of county chairmen over the coming days and weeks and hopefully move things forward."

Why has the ECB proposed these changes?
The ECB cricket committee commissioned the review after England's disastrous Ashes tour of Australia last winter.

It aims to produce an England side that is the world's best team across all formats within five years - defined as being number one in at least one format and in the top three of the others.

"Historically our performance at international level has been below what we would like," Strauss said. "We want to be the best team in the world, across all formats sustainably, we've never really done that.

"The game of cricket is moving very quickly around these tectonic plates everyone keeps talking about - the rise of domestic franchise tournaments around the world. Our players have never had more opportunities outside the international game. We need to be cognizant and recognise that to make sure we're able to both provide opportunities and financial reward for our players to keep involved with English cricket and keep playing international cricket.

"The third issue is around the domestic game, which is such an important part of this. This is the breeding ground of our next England players and it's obviously hugely important to a lot of people."

The report concluded that the average first-class county plays 79 days of cricket during the season, more than any other leading cricket nation. That equates to the average team playing on 45% of days during the season, compared with 31% for players in other leading Test-playing nations.

England Test captain Ben Stokes is one of the most high-profile players to voice concerns about the schedule and cited it as one of the reasons why he retired from one-day internationals earlier this year, though he also told the Telegraph last month that reducing the number of County Championships games was "not the answer".

Under the proposals there would be a 15% reduction in the total volume of cricket played, with the average county playing 11 days fewer.

ECB central contracts would also be adjusted to ease player workloads, particularly for fast bowlers and multi-format players, in response to increasing competition from franchise cricket.

What else has the ECB review recommended?

In total there are 17 recommendations, all of which have been endorsed by the ECB and executive. It plans to implement 15 of the 17 recommendations within its remit, with the other two relating to the domestic schedule subject to approval by the counties.

As well as the schedule, the recommendations are designed to address a number of other concerns with the English game.

Among the proposals is the trial use of the Kookaburra ball in County Championship matches. Cricket in England is usually played with a ball manufactured by Dukes, which tends to move more and for longer, suiting seam bowlers.

The ECB hopes the use of the Kookaburra ball, which is often used abroad and tends to move less, would test seam bowlers' skills more. It could also encourage captains to give more opportunities for spin bowlers, who currently bowl just 22% of overs in England - the lowest of any domestic system.

Other recommendations include:

A North v South game played overseas to give players more experience of playing red ball cricket outside England.
The formation of a 'Performance Advisory Group' consisting of experts from outside of cricket.
An increase in the diversity of people in high-performance roles.
A County Championship bonus points system to encourage positive cricket and incentivise higher quality pitches.
A rebalance the England Lions schedule to an 80/20 focus on red ball v 50-over cricket, with no T20 cricket.
What has the reaction been?

Essex chief Stephenson believes the proposed changes would not improve England's Test cricketers.

"There are differing opinions on all of this and you can have huge debates on what makes a better Test player," he told BBC Essex. "In my opinion reducing the amount of red-ball cricket is not the way to produce better Test cricketers.

"Certainly from an Essex point of view, we wouldn't want to see a reduction in the amount of championship cricket."

Asked for his thoughts on the proposal, Stephenson said: "I am currently interim chair so if a vote was happening tomorrow I would vote on behalf of the club.

"I have spoken to the members, we had a forum the other day so they have been consulted and I have spoken to the board.

"As it currently stands we would not vote in favour of any reduction in the championship, any reduction in red-ball cricket and we wouldn't vote for any reduction in home T20s. We will see where the other counties go with this."

The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) players' committee said they welcomed the findings.

"The PCA and majority of professional players agree that the current schedule is unsustainable and requires reform," a statement read.

"The PCA and the players support the vision to make England the best team in the world across all formats. For this to happen, players need to be allowed space to grow and develop with appropriate rest and recovery to maximise performance and protect player welfare."

It added it would debate "the merits of the findings of the review and more detail is needed" and will work to "achieve a positive outcome for the players and the game".

'It is incredibly difficult to devise a set-up that pleases everyone'
Analysis by Stephan Shemilt, chief cricket writer

The ECB and Andrew Strauss have always been keen to stress that this review isn't only about the domestic structure and the recommendations away from the schedule - use of the Kookaburra ball, a North v South first-class match, tweaking central contracts to guard against franchise leagues - seem sensible, if not really anything new.

But, obviously, it is the recommended changes to the men's county game that will create the biggest headlines and most debate.

Quite often, things that should be a strength of the English game - 18 first-class counties, a huge number of professional cricketers and a dedicated fanbase - are seen as a weakness.

But it is also true that those things have rarely produced an England team that has been recognised as the best in the world, certainly in Test cricket, for a prolonged period.

No other major cricketing nation in the world tries to cram so much action into such a short, unpredictable summer. The domestic set-up is rather like an old city, with bits that have been built and stuck on over time. If you were to start from scratch, it would be an efficient grid system, but would that have the same charm?

The truth is it is incredibly difficult to devise a set-up that pleases everyone. There is universal agreement that the status quo is far from ideal, but finding a plan that serves England, players, the counties, fans and broadcasters is almost impossible.

If the aim is to make England the best team in the world across formats, then Strauss, a man who took the Test team to just that position, is as good a person as anyone to listen to.

Now it's up to the counties to accept or reject his plan, and for the rest of us to see if it will work.

BBC
 
Dawid Malan has publicly backed the proposals for changes to the county game, saying "less cricket at a higher intensity" would benefit players, allow them to commit to all forms and help England's Test side.

The England and Wales Cricket Board's high-performance review, chaired by former England captain and director of cricket Sir Andrew Strauss, has suggested cutting the number of matches in the County Championship and Vitality Blast from 14 to 10.

Those modifications, which include a streamlined red-ball top flight of six teams, could be implemented in time for the 2024 season if at least 12 of the 18 counties vote for them.

Derbyshire statement

"Members raised questions and spoke with passion, with the overriding expression being one of opposition to the proposals which impact the domestic structure, including a reduction in the amount of cricket played across all formats.

"The discourse suggested emphasis should be placed on the schedule, rather than structure, while there is no compelling argument within the current proposals to suggest that change would necessarily be for the betterment of the game."

Derbyshire have become the latest county to oppose the plans, with Lancashire previously expressing "significant concerns" over the proposals and Kent, Essex and Somerset releasing statements opposing the plans the day they were unveiled by the ECB.

Speaking to reporters in Lahore ahead of England's sixth T20 international against Pakistan, Malan said: "If you're a player that is trying to get better at your game, there's no time to work on your game and you're burning yourself out.

"With less cricket at a higher intensity and the ability to actually train and prepare for those games, I think your bowlers will be fitter.

"They will be able to bowl quicker for longer periods, it will be more challenging for batters and you can actually improve your game.

"We can't argue that the county system is working if we've only been number one in the world [in Test cricket] for X amount of time.

"We've produced some world-class cricketers but it's how the English system can produce cricketers that are going to be playing cricket similar to Test cricket.

"Testing them in all conditions, so that when they do make the step up, it's not like you're having to learn on the job.

"If you can create something that's going to encourage people to keep playing all formats of the game, that's going to be the winner for English cricket moving forward.

"It has to make it appealing for players to still want to play four-day cricket, scheduling-wise, so there is a bit of time between games for them to rest, recover and work on their games.

"You don't want to lose a lot of cricket but you don't want to get to the stage where people are saying 'it's too much, and I'd rather play XYZ'.

"Look at a young player like Will Jacks.

"I know he's got Test ambitions but if he starts doing really well and gets into the England white-ball stuff regularly and he's playing around the world in the winter in three or four tournaments, by the time it comes to April, then he is probably knackered after playing three or four [Championship] games.

"Something has to give for players like that."

Malan has no plans to quit red-ball cricket for now and is eager to add to his 22 Test caps, the last of which came during the final Ashes Test in Hobart in January.

However, at 35, the left-hander is realistic about his chances of a comeback in the longest form.

Malan added: "I'd still love to play Test cricket. Whether that's done or not, it's not up to me. I think it's pretty much done, but we'll find out and see how that works out.

"I still want to win trophies and have some goals that I want to achieve in terms of amount of runs and hundreds."

SKY
 
The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced the Central Contract offers for England Men's international cricket for the year from 1 October 2022.

The system, which covers both red-ball and white-ball players, takes into account the likelihood of players featuring in England teams across formats in the next 12 months, whilst also recognising performances in the preceding year.

In total 30 players have received Central Contract offers - 18 England Annual Central Contracts, six England Increment Contracts, and six England Pace Bowling Development Contracts:

England Annual Central Contracts

Moeen Ali (Warwickshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Foakes (Surrey)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)

England Increment Contracts

Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
David Willey (Northamptonshire from 1 Nov 22)

England Pace Bowling Development Contracts

Brydon Carse (Durham)
Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire from 1 Nov 22)

Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and Lancashire batter Liam Livingstone are the two new recipients of England Annual Central Contract offers, whilst Harry Brook, Matthew Potts and Reece Topley are offered England Increment Contracts, their first Central Contracts.

To support the development of high-potential seam bowlers, Brydon Carse, Matthew Fisher and Jamie Overton are offered Pace Bowling Development Contracts for the first time joining Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton and Olly Stone on this form of Central Contract.

Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, said: "I feel we have rewarded those players who have made a significant impact over the previous 12 months and those we expect to be part of England's plans over the next period.

"The international game continues to evolve, and we must be mindful that we have to lead the way in player performance across the sport. The aim is to develop world-class players in all three formats as we strive to become the best team in the world.

"I would like to congratulate all the players offered agreements for the coming year. They will all play a pivotal role in England's efforts over the next 12 months."
 
MenInG said:
England Annual Central Contracts

Moeen Ali (Warwickshire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Foakes (Surrey)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)

England Increment Contracts

Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
David Willey (Northamptonshire from 1 Nov 22)

England Pace Bowling Development Contracts

Brydon Carse (Durham)
Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire from 1 Nov 22)
Click to expand...

Seems like the right choices all the way through.

They obviously still have hopes for Jofra.

Looks like Alex Lees is done already…
 
A man who was sexually assaulted by a former Durham cricket coach as a child has called for an independent inquiry into abuse within the sport.

He said he has received no support from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and wants an investigation similar to football's Sheldon Report.

'David', who cannot be named for legal reasons, was repeatedly abused by former Durham junior coach and scout Michael Strange while he was playing for a local club.

Strange, 62, of Gateshead, has been convicted on four separate occasions over the past decade of sexually abusing young players he coached.

In 2015 he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting David and was sentenced to three years in prison the following year.

He was jailed in 2012 for six years for the abuse of three boys going back to the 1990s.

In 2020 he was given an extra four and a half years behind bars for indecently assaulting another boy and was jailed for an additional 40 months this year for two indecent assaults.

David believes abusers like Strange will have been involved at other clubs elsewhere in the country.

The Football Association (FA) commissioned the independent Sheldon Report into historic sex abuse allegations after former players waived their anonymity to speak out about the abuse they suffered at the hands of coaches Barry Bennell, Bob Higgins and others.

The review was published in 2021 and identified institutional failings at the FA and within clubs, stating that warning signs were missed out of "ignorance and naivety".

In 2017 the ECB opted against an independent inquiry - independent ECB directors conducted a review instead - and it has not commissioned an independent review specifically focused on Strange.

David said: "I think it would be beneficial (to hold a Sheldon-style review).

"The publicity that could prompt someone to speak out is a better thing than not doing anything at all."

Durham County Cricket Club have been approached for comment, while the ECB said Strange was permanently disqualified from all cricket activity in 2006 and it does not have details for subsequent offences, which were dealt with by the police.

An ECB spokesperson said: "We are deeply disturbed by the abuse 'David' suffered and the impact it has had on him since. No-one should ever have to experience what he did.

"We are working with the statutory agencies to understand a detailed chronology in the intervening years to the extent those agencies are able to share information with us.

"Everyone should feel safe while playing cricket and safeguarding is a priority for the ECB.

"The ECB has executive and board leads for safeguarding and a dedicated safeguarding team which supports the network of trained safeguarding roles at all counties and clubs.

"In addition, a new safeguarding strategy is due to be published shortly which incorporates all of the recommendations from the Sheldon Report, most of which were already implemented or in progress prior to the Sheldon Report being published."
BBC
 
Richard Gould announced as new ECB Chief Executive Officer

The England and Wales Cricket Board today announces that Richard Gould will join as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Gould, 52, will take up the post at the end of January, moving from his current role as CEO of Bristol City Football Club.
He brings significant leadership experience from major organisations across sport, having served as CEO at first Somerset County Cricket Club and then Surrey County Cricket Club before taking up his current role in 2021.

The Nominations Committee unanimously recommended Mr Gould to the ECB Board who ratified the decision on Friday. Clare Connor will continue as Interim CEO until Mr Gould’s arrival.

As CEO, Mr Gould will work to deliver the vision set out by ECB Chair Richard Thompson to make cricket the most inclusive sport in the country. At Surrey, he was instrumental in the launch of the ACE Programme in 2020, which is now an independent charity designed to engage a new generation of children and young people from Black communities within the recreational game and talent pathway.
Richard Gould said: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead our game forward in England and Wales as part of a talented and committed team that encompasses the ECB, every cricket club in the land, all the counties, our partners, sponsors, fans and the army of players and volunteers that support the game in every corner of our country.

“Cricket is a national asset that can be played by all and helps strengthen and enhance communities across the nation. It can inspire the country and provides opportunities for all. But we have also seen the pain suffered by those who have experienced discrimination. We are determined to repair this damage and show that cricket can become the most inclusive and welcoming sport of all.

“I look forward to taking up the role in the new year, but for now will be an armchair fan supporting our men’s team in the T20 World Cup in Australia, whilst the women prepare for their T20 World Cup challenge in February.”

Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said: “When I joined the ECB, I said that this was a reset moment for our organisation and our sport. Recruiting a CEO who can lead the organisation forwards and deliver on the vision of becoming the UK’s most inclusive sport was one of the first important steps in that. With his outstanding leadership skills and experience of managing transformation, the Nominations Committee felt that Richard Gould was the outstanding candidate.

“I am looking forward to working with Richard to not only bring our game together, but to show how cricket can do so much more in bringing communities together. We will work in a spirit of collaboration and partnership with the whole cricket network to do this.

“I’d also like to express my sincere thanks to Clare Connor who has done an outstanding job as Interim CEO at an incredibly challenging time for the organisation. I look forward to her continuing to play a leading role in growing our game as part of the ECB’s leadership team when Richard joins.”

Martin Darlow, ECB Deputy Chair, said: “This has been a thorough and rigorous process in which as Deputy Chair I've been involved from start to finish, and the Nominations Committee was in universal agreement that Richard Gould was the outstanding candidate. He demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of working with the whole game to overcome the challenges we face and to grow our game and broaden participation through delivery of our Inspiring Generations strategy. I'm looking forward to working with Richard when he joins.”
A former tank commander in the British Army, Mr Gould was Commercial Director of Bristol City between June 2001 and June 2005 before joining Somerset County Cricket Club for five years as CEO and then moving to the Kia Oval.
 
For anyone following the forthcoming Cricket Discipline Commission hearing, please find an update below:

Appeals have been filed by a number of the Respondents in relation to the decisions of the CDC Panel following the Preliminary Issues hearing last month. The appeals now need to be heard and therefore the full CDC hearing into the ECB’s charges against Yorkshire CCC and a number of individuals will no longer start on 28 November. That hearing is now expected to take place in early 2023.
 
MenInG said:
For anyone following the forthcoming Cricket Discipline Commission hearing, please find an update below:

Appeals have been filed by a number of the Respondents in relation to the decisions of the CDC Panel following the Preliminary Issues hearing last month. The appeals now need to be heard and therefore the full CDC hearing into the ECB’s charges against Yorkshire CCC and a number of individuals will no longer start on 28 November. That hearing is now expected to take place in early 2023.
Click to expand...

That'll keep happening..it's a shambles
 
Jon Lewis has been appointed as Head Coach of England Women.

Lewis has been ECB’s Elite Pace Bowling Coach since 2021, working alongside the England Men’s Test and white-ball teams. He took over 1,200 professional wickets in a 19-year professional career at Gloucestershire, Surrey and Sussex, and played 15 times for his country.

Lewis and his new team will depart for West Indies on November 29.

England’s ODI and IT20 squads for the Caribbean will be announced next week.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
<b>Luke Wright joins selection team as England Men’s Selector</b>

Former England and Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright has been appointed England Men’s Selector, joining the group responsible for picking national men’s squads.

Wright will input into all England Men’s squads and team selections from senior teams to Lions and Young Lions. He will share responsibility for selection with coaches and captains of the red and white ball teams, England Men’s Managing Director Rob Key, Performance Director Mo Bobat and Player ID Lead David Court.

Once he takes up the role, he will be responsible for being across all domestic cricket in the summer, will be involved in decisions on Central Contracts, and will work closely with Bobat, Court and the scouting network on talent identification. He will also work with the ECB science and medicine team on player availability and programming.


Rob Key, Managing Director, England Men’s Cricket, said:

“Off the back of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup win and a successful summer for our men’s Test team, I’m delighted that Luke will be joining as England Selector. With his significant experience of playing in England and overseas as well as his in-depth knowledge of county cricket, he will be an important voice in squad selection while also helping to identify the next generation of England stars.

“It’s an exciting time for England men’s cricket, but with the Ashes and the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup next year there is a lot of hard work ahead if we are to build upon what has been an exciting year.”


Luke Wright said:

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to take on this role, one that I am incredibly excited about. With the Ashes and ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup next year, I can’t wait to get started and try to contribute after what has been a fantastic year for England men’s cricket.”

Wright began his career at Leicestershire before joining Sussex in 2004 where he has played ever since. He played more than 100 times for England between 2007 and 2014, winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2010, and has also played in overseas leagues including the Big Bash League, Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League. He has recently been gaining coaching experience.

He is currently coaching with Auckland Cricket and will finish his time there before starting the England Selector role at the end of March, ready for the start of the English season.
 
The England and Wales Cricket Board has appointed Neil Killeen as men’s Elite Pace Bowling Coach.

Killeen, 47, joins from his home county Durham where he has been a player and coach for 30 years. He has been a bowling coach at Durham since 2011, most recently as the club’s Assistant Lead and Head Bowling Coach, and will begin his new role from 18 January following an open recruitment process.

Killeen replaces Jon Lewis, who was appointed as England Women’s Head Coach in November, and will work across the England Men’s pathways programmes, with a focus on developing and preparing England Men’s next-in-line pace bowlers.

During his playing days Killeen made more than 300 appearances across all formats for Durham and is the club’s leading wicket-taker in List A cricket.

Killeen said: “I’m delighted to be appointed Elite Pace Bowling Coach with the ECB and can’t wait to get started with a new challenge.

“It’s an exciting time to be joining the ECB, as there is a wealth of fast-bowling talent and coaching around the country that I’m looking forward to working with in order to maintain England’s strong contingent of pace bowlers in the future.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Durham for the continued support both as a player and a coach over the last 30 years, it has been a great journey.

“A big thank you also to all the members for their continued support throughout my career. I look forward to returning and watching alongside them in the future. It has been an honour to represent the club and I would like to wish them continued success for the future.”

England Performance Director, Mo Bobat, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to appoint someone of Neil’s calibre and experience into the role of Elite Pace Bowling Coach.

“Neil has a proven track record of developing world-class pace bowlers and, at a time when we have an abundance of pace-bowling talent, having someone of his quality to oversee their progress, as well as work with counties on their programmes, represents a real asset for us.

“In addition to supporting the six players currently on pace bowling development contracts, Neil’s coaching will focus primarily at Lions level, but will also see him move up and down the pathway, working with England bowlers and our Young Lions programme.

“I’d like to specifically thank Durham for releasing Neil so swiftly from his responsibilities there, enabling Neil to get started with us almost immediately.”
 
PRESS RELEASE - 28 APRIL 2023

ECB announces four new Non-Executive Directors

Penny Avis, Baroness Zahida Manzoor CBE, Jennifer Owen Adams and Gareth Williams will all add their expertise to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after being appointed its newest Non-Executive Directors.

The three-year appointments follow the loss of Brenda Trenowden CBE, who passed away in August 2022, and a number of current Board members leaving the Board at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Penny Avis, currently the Senior Independent Director at the PGA European Tour, and Baroness Manzoor, Chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service, will become Independent Non-Executive Directors, while Jennifer Owen Adams, currently Chair of Cricket Wales, and Gareth Williams, Chair of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, join as Cricket Non-Executive Directors.

Appointments of two further Cricket Non-Executive Directors will be confirmed in due course.

ECB Chair Richard Thompson said: “It gives me great pleasure in welcoming Zahida, Jennifer, Penny and Gareth onto our Board. They are all exceptional leaders with demonstrable strategic experience and expertise across a range of different fields, and are all passionate about our sport.

“The ECB is privileged to be able to call upon their knowledge, communication skills, integrity, judgement, and independence. We look forward to having all four leading and supporting the growth of cricket in England and Wales at this vital time for our game, as we seek to make cricket the most inclusive sport in the UK.”

Penny Avis is a former Deloitte UK board member and a hugely experienced Non-Executive Director. She is the Senior Independent Director at the PGA European Tour, chair of the Deloitte Former Partners Association, and a former Non-Executive Director at UK Athletics, Cifas, Envestors, and Equitable Life.

Baroness Zahida Manzoor CBE is a former regional chair of the NHS, Trustee of the NSPCC and is currently the Chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service. She was appointed to the House of Lords in 2013, having amassed significant Board experience in large, complex organisations. Educated at the University of Leeds and the University of Bradford, she has been awarded five honorary doctorates in recognition of her achievements.

Jennifer Owen Adams is the Chair of Cricket Wales. Educated at Loughborough University, she spent most of her professional career in education and the 'Third' sectors. She has been a member of the ECB’s Participation and Growth committee, is an Independent Member of the Powys Teaching Health Board, inaugural Chair of dance organisation Impelo, and a former director of Wales, Midlands and North West for education charity Teach First.

Gareth Williams has been Chair of Glamorgan County Cricket Club since 2018. A solicitor, he was the senior partner at Wales’s largest law firm, Hugh James, for 12 years before his retirement from the partnership in 2017. Gareth specialised in sports law, representing a wide range of national governing bodies, clubs and high profile individuals. In addition, Gareth has been Chair of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and of the University of South Wales.

The appointments will be ratified at the ECB AGM in May.

The ECB has been recruiting a number of Independent and Cricket Non-Executive Directors following the death of Ms Trenowden, and several other current Board members stepping down at next month’s AGM, including Barry O’Brien, Jim Wood, Lucy Pearson, Valerie Amos and Martin Darlow.

Sir Andrew Strauss will also stand down as Strategic Adviser to the ECB Board and Chair of the Performance Cricket Committee at the time of the AGM after many years of outstanding service to the ECB. He took up the Board role in September 2020, and also stood in as interim Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket for a period between February and May 2022. He previously served as Director of England Cricket for three and a half years until October 2018. Having recently taken on additional external responsibilities, Andrew has decided it is time to step away from his ECB role.

Richard Thompson said: “Andrew has given outstanding service to English cricket over many years in a number of different roles. I’ve greatly valued the advice and expertise he has provided in my time as Chair, and have enjoyed working with him. We are currently implementing the vast majority of recommendations from his impressive High Performance Review, which I believe will help our England Men’s teams to sustain their success. I have no doubt he has much more to contribute to the game and hope he will return in the future.”

Sir Andrew Strauss said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at the ECB and am proud of having contributed to a successful period for our England teams. With increasing commitments outside of the organisation, sadly I’ve decided it’s time to step away from my current role. I wish the new Board all the very best as it continues in its mission to grow our game.”

In addition, David Mahoney MBE, currently Chief Operating Officer, will be standing down from his role on 1 September to pursue new opportunities. David will carry on his work for the ECB over the summer and from 1 September will continue to provide support to the ECB in an advisory capacity.
 
Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of The Hundred, is to leave the ECB after the conclusion of the competition this year.

Sanjay has led the creation and launch of the new competition, which has attracted attendances of more than 1m over the first two years. It has attracted more families, women and children to cricket, with 22% of tickets going to children last year and 28% of female ticket buyers, and more than 14m tuning in to watch on TV.

The competition has generated over £100m of revenue in its first two years and looks set for a successful third year as well, with 275,000 tickets already sold. It has won a number of awards including Event of the Year in the 2022 Sport Industry Awards as well as claiming the Fan Engagement Award at this year’s ceremony.

He joined the ECB in 2015 as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer before adding responsibility for the new competition in 2018. It has been his sole focus since January 2019.

In his previous commercial role, Sanjay helped deliver a media rights partnership with Sky and the BBC aimed at widening engagement with cricket and concluding several record-breaking deals with new partners. He also oversaw significant growth in the ECB’s digital and marketing channels.

Sanjay Patel said: “I would like to thank Sky, the BBC, and all our commercial partners for their support.

“I would also particularly like to thank my whole team for their hard work and dedication in launching the competition. I will always be grateful for their support and friendship. We have come a long way in a short space of time and it is down to their brilliance.

“I will miss this job and the people immensely but once we’ve completed the third season of The Hundred I believe the time will be right for me to look for a new adventure.”

Sanjay will continue in his role until the end of this year’s competition.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “I’d like to thank Sanjay for all his work and dedication at the ECB over many years, and wish him the very best for the future.

“There’s no doubt that The Hundred has been a success, helping cricket reach new audiences, bringing in important revenue and propelling the game forwards. It plays an important role in our game and I’m looking forward to a very long and successful future for The Hundred.”
 
Apparently empty stands for Vitality Blast while the future of 'The Hundred' is in question. BBL has already cut down on 16 games, I think this franchise cricket bubble has already burst.
 
sam_ahm said:
Apparently empty stands for Vitality Blast while the future of 'The Hundred' is in question. BBL has already cut down on 16 games, I think this franchise cricket bubble has already burst.
Click to expand...

Pretty pathetic

Fw_o19xXgAYIIUw
 
The England and Wales Cricket Board has appointed James Foster, Richard Scott and Owais Shah to the England Men’s scouting team.

The trio are responsible for scouting red-ball and white-ball domestic cricket to inform selection for England Men and England Lions teams and programmes.

Former England internationals Foster and Shah boast extensive playing and coaching experience, while former Middlesex coach Scott is involved in pathway cricket and will bring a perspective of both the county game and players developing through the pathway.

Foster has worked as a part of the England Men's team across formats and is the current Men's Northern Superchargers and Desert Vipers head coach. He will combine his scouting role with his coaching duties in franchise and International cricket.

Shah, capped 94 times by England across three formats, has vast experience across the world and coached Rajashi Royals to the 2020 Bangladesh Premier League title.

Scott enjoyed a six-year county career with Hampshire and Gloucestershire before taking on the role as Middlesex coach, where he worked with players who progressed to England honours.

ECB Player ID and Talent Pathway Lead, David Court, said: “Scouting is a key function of our Player Identification activity and aims to balance our objective data analysis with expert observations and judgment. We’re delighted that Owais, Richard and James are joining the scouting team and will each bring a unique perspective on players.

“They will specifically inform selections for our England Men’s and England Lions teams and programmes.”
 
The venues hosting England Men's and England Women’s international matches over the seven-year period from 2025 to 2031 have been announced.

With this year’s hotly anticipated LV= Insurance Men’s Ashes and Metro Bank Women’s Ashes series just days away, the seven-year schedule sets out the details of two more huge Ashes summers to look forward to:

England Men will take on Australia Men in a five-Test series at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Ageas Bowl in 2027, with England Women meeting Australia Women in a Test match at Headingley as part of a multi-format series the same summer.

In 2031, the Men’s sides will contest five Tests at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Emirates Old Trafford, Headingley and Trent Bridge, while the Women’s multi-format series will include a Test match at The Ageas Bowl.
Further details of the match allocations, which have been agreed by the ECB Board, include:

England Men’s next two Test series against India will take place at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley and Emirates Old Trafford in 2025; and at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford and The Ageas Bowl in 2029.

England Women will play at Lord’s during each of the seven years during this period, with other major venues including The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley, Emirates Old Trafford, Trent Bridge and the The Ageas Bowl each hosting the team at least four times during this period. England Women’s internationals will also continue to be hosted at other venues around the country which have historically hosted games.

Edgbaston will remain the home of Vitality Blast Finals Day.

Allocations have been announced for seven years, rather than the previous five-year period, to give venues greater certainty and to encourage sustainable investment in facilities. For the first time, the same process has been used for allocating Men’s and Women’s international matches, over the same period.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “This year’s Men’s and Women’s Ashes are only days away, but fans can already start looking forward to more great clashes up and down the country in the years ahead.

“For the first time, we are announcing long-term allocations for Women’s international matches as well as Men’s. We have seen huge growth in attendances for Women’s matches in recent years, with this year’s Women’s Ashes smashing previous records, and we want to build further on this in the years ahead.

“By announcing arrangements for the next seven years, we are also giving venues long-term certainty so that they can invest sustainably into stadium improvements and improved fan experiences.”
 
The ECB is today publishing details of further steps it will take to make cricket a more inclusive sport in response to the recent report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC).

Wide-ranging action aims to tackle discrimination and break down barriers for women and girls, people from lower socio-economic groups, and ethnically diverse communities.

It will accelerate and bolster work already under way across the game designed to make cricket the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales – and aims to address the ICEC’s conclusions that structural and institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination continue to exist across cricket.

The response includes:

Enhanced EDI education and setting new values and behaviours for the ECB to help create a game-wide transformation in culture.

Investing a minimum of £25m per year above forecasted women’s revenues to further grow the women’s and girls’ game at every level during the current broadcast cycle (which runs until 2028).

Introducing further independence in our regulatory processes by establishing a new Cricket Regulator, overseen by an independent Cricket Regulatory Board - and ring-fenced from the rest of the ECB - which will be responsible for enforcement of regulations and carrying out investigations. 

Increasing match fees for England Women to equalise them with England Men, and tripling the number of girls’ club teams by 2026. 

Working with partners in the wider game to design an enhanced and expanded Talent Pathway that aims to remove barriers and increase opportunity. Our aim is that by 2025, finance will not be a barrier for Talent Pathway participants.

Developing Action Plans, as requested by the ICEC, to tackle barriers for state school pupils and Black and other Ethnically Diverse communities.

Investing an extra £2m into charity partners to boost their work in breaking down barriers, particularly for state school, Black and British South Asian children and young people – the African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) Programme, Chance to Shine, Lord’s Taverners, MCC Foundation and South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA).

Developing a game-wide Volunteering Strategy and integrating key EDI principles into training. 

Providing support and training across the cricket network to enhance understanding of discrimination and the management of complaints across the cricket network, as well as launching a charter setting out clear expectations of both complainants and the investigating body to ensure a fair and transparent outcome for all.

Adding victimisation as an offence in the Anti-Discrimination Code. 

Including enhanced EDI standards in the next County Partnership Agreements (CPAs) from 2025, and adding more ambitious County Board targets for gender diversity and ethnic diversity based on local demographics. Venues hosting major matches will be assessed against their performance against EDI minimum standards.  

Today’s response follows a three-month period of consultation following the report’s publication. The ECB has held more than 50 consultation meetings with a wide range of cricket organisations, equality experts, charities and individuals to help us identify how best to implement the findings. We are taking forward most of the ICEC’s recommendations. Many we will be implementing by the letter – or, indeed, have already been implemented. Others we will implement in slightly different ways or to a different timescale, and there are only a small number we will not take forward.

The response also sets out how the ECB will report on progress, including annual progress updates on our EDI Action Plan and a full State of Equity report every three years. To provide further independent perspectives and expertise to help us become the most inclusive sport, we will will also establish an EDI Advisory Panel with a wide range of expertise to help us ensure that our investments and initiatives are having the intended impact.

Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said: “On the day the ICEC published its report, I apologised without reservation on behalf of cricket’s wider leadership to anyone who has suffered discrimination or felt excluded from our sport. As well as reiterating that apology here, I reaffirm our absolute commitment that cricket will strive to become the most inclusive sport in England and Wales.

“There is no doubt that the ICEC highlighted to great effect the impact of discrimination on individuals and the extent of the systemic challenges to be addressed. Its in-depth analysis also presented an opportunity to put in place a comprehensive plan of action that will deliver meaningful change and rebuild trust among the communities we serve.

“This response represents a set of actions that will accelerate and intensify our work to make cricket a game for everyone, actions that cricket can deliver and fund within an achievable timeframe. It builds on a huge amount of work which is already under way right across the network.

“Cricket hasn’t got it right in the past, but this is an opportunity to move forwards together. I’d urge everyone to now come together, to put their energy and effort into delivering these actions, and to playing their part in ensuring cricket becomes England and Wales’s most inclusive team sport.”
 
MenInG said:
The ECB is today publishing details of further steps it will take to make cricket a more inclusive sport in response to the recent report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC).

Wide-ranging action aims to tackle discrimination and break down barriers for women and girls, people from lower socio-economic groups, and ethnically diverse communities.

It will accelerate and bolster work already under way across the game designed to make cricket the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales – and aims to address the ICEC’s conclusions that structural and institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination continue to exist across cricket.

The response includes:

Enhanced EDI education and setting new values and behaviours for the ECB to help create a game-wide transformation in culture.

Investing a minimum of £25m per year above forecasted women’s revenues to further grow the women’s and girls’ game at every level during the current broadcast cycle (which runs until 2028).

Introducing further independence in our regulatory processes by establishing a new Cricket Regulator, overseen by an independent Cricket Regulatory Board - and ring-fenced from the rest of the ECB - which will be responsible for enforcement of regulations and carrying out investigations. 

Increasing match fees for England Women to equalise them with England Men, and tripling the number of girls’ club teams by 2026. 

Working with partners in the wider game to design an enhanced and expanded Talent Pathway that aims to remove barriers and increase opportunity. Our aim is that by 2025, finance will not be a barrier for Talent Pathway participants.

Developing Action Plans, as requested by the ICEC, to tackle barriers for state school pupils and Black and other Ethnically Diverse communities.

Investing an extra £2m into charity partners to boost their work in breaking down barriers, particularly for state school, Black and British South Asian children and young people – the African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) Programme, Chance to Shine, Lord’s Taverners, MCC Foundation and South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA).

Developing a game-wide Volunteering Strategy and integrating key EDI principles into training. 

Providing support and training across the cricket network to enhance understanding of discrimination and the management of complaints across the cricket network, as well as launching a charter setting out clear expectations of both complainants and the investigating body to ensure a fair and transparent outcome for all.

Adding victimisation as an offence in the Anti-Discrimination Code. 

Including enhanced EDI standards in the next County Partnership Agreements (CPAs) from 2025, and adding more ambitious County Board targets for gender diversity and ethnic diversity based on local demographics. Venues hosting major matches will be assessed against their performance against EDI minimum standards.  

Today’s response follows a three-month period of consultation following the report’s publication. The ECB has held more than 50 consultation meetings with a wide range of cricket organisations, equality experts, charities and individuals to help us identify how best to implement the findings. We are taking forward most of the ICEC’s recommendations. Many we will be implementing by the letter – or, indeed, have already been implemented. Others we will implement in slightly different ways or to a different timescale, and there are only a small number we will not take forward.

The response also sets out how the ECB will report on progress, including annual progress updates on our EDI Action Plan and a full State of Equity report every three years. To provide further independent perspectives and expertise to help us become the most inclusive sport, we will will also establish an EDI Advisory Panel with a wide range of expertise to help us ensure that our investments and initiatives are having the intended impact.

Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said: “On the day the ICEC published its report, I apologised without reservation on behalf of cricket’s wider leadership to anyone who has suffered discrimination or felt excluded from our sport. As well as reiterating that apology here, I reaffirm our absolute commitment that cricket will strive to become the most inclusive sport in England and Wales.

“There is no doubt that the ICEC highlighted to great effect the impact of discrimination on individuals and the extent of the systemic challenges to be addressed. Its in-depth analysis also presented an opportunity to put in place a comprehensive plan of action that will deliver meaningful change and rebuild trust among the communities we serve.

“This response represents a set of actions that will accelerate and intensify our work to make cricket a game for everyone, actions that cricket can deliver and fund within an achievable timeframe. It builds on a huge amount of work which is already under way right across the network.

“Cricket hasn’t got it right in the past, but this is an opportunity to move forwards together. I’d urge everyone to now come together, to put their energy and effort into delivering these actions, and to playing their part in ensuring cricket becomes England and Wales’s most inclusive team sport.”
Click to expand...

However, former Yorkshire player and racism whistle-blower Azeem Rafiq believes the report lacks accountability and transparency about the new independent regulator, which the ECB hope to have in place for the start of the 2024 season.

"I expected the three-month response to be detailed, clear with strong commitments and unfortunately from what I’ve read it falls incredibly short and it’s flimsy at best. How independent is the new regulator? We don't have any detail about it." Rafiq said speaking to Sky Sports.

"There are a couple of positives with commitments around women's cricket and match-fee equalisation, that should be the bare minimum. These commitments are important, but is it going to solve the other issues that led us here in the first place? I don't think it will."

Rafiq also said he remains concerned for other South Asian players coming through the domestic set up who are still facing discriminatory attitudes.

UK minister for sport Stuart Andrew said he was "encouraged" by the ECB's plans but added that the government would be watching "closely".

"Sport must be open to everyone - there is absolutely no place for racism, discrimination, bullying or harassment in sport or society.

"The ICEC report was a comprehensive examination of the game. It made for difficult reading.

"I am encouraged by the concrete actions set out by the ECB, such as the investment being made in the women's game. We will closely watch if, and how, these new measures make the sport more inclusive."

Skycricket
 
England Men’s Performance Director Mo Bobat is to leave the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) early next year to take up a new opportunity in cricket.

Bobat, who joined the ECB in 2011, has overseen the England Men’s pathway for the past four years, identifying, developing and preparing the pipeline of players that form England’s extensive talent pool across all formats.

England Men have been crowned double world champions – jointly holding the ICC Men’s World Cup and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup – during his tenure as Performance Director.

Bobat had previously managed the England Men’s Under-19s programme, until 2016, before he was the ECB’s first Player Identification Lead.

Bobat, who will remain in his role at the ECB until February next year, said: “I’ve had the most amazing 12 years at the ECB and it’s been both an honour and a privilege to have spent the last four years as Performance Director. Supporting our efforts towards multiple Ashes campaigns and World Cups has quite literally been the stuff of dreams.

“I’ll be forever grateful for all of the opportunities and support that I received over the years and will carry with me many special memories, shared achievements and friendships.

“I’d like to thank all of my current and former colleagues, and of course all of the players that I’ve been able to enjoy time with. I’d specifically like to thank Rob Key for showing me so much trust over the last 18 months and for enabling my preferred transition towards my new professional challenge.

“When the time comes, I’ll leave with the heaviest of hearts and will take pride in knowing that our international pathway is in great health and filled with outstanding people.”

England Men’s Managing Director, Rob Key, said: “This is a bittersweet moment for me personally because while I am delighted that Mo has been given an unbelievable opportunity, it marks the end of probably the most enjoyable partnership of any career I have had.

“When I first arrived at the ECB 18 months ago Mo was the guiding hand that allowed me to get my feet under the table and to get on with my role. I have absolutely no doubt I would have drowned without his support and expertise.

“His 12 years at the ECB should be an inspiration for many and shows what can be achieved if you never give up and keep believing in yourself.

“All anyone ever wants is to have an impact in whatever they do, and Mo can look back and see that he's not only impacted English cricket but impacted England cricketers. I wish him all the best.”
 
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the Central Contract offers for England Men's international cricket for the year from 1 October 2023.

The system, which covers both red-ball and white-ball players, considers the likelihood of players featuring in England teams across formats over the next period while recognising performances in the preceding year. Multi-year contracts have been awarded for the first time since central contracts were established in 2000. The ECB has worked closely with the Professional Cricketers’ Association and Team England Player Partnership on behalf of the players to reach an outcome for all parties.

In total, 29 players have received Central Contract offers - 18 England Multi-Year Central Contracts, eight England Annual Central Contracts, and three England Development Contracts.

England Three-Year Central Contracts:

Harry Brook (Yorkshire)

Joe Root (Yorkshire)

Mark Wood (Durham)

England Two-Year Central Contracts:

Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)

Jofra Archer (Sussex)

Gus Atkinson (Surrey)

Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)

Jos Buttler (Lancashire)

Brydon Carse (Durham)

Zak Crawley (Kent)

Sam Curran (Surrey)

Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)

Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)

Ollie Pope (Surrey)

Matthew Potts (Durham)

Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)

Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire – from 1 November)

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

England One-Year Central Contracts:

Moeen Ali (Warwickshire)

James Anderson (Lancashire)

Ben Foakes (Surrey)

Jack Leach (Somerset)

Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)

Ollie Robinson (Sussex)

Ben Stokes (Durham)

Reece Topley (Surrey)

England Development Contracts:

Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire)

Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)

John Turner (Hampshire)

Seven players (Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue) receive an England Central Contract offer for the first time. Yorkshire batter Dawid Malan also returns to an annual contract after missing out last year.

Matthew Fisher, Saqib Mahmood and John Turner are offered Development Contracts to support the development of high-potential talent.

Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, said: "We are rewarding those players who we expect to make a significant impact over the coming years playing for England.

"It is great news and a credit to the players for demonstrating their commitment to English cricket in the ever-changing landscape of the sport.

"I would like to congratulate all the players who have been offered contracts. They will play a pivotal role in England's efforts over the next few years.”​

ECB
 
Rob Andrew joins ECB as Managing Director, Professional Game

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Rob Andrew has been appointed as Managing Director, Professional Game. He will join the ECB from Sussex CCC, where he has been Chief Executive since 2017.

Formerly an international rugby union player for England Men, he was also Director of Rugby at Newcastle Falcons and Director of Professional Rugby at the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The new role succeeds that of Managing Director, County Cricket and will see Andrew assuming responsibility for growing and nurturing both men’s and women’s professional domestic cricket in line with the Inspiring Generations strategy, and overseeing engagement with the First Class Counties and Women’s Regional Teams.

The position forms part of the ECB’s Senior Leadership Team with overall responsibility for the professional domestic game, including management of the County Partnership Agreement and support of the Professional Game Committee, which has responsibility to provide strategic advice to the ECB Board in relation to men’s and women’s professional cricket.​

ECB
 
Some interesting observations by the ECB

Wonder if other countries share the same views in terms of some of the below findings?

Cricket improves people’s lives –

80% of players agreed that playing cricket keeps them active in a way that they wouldn’t be without it.

83% of parents say their child’s confidence has been boosted by taking part in the ECB’s All Stars and Dynamos programmes.

78% of players agreed cricket helps them to develop skills that are useful in their personal and professional lives.

==

ECB publishes Impact of Cricket Report


The first-of-its-kind report focuses on the impact the sport has on people and communities

The ECB worked with The Sports Consultancy (TSC), who assessed the ECB’s projects, programmes and data in recent years, and the outcomes and impacts that they deliver

The report shows how cricket keeps people fit and healthy, builds children’s confidence and has positive impacts on communities and social cohesion

The Impact of Cricket also captures the growth of the sport in 2023 and the efforts underway to become more sustainable and resilient to climate change

The ECB has today published its first Impact of Cricket Report, looking at the effect that the sport has on the people and communities in England and Wales.

The report demonstrates the benefits that cricket brings to people’s lives by helping them to be more active, supporting mental wellbeing and fostering connections in local communities. Some selected findings below show that:

Cricket improves people’s lives –

80% of players agreed that playing cricket keeps them active in a way that they wouldn’t be without it.

83% of parents say their child’s confidence has been boosted by taking part in the ECB’s All Stars and Dynamos programmes.

78% of players agreed cricket helps them to develop skills that are useful in their personal and professional lives.

Cricket connects communities –

92% of players agreed playing makes them feel part of the community.

79% of volunteers believe their volunteering has had a positive impact on their community.

83% of players agreed that playing cricket means they appreciate people from different backgrounds.
By growing the game, more people will benefit from these positive impacts, with the ECB’s activities and initiatives supporting the long-term future of cricket and creating more opportunities for people to get involved in the sport. Some examples include -

1.1 million children played cricket through ECB programmes, partner programmes or organised play last year.
2023 has seen 717 new women’s and girls’ teams – a 20% growth in the last year.

526 recreational clubs have been funded to make their facilities more accessible and welcoming in a single year due to a focus on breaking down barriers to people getting involved.

Access to cricket in urban areas is improving thanks to money targeted into the most deprived areas, with over 30,000 players engaged to play through hubs which bring together cricket and other local services.

With support from the #Funds4Runs initiative with LV=, over 3,000 bursaries have helped people from underrepresented groups to start coaching cricket since 2021.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Impact of Cricket demonstrates the power of our sport and the positive effect it can have on the lives of players, fans or volunteers - and on the communities where it is played.

“By going through the process of producing an impact report, it was our aim to learn more, both about what is working well and where there are opportunities to have greater impact. Our ambition is to make cricket the most inclusive sport in England and Wales. While we know we have much more work to do, this report shows that cricket is delivering significant benefits today and that we have solid foundations on which to deliver lasting change, to more people, in future.”

The Sports Consultancy worked with the ECB to assess a wide range of data sources linked to ECB activity - and ECB partner activity, with counties, charity partners and commercial partners – in the delivery of cricket across 2022 and 2023.

Sian Jenkins, Director at The Sports Consultancy, said: “TSC is delighted to have supported the ECB to explore the impact of cricket in England and Wales. Our findings show the clear benefits that the sport is bringing to millions of people who engage with the game, keeping people healthy and bringing communities together. It’s also great to see the range of different initiatives and programmes being delivered by the ECB and partners to make cricket more accessible to people from all walks of life.”
 
This is how cricketing nations cultivate interest which can have a positive impact on people's lives.

However, here in sub continent we often take cricket more as a business, always focused on how much money we can make from it.
 
The Cricket Regulator launched to enforce regulations within cricket

Today marks the launch of the Cricket Regulator, the body which will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the game’s regulations, enforcement of adherence to those regulations and providing relevant information and education.

The Cricket Regulator will be overseen by an independent Cricket Regulatory Board, and will be ring-fenced from the rest of the ECB. Areas of work that had previously been in the ECB’s remit will now sit with the Cricket Regulator, including Safeguarding, Integrity (Anti-Corruption, Misconduct, Anti-Doping) and Anti-Discrimination.

The launch of the Cricket Regulator seeks to bring further independence to the regulatory processes within cricket, to give greater assurance around the separation between this area and the remainder of the ECB. It comes as a response to a recommendation from the ICEC Report.

The independent Cricket Regulatory Board, which also begins work today, will have budget authority for the Cricket Regulator and will be accountable for its activity and expenditure. Members of the current ECB Regulatory Committee have become the first Board members, and future Board members will be filled through open recruitment.

Dave Lewis has been appointed as Interim Director of the Cricket Regulator. Lewis spent 30 years as a police officer undertaking a wide variety of roles including Senior Investigating Officer, Head of Criminal Justice, Head of Local Policing, and Regional ACC leading serious organised crime and counter-terrorism policing in the South-West. He was also National Police Chief’s Council lead for ethics, and retired as Deputy Chief Constable of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall in October 2020.

Lewis has been tasked with setting up the Cricket Regulator, and his permanent successor will be appointed in 2024 through open recruitment. As Interim Director of the Cricket Regulator, Lewis will report into Nic Coward – chair of the Cricket Regulatory Board.

When a case is brought to the Cricket Regulator, the Cricket Regulator will undertake an investigation before making a decision whether there is sufficient evidence to put the case to the Cricket Discipline Commission. As stated in the ECB’s response to the ICEC Report, the Cricket Discipline Commission will be re-purposed as the Cricket Discipline Panel in 2024.

ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould said: “It is important that the game has the best processes in place in order to enforce regulations. The ICEC Report recommended that we introduce further independence to the game’s regulatory process and the Cricket Regulator overseen by an independent Cricket Regulatory Board will do that.

“The Cricket Regulator is ring-fenced from the ECB, and that separation will ensure that their work is distinct from our work as the game’s promoter.”

Dave Lewis, Interim Director of the Cricket Regulator, said: “The Cricket Regulator will cover a wide range of matters on which the game has set clear standards, including anti-discrimination. The team and I are clear about the importance of meeting high standards in ensuring people across the game know what is expected of them, and having the best procedures in place, to protect and promote the good of the game, and everyone involved.”
 
The England and Wales Cricket Board has appointed Ed Barney as Performance Director for Men’s Cricket.

Barney, who is set to begin his new role in March, joins from England and Great Britain Hockey where he has been Performance Director since 2016. The 41-year-old has also previously worked with the ECB, from 2010 to 2013, as a Talent Identification Scientist when he led the implementation of a world-leading talent ID and scouting programme.

During his time at England and Great Britain Hockey, he oversaw Olympic, European and Commonwealth Games success. The women’s team won an unprecedented third Olympic hockey medal in Tokyo, while the England women won a first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham last year.

The men’s team also reached third in the world rankings for the first time in 20 years before they won silver at the European Championships – their first medal at that level in 14 years.

Ed Barney said: “The opportunity to return to the ECB and take on the role of Performance Director was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m looking forward to building on much of the exceptional work that is in place, whilst ensuring that the quality of our provision supports the most talented players to realise their potential, excel on the world stage and inspire the nation about everything that cricket has to offer.

“It’s been a real honour to lead the performance team at England and Great Britain Hockey over the past seven years. It has been very special to see many of the junior teams break through, whilst the senior programmes have excelled on the world stage with European, Commonwealth Games and Olympic medals.

“As Performance Director it has been a real privilege to work with so many exceptional players and colleagues who day-to-day inspire one another to strive to be better. I want to thank everyone at England and Great Britain Hockey and look forward to following their success in the future.” Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, said:“Ed has an outstanding record in a number of high-performance sports. The men’s Performance Director is a vital role as we look to continually increase the depth of talent and prepare players for the rigours of international cricket.

“What is clear with Ed is that he has been able to do that at England and Great Britain Hockey, building world-class programmes that has left them in a better place than when he started, while his experience with the ECB makes him ready-made to build on the significant work we have already been doing.”
 
Pollard to join England Men coaching team for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

Former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard has been appointed to the England Men’s coaching team for next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States.

Pollard will join the England Men’s team specifically for the T20 World Cup as an assistant coach and to provide expertise of local conditions.

Pollard was a part of West Indies’ 2012 Men’s T20 World Cup success and has vast experience in the format having played more than 600 matches.
 
England cricket stars named in New Year’s Honours

PRESS RELEASE - 29 DECEMBER 2023

England cricket stars Stuart Broad and Marcus Trescothick have both been named among the New Year’s Honours List.

Broad, 37, who retired from cricket this summer with 604 Test wickets to his name, is awarded a CBE for services to cricket.

It rounds off a remarkable year for Broad, who left his playing career on a high with the final wicket in England Men’s fifth Test victory in the LV= Insurance Men’s Ashes, and earned himself second place in BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Trescothick, 48 - currently Lead Batting Coach for England Men but previously one of England Men’s most successful opening batters – is awarded an OBE for his work as an ambassador for mental health.

Both Broad and Trescothick are seeing their current honours upgraded. Trescothick was awarded an MBE in 2005 after England Men historically regained the Ashes, and Broad initially received an MBE in 2017.

Chair of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Richard Thompson, said: “As a whole game we’re absolutely delighted to see Stuart and Marcus honoured in this way.

“They have been fantastic ambassadors for cricket for many years, and they have played a major role in helping build the profile of our game and in turn bringing more people into our sport.

“Stuart has long been an inspirational figure and will be remembered as a true great of English cricket, and the spectacular nature of his retirement this summer was the perfect farewell.

“It’s also so fitting that Marcus has now been recognised both for his achievements on the field and for his bravery in talking so honestly about his own mental health challenges which has helped so many people.

"I would also like to pay tribute to all those hard-working people who have been honoured for their work in cricket. I am delighted to be able to share with them my warmest congratulations, on behalf of everyone in our game.”

Robin Varley, Patricia Gaywood, Duncan Holden and Robert Nellies also received honours for their service to cricket.

Stuart Broad CBE said: “All I ever wanted to do was play cricket, and to have had the career that I was able to enjoy and to receive honours like this is incredibly special. I’m very proud that my contributions to cricket have been recognised, and it means a lot to me and my family.

Marcus Trescothick OBE said: "It’s a huge honour to have been awarded an OBE. I was delighted in 2005 when we were recognised as a team with MBEs but this is very special. I’ve always wanted to let people know my story and to try and raise awareness to help anyone who may be struggling with poor mental health alongside the Professional Cricketers’ Association, so recognition of that work means a lot.”​
 

ECB advises clubs to stop using plastic balls over chemical make-up concerns​


The England and Wales Cricket Board has advised parents and clubs to stop using plastic balls distributed through its popular All Stars and Dynamos schemes, after discovering concerns over their chemical composition.

The youth engagement programmes, aimed at the ages five to eight and eight to 11 and running since 2017, have previously included free playing kit alongside coaching programmes. But safety testing on the products has shown the level of phthalates – a widely used chemical group that increases durability of plastics – is beyond approved levels in the balls.

Trading Standards and the Office for Product Safety and Standards have both been informed and, although neither body has advised the items be recalled from circulation, the ECB has written to its partner clubs advising they be discarded.

A statement read: “The independent testing we conducted has found that the phthalates in these items were found to be at levels in excess of those permitted by relevant regulations. To better understand the issue, we then instructed an external expert company to conduct a risk assessment in relation to the cricket balls which has not identified any direct risk to participants in the programmes in relation to these balls.

“However, the safety of participants, volunteers and staff is our priority and, out of an abundance of caution, we would advise that the balls should no longer be used. We are very sorry that the affected products haven’t met the standards we’d expect, and for any concern this may cause.”

Further testing is being conducted on a practice batting tee and PVC banners used in the schemes, but the hard plastic bats and stumps have both been approved. With an alternative supplier not yet agreed, clubs may rely on using tennis balls to complete their All Stars and Dynamos sessions.

www.theguardian.com

ECB advises clubs to stop using plastic balls over chemical make-up concerns

An ECB statement said the balls distributed through All Stars and Dynamos youth schemes ‘haven’t met the standards we’d expect’
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 

Prime Minister announces multi-million pound boost for grassroots cricket​


Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced investment of £35 million in grassroots cricket facilities and widening access to the sport within state schools, in the latest move by the Government to get one million more young people physically active by 2030.

-£35 million package to deliver the construction of 16 new cricket domes in cities due to host Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026 and Men’s T20 World Cup in 2030. Funding to also help extend England and Wales Cricket Board’s primary and secondary schools programme to get over 900,000 young people into playing cricket over next five years, including 80,000 children with special educational needs

-Includes £14 million towards accessible cricket, including for children with special education needs and disabilities and for young people of African and Caribbean heritage.

-Announcement marks latest part of unprecedented Government investment in grassroots sport and drive to get 1 million more young people active by 2030

The investment, to be delivered over the next five years during which England and Wales will host the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, includes a major capital programme that will see 16 state-of-the-art all-weather cricket domes built outdoors within host cities across England.

These will allow for participation in cricket throughout the year, connecting school, community and talent programmes. Each dome will be built within diverse communities where figures have indicated low levels of physical activity. It follows the first cricket dome opened by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in Bradford.

The Government’s investment will also deliver an extension to the ECB and Chance to Shine charity’s free, in-school cricket programme for every single school child in inner-city locations within the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup host cities across England. This will have a particular emphasis on children from lower socio-economic groups building on existing investment from Sport England.

As part of this funding, £14 million will go to three charities. Chance to Shine is dedicated to delivering accessible cricket into schools and local communities, Lord’s Taverners have a focus on access to cricket provision for children with special education needs and disabilities, and ACE engage young people of African and/or Caribbean heritage.

The total investment is expected to deliver around 2,500 pieces of new equipment to every school involved in the programme, and help to get 930,000 pupils playing cricket over the next five years.

The news coincides with the start of the men’s County Championship season today, the imminent start of the summer term when cricket is traditionally played in schools, and comes while the England Women are competing against New Zealand and ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup being hosted by the UK and Ireland in 2030.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

I first experienced the magic of cricket watching Hampshire play at my local ground in Southampton as a child.

For young people watching their first match today, the draw of getting outside and enjoying the game is just as strong, particularly as we look forward to hosting the Women’s and Men’s T20 World Cups.

There remains huge potential to grow the sport even further and open it up to everyone, from all backgrounds and in all parts of the country, building on the great work of organisations such as ACE and Chance to Shine.

That is why I am so proud we are making a major £35 million investment in grassroots cricket today, to widen participation in schools, encourage health lifestyles and provide world class, all-year-round facilities for local communities.

ECB Chair Richard Thompson said:

We are delighted by this investment from the Government. It’s our ambition that cricket becomes the most inclusive sport in the country and that starts by giving children the chance to play from an early age and from whatever background or community they come from.

It is vital that cricket is available in as many state schools across England and Wales as possible, and across diverse communities. This support from Government represents a seminal moment in enabling the game to invest significantly in areas that up until now have not had the support they deserve.

Cricket is a diverse sport and our game has a unique reach across the UK’s population. Hosting both a women’s and a men’s Cricket World Cup between 2026 and 2030, and the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics for the first time in almost 130 years, gives us a platform to reach more young people than ever before and we’re really excited about that as a game.

England Men’s cricketer James Anderson said:

I know from first-hand experience that accessing cricket from a state school is not always the easiest route into the game, so it’s fantastic to hear that today’s announcement will support state school students.

Chance To Shine, Lord’s Taverners and the ACE Programme all play a huge role in helping to take cricket to young people. It’s important that they are supported by the ECB and the Government in delivering their programmes across England and Wales, and I’m sure today’s announcement will help bring more young people into cricket.

Today’s news follows the publication of the Government’s sport strategy last year, which set out a blueprint to improve the nation’s health and fitness, unprecedented government funding for grassroots sport facilities and the opening up of access to school sport across the country.

The Sport Strategy set out an ambition to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030, including one million young people. This includes people of all ages and backgrounds, with a focus on improving participation among the least active. Former England Rugby Union international Ugo Monye, former Lioness Jill Scott MBE and Olympic gold medalist Daley Thompson CBE are part of a National Physical Activity Taskforce which is advising the Government on how to achieve this ambition.

The Government is investing over £400 million in grassroots facilities across the UK, including in multi-sport facilities, swimming pools, park tennis courts and football pitches prioritised for women and girls, to ensure communities across the country have access to high quality, safe facilities. To date, this has built, upgraded or maintained over 4,500 facilities.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

We are sticking to our plan to get millions more people active by 2030, with continued historic investment in grassroots sport.

Cricket brings people together right across the country, and this investment will help grow the game in schools and communities across England, giving thousands of young people the chance to take up the sport - and build new start-of-the art all-weather facilities.

It will be focused in areas that need it most, attract new people into the sport and support our ambitious target to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030.

Whilst schools will continue to decide which sports they offer so that they can meet the needs of their pupils, cricket is included in the National Curriculum as an example of a sport that can provide important elements of the PE National Curriculum programme of study in Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4. Cricket is also included on the list of activities suitable for assessing students’ skills as part of their physical education GCSE qualification.

www.gov.uk

Prime Minister announces multi-million pound boost for grassroots cricket

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced investment of £35 million in grassroots cricket facilities and widening access to the sport within state schools, in the latest move by the Government to get one million more young people physically active by 2030.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
 
FearlessRoar said:

Prime Minister announces multi-million pound boost for grassroots cricket​


Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced investment of £35 million in grassroots cricket facilities and widening access to the sport within state schools, in the latest move by the Government to get one million more young people physically active by 2030.

-£35 million package to deliver the construction of 16 new cricket domes in cities due to host Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026 and Men’s T20 World Cup in 2030. Funding to also help extend England and Wales Cricket Board’s primary and secondary schools programme to get over 900,000 young people into playing cricket over next five years, including 80,000 children with special educational needs

-Includes £14 million towards accessible cricket, including for children with special education needs and disabilities and for young people of African and Caribbean heritage.

-Announcement marks latest part of unprecedented Government investment in grassroots sport and drive to get 1 million more young people active by 2030

The investment, to be delivered over the next five years during which England and Wales will host the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, includes a major capital programme that will see 16 state-of-the-art all-weather cricket domes built outdoors within host cities across England.

These will allow for participation in cricket throughout the year, connecting school, community and talent programmes. Each dome will be built within diverse communities where figures have indicated low levels of physical activity. It follows the first cricket dome opened by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in Bradford.

The Government’s investment will also deliver an extension to the ECB and Chance to Shine charity’s free, in-school cricket programme for every single school child in inner-city locations within the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup host cities across England. This will have a particular emphasis on children from lower socio-economic groups building on existing investment from Sport England.

As part of this funding, £14 million will go to three charities. Chance to Shine is dedicated to delivering accessible cricket into schools and local communities, Lord’s Taverners have a focus on access to cricket provision for children with special education needs and disabilities, and ACE engage young people of African and/or Caribbean heritage.

The total investment is expected to deliver around 2,500 pieces of new equipment to every school involved in the programme, and help to get 930,000 pupils playing cricket over the next five years.

The news coincides with the start of the men’s County Championship season today, the imminent start of the summer term when cricket is traditionally played in schools, and comes while the England Women are competing against New Zealand and ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup being hosted by the UK and Ireland in 2030.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

I first experienced the magic of cricket watching Hampshire play at my local ground in Southampton as a child.

For young people watching their first match today, the draw of getting outside and enjoying the game is just as strong, particularly as we look forward to hosting the Women’s and Men’s T20 World Cups.

There remains huge potential to grow the sport even further and open it up to everyone, from all backgrounds and in all parts of the country, building on the great work of organisations such as ACE and Chance to Shine.

That is why I am so proud we are making a major £35 million investment in grassroots cricket today, to widen participation in schools, encourage health lifestyles and provide world class, all-year-round facilities for local communities.

ECB Chair Richard Thompson said:

We are delighted by this investment from the Government. It’s our ambition that cricket becomes the most inclusive sport in the country and that starts by giving children the chance to play from an early age and from whatever background or community they come from.

It is vital that cricket is available in as many state schools across England and Wales as possible, and across diverse communities. This support from Government represents a seminal moment in enabling the game to invest significantly in areas that up until now have not had the support they deserve.

Cricket is a diverse sport and our game has a unique reach across the UK’s population. Hosting both a women’s and a men’s Cricket World Cup between 2026 and 2030, and the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics for the first time in almost 130 years, gives us a platform to reach more young people than ever before and we’re really excited about that as a game.

England Men’s cricketer James Anderson said:

I know from first-hand experience that accessing cricket from a state school is not always the easiest route into the game, so it’s fantastic to hear that today’s announcement will support state school students.

Chance To Shine, Lord’s Taverners and the ACE Programme all play a huge role in helping to take cricket to young people. It’s important that they are supported by the ECB and the Government in delivering their programmes across England and Wales, and I’m sure today’s announcement will help bring more young people into cricket.

Today’s news follows the publication of the Government’s sport strategy last year, which set out a blueprint to improve the nation’s health and fitness, unprecedented government funding for grassroots sport facilities and the opening up of access to school sport across the country.

The Sport Strategy set out an ambition to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030, including one million young people. This includes people of all ages and backgrounds, with a focus on improving participation among the least active. Former England Rugby Union international Ugo Monye, former Lioness Jill Scott MBE and Olympic gold medalist Daley Thompson CBE are part of a National Physical Activity Taskforce which is advising the Government on how to achieve this ambition.

The Government is investing over £400 million in grassroots facilities across the UK, including in multi-sport facilities, swimming pools, park tennis courts and football pitches prioritised for women and girls, to ensure communities across the country have access to high quality, safe facilities. To date, this has built, upgraded or maintained over 4,500 facilities.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

We are sticking to our plan to get millions more people active by 2030, with continued historic investment in grassroots sport.

Cricket brings people together right across the country, and this investment will help grow the game in schools and communities across England, giving thousands of young people the chance to take up the sport - and build new start-of-the art all-weather facilities.

It will be focused in areas that need it most, attract new people into the sport and support our ambitious target to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030.

Whilst schools will continue to decide which sports they offer so that they can meet the needs of their pupils, cricket is included in the National Curriculum as an example of a sport that can provide important elements of the PE National Curriculum programme of study in Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4. Cricket is also included on the list of activities suitable for assessing students’ skills as part of their physical education GCSE qualification.

www.gov.uk

Prime Minister announces multi-million pound boost for grassroots cricket

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced investment of £35 million in grassroots cricket facilities and widening access to the sport within state schools, in the latest move by the Government to get one million more young people physically active by 2030.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
Click to expand...
HkcIM7p.png


cKYPTfS.png


PBSdw5G.png
 

Derek Underwood MBE: 1945-2024​


The England and Wales Cricket Board is saddened to learn of the death of former Kent and England bowler Derek Underwood MBE, aged 78.

A famed left-arm spinner, Underwood’s accuracy and pace were his two stand-out attributes – attributes that helped him become England Men’s most prolific spin bowler in Test cricket.

Nicknamed ‘Deadly’, he was - in the right conditions, and most specifically on a damp wicket - virtually guaranteed a hatful of wickets.

Across a 16-year Test career (1966-82), Underwood’s potency brought him 297 wickets at an average of just 25.83. His figures in the domestic game were even better – 2,465 wickets for an average of just 20 runs each. Only thirteen men have ever taken more first-class wickets.

But even those figures do not do justice to the fear and torment he instilled in the batters facing him at the crease. Current MCC President and broadcaster Mark Nicholas described two of Deadly’s deliveries on a wet Canterbury pitch as “really quite evil” and “absurd”. He wrote: “It was a kind of magic, beautiful in its performance, brutal in its effect, irresistible in its result.”

Underwood wasn’t a player who had to learn his craft and wait for greatness later in his career. He was only 25 years old when he claimed his 100th Test wicket and 1,000th first-class wicket. And six times he took 10 wickets in a Test match.

From his Test debut against West Indies in June 1966, Underwood quickly established his credentials as a master of his art.

In 1968, he took the last four Australian wickets in 27 balls of the fifth Ashes Test. In 1969, he was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year and started a four-year reign as the number 1 ranked bowler in the ICC Test rankings. Had he not joined World Series Cricket in 1977, his final Test haul would have undoubtedly been higher.

Such was Underwood’s impact and influence that in 1981 he was appointed an MBE, in 2009 he served as President of the MCC, and in the same year he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

ECB Chair Richard Thompson said: “It is always a sad day when a great of the English game passes away. Derek Underwood will be remembered as one of the finest spin bowlers this country has ever produced, and his remarkable record is testament to his enduring skill.

“To this day, there will still be the odd mention of Derek Underwood when conditions – especially in club cricket – become damp and perhaps suited to some accurate and pacey spin, and there’s no greater legacy than remaining part of the game long after you’ve finished playing. Our thoughts are with Derek’s friends and family, everyone at Kent CCC, and everyone who knew and loved him.”

www.ecb.co.uk

Derek Underwood MBE: 1945-2024

<i>Kent and England cricketer Derek Underwood has passed away.</i>
www.ecb.co.uk www.ecb.co.uk
 
FearlessRoar said:

Derek Underwood MBE: 1945-2024​


The England and Wales Cricket Board is saddened to learn of the death of former Kent and England bowler Derek Underwood MBE, aged 78.

A famed left-arm spinner, Underwood’s accuracy and pace were his two stand-out attributes – attributes that helped him become England Men’s most prolific spin bowler in Test cricket.

Nicknamed ‘Deadly’, he was - in the right conditions, and most specifically on a damp wicket - virtually guaranteed a hatful of wickets.

Across a 16-year Test career (1966-82), Underwood’s potency brought him 297 wickets at an average of just 25.83. His figures in the domestic game were even better – 2,465 wickets for an average of just 20 runs each. Only thirteen men have ever taken more first-class wickets.

But even those figures do not do justice to the fear and torment he instilled in the batters facing him at the crease. Current MCC President and broadcaster Mark Nicholas described two of Deadly’s deliveries on a wet Canterbury pitch as “really quite evil” and “absurd”. He wrote: “It was a kind of magic, beautiful in its performance, brutal in its effect, irresistible in its result.”

Underwood wasn’t a player who had to learn his craft and wait for greatness later in his career. He was only 25 years old when he claimed his 100th Test wicket and 1,000th first-class wicket. And six times he took 10 wickets in a Test match.

From his Test debut against West Indies in June 1966, Underwood quickly established his credentials as a master of his art.

In 1968, he took the last four Australian wickets in 27 balls of the fifth Ashes Test. In 1969, he was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year and started a four-year reign as the number 1 ranked bowler in the ICC Test rankings. Had he not joined World Series Cricket in 1977, his final Test haul would have undoubtedly been higher.

Such was Underwood’s impact and influence that in 1981 he was appointed an MBE, in 2009 he served as President of the MCC, and in the same year he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

ECB Chair Richard Thompson said: “It is always a sad day when a great of the English game passes away. Derek Underwood will be remembered as one of the finest spin bowlers this country has ever produced, and his remarkable record is testament to his enduring skill.

“To this day, there will still be the odd mention of Derek Underwood when conditions – especially in club cricket – become damp and perhaps suited to some accurate and pacey spin, and there’s no greater legacy than remaining part of the game long after you’ve finished playing. Our thoughts are with Derek’s friends and family, everyone at Kent CCC, and everyone who knew and loved him.”

www.ecb.co.uk

Derek Underwood MBE: 1945-2024

<i>Kent and England cricketer Derek Underwood has passed away.</i>
www.ecb.co.uk www.ecb.co.uk
Click to expand...
I hate it when we lose iconic players. Cricket is a small family and although most of us fans never get to meet the greats, we feel as if we know them intimately.

England have rarely produced world-class spinners, but Derek Underwood was one of them. After yet another series defeat in India - the yearning for another Underwood, Swann or Laker continues.

We lost Bishan Bedi a few months ago and now another legendary spinner of that era has gone. RIP.
 
Given the recent unprecedented record volume of flooding at New Road, and the increasing regularity of flooding, the Board of Worcestershire County Cricket Club understands the very real issues regarding the sustainability of the Club.

As a Board, we will make it our key priority to explore every option, including a move from New Road, over the next few months so we can provide the membership and key stakeholders with a plan.

This is to ensure the long-term future of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

THE WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB BOARD
15 APRIL 2024
 
Markhor said:
I hate it when we lose iconic players. Cricket is a small family and although most of us fans never get to meet the greats, we feel as if we know them intimately.

England have rarely produced world-class spinners, but Derek Underwood was one of them. After yet another series defeat in India - the yearning for another Underwood, Swann or Laker continues.

We lost Bishan Bedi a few months ago and now another legendary spinner of that era has gone. RIP.
Click to expand...

RIP, I would add Mo to that list, but no doubt Underwood and Laker were beasts on them damp pitches, they were like the Ashwin and Jadeja of their time
 
Four new members have been appointed to complete cricket’s Regulatory Board, the independent body established as part of the game’s response to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report.

The Regulatory Board has two roles:

To oversee the Cricket Regulator, the new investigation and prosecution unit established in December 2023

To scrutinise and advise the ECB Board on cricket’s policy, approach and legislation in regulatory and integrity matters across the game.

The Regulatory Board is chaired by Nic Coward, and focuses on Anti-Corruption, Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Doping, Safeguarding, General Misconduct, Agency activity, and health and safety.

The four new members joining the Regulatory Board are:

  • Dr Arun Thiyagarajan, currently Global Healthcare Transformation Director for BUPA. Previous positions include Managing Director for BUPA UK's Health Clinics, and Medical Director. He is the Responsible Officer for BUPA UK.
  • Helen Stephenson CBE, CEO of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Previously Director of Early Years and Childcare at the Department for Education, and in the Cabinet Office as Director of the Office for Civil Society and Government Innovation Group, and the Big Lottery Fund where she was Head of Strategic Policy and Partnerships. Helen is a board member of the National Lottery Community Fund, previously on the Board of the Big Society Trust, and Chair of National Childbirth Trust.
  • Dr Priya Singh, Chair of National Council for Voluntary Organisations and of NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board, and an executive director at the Society for Assistance of Medical Families. Priya has a background in general medical practice, and as a specialist in medical law, ethics, risk and safety, and was responsible at the Medical Protection Society for professional services to 290,000 health professionals around the world. Previously Deputy Chair of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, a member of the London Policing Ethics Panel, and an associate with Working With Cancer.
  • Suzanne Jacob OBE, Chief Executive of SafeLives from 2017 to recently, and a trustee of Crimestoppers UK. Two decades of experience working in safeguarding, vulnerability, and support for people who have had adverse experiences linked to crime and discrimination. Suzanne had a number of roles at the Home Office, including intelligence and security for the London 2012 Olympics. She has also worked in a voluntary capacity for Victim Support.
They join the following:

  • Nic Coward (Chair) has been chair or CEO of national governing bodies of football and golf, horseracing and athletics. Previously General Secretary of the Premier League, he continues to advise sports and entertainment businesses across the world, and chairs a number of companies and representative organisations.
  • Kathryn Richardson is General Counsel of Paramount's UK television and streaming business which includes Channel 5, previously Head of Commercial Rights & Business Affairs at the BBC. She is also a director of YouView and the Creative Diversity Network, and a Level 2 cricket coach.
  • Jerry Cope was Group Managing Director of Royal Mail, Chair of both Kingston and London South Bank Universities, Chair of the Prison Service and NHS Pay Review bodies, and Chair of the Croydon Health Alliance. Heavily involved in bridge and other sports, he was also chair of a leadership consultancy to the private and public sectors before its sale to a listed company.
  • Rajesh Pillai KC is a King’s Counsel specialising in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration, and regulatory matters. Rajesh is also New York and BVI bar qualified.
  • Jim Wood is a former chair of Devon Cricket and the Recreational Assembly, as well as the ECB Board. In his professional career, he was deeply involved in social care, with a particular specialism in safeguarding.
Regulatory Board Chair Nic Coward said: “The Regulatory Board has important roles to play for the game. I’m delighted that following an open recruitment process we have been able to appoint such a strong Board, with such great experience and from many different backgrounds and sectors to work with the executive team and people from across the game.”
 
As the game gathers in Cardiff today for the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) Annual General Meeting, new data shows that the number of people playing, attending or following cricket surged by 2m last year as nailbiting Men’s and Women’s Ashes series captured the nation’s imagination.

Bumper ticket sales and viewing for both series saw the total jump to 14.7m – up from 12.5m the previous year, as cricket in England and Wales recorded a strong year of growth.

Record-breaking financial results have enabled more money than ever before to be invested into support for the cricket network, growing the game and work to make cricket a more inclusive sport.

Notable results from 2023 being discussed at today’s meeting include:

The record 122,000 attending the Women’s Ashes – a 139% increase on those watching England Women the previous year – and highest ever attendances for The Hundred saw the total attending matches hit 3.1m, the highest outside a World Cup hosting year.
10.8m watched cricket at least twice on TV - up from 9m the previous year – helped by Men’s Ashes average viewing being 38% higher than any previous series on Sky.
The continuing growth of women’s and girls’ cricket at a recreational level saw a 22% increase in the number of women’s and girls’ teams, while the number of junior teams generally was also up by 21%.
The ECB’s turnover hit a record £336m, up from £334m the previous year, with profit reaching £27.9m, up from £21.1m the year before. This enabled additional investment into both the professional and recreational games, work to make cricket more inclusive and address the challenges identified by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), and building the ECB reserves.
Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said:

“Ashes years are always special, and it’s great to see the impact that hosting the two series side-by-side had in capturing the nation’s imagination, and inspiring more interest in our sport.

“Over the past year we’ve seen further rapid growth in women’s and girls’ cricket, with soaring attendances for England Women and increasing numbers of teams at a recreational level, and we are focused on taking this to the next level this year. Tickets for England Women’s fixtures this summer have been selling even faster than for the Ashes, the number of professional women’s players continues to grow, and with Metro Bank we’re working to triple the number of girls’ teams by 2026 when we host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

“Continuing this growth remains a key part of our strategy to make cricket the most inclusive team sport, along with increasing opportunities for children from state schools and ethnically diverse communities, and tackling discrimination. This requires strong finances and the record year we have just seen means that despite the challenges cricket – like other sports and businesses – has faced from the rising cost of living, we have been able to invest more in the professional and recreational games, support work to break down barriers, and build up our reserves to protect the sport against future shocks. I am delighted that the Government is also supporting our ambition to become the most inclusive sport with its recent pledge of £35million for grassroots facilities and increased cricket in state schools.

“While there is much to celebrate in our sport, there remain real challenges ahead with the global cricketing landscape continuing to change rapidly. We will continue to work collaboratively with our Members and partners across cricket to make decisions in the interests of the whole game.”
 
England's Brydon Carse has been suspended from cricket for three months for historical breaches of betting rules

The South Africa-born fast bowler's suspension begins immediately but he is allowed to train and will return to action in time for the final four games of the season.

He has been banned for a total of 16 months but 13 have been suspended for two years so he will be able to resume playing on 28 August.

Carse has played for Durham since 2016 and has featured in 14 ODIs and three T20 internationals for England.

He accepted the decision for placing 303 bets on various cricket matches and said he wants to repay Durham for their support.

“Whilst these bets were several years ago, that is no excuse and I take full responsibility for my actions," said the 28-year-old, who has a two-year central contract with the ECB.

"I would like to thank the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board], Durham Cricket and the PCA [Professional Cricketers Association] for their support during this difficult time for me.

"I will be working hard in the next 12 weeks to ensure I repay that support on the field when I am able to return to playing.”

The charges relate to bets made between 2017 and 2019 and while they did not involve any matches Carse played in, betting integrity rules stipulate professional cricketers are not permitted to bet on the sport anywhere in the world.

An ECB spokesperson said: "We take these matters extremely seriously and do not condone any form of anti-corruption breach in cricket.

"We support the Cricket Regulator's decision and their consideration of the mitigating factors in Brydon's case.

"He has co-operated and shown remorse for his actions. We are satisfied Brydon has shown growth in the five years since this breach and has demonstrated a greater understanding of his responsibilities.

"We are hopeful that his case can serve as an educational example for other cricketers."

The Cricket Regulator - which is responsible for monitoring compliance with and enforcement of the game’s regulations - accepted Carse had shown "considerable remorse" for his actions.

Source: BBC
 
With the General Election set for July 4, the Chief Executives of the ECB, the FA, the RFU, the LTA and RFL have written an open letter to the UK's political parties asking to them set out their vision for sport

The letter - published below - sets out two priorities the five sports would like to see addressed: 1) the amount of quality Sport and Physical Education mandated within the National Curriculum and 2) a commitment from political leaders to building on the progress that has been made recently through Government investment in good quality facilities.

From:

Richard Gould, Chief Executive, ECB
Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive, The FA
Scott Lloyd, Chief Executive, LTA
Tony Sutton, Chief Executive, RFL
Bill Sweeney, Chief Executive, RFU

What’s the sporting vision?

This General Election is taking place against the backdrop of an extraordinary summer of sport.

As chief executives for five of the country’s largest governing bodies we know just how much sport is woven into the DNA of our country. Millions play, volunteer, work and watch across a huge range of activities - from the world’s leading sporting events to grassroots clubs and organisations at the heart of communities across the nation.

Indeed we expect more people will engage with sport this month than actually vote in the election - which sends an important message to those standing for office.

That is why we are calling on all of the political parties to step up and set out their vision for sport.

The contribution sport makes is often relegated to the political sidelines. In fact it has a huge public policy contribution to make.

Our sector makes a significant contribution to the economy while also delivering benefits such as improved physical and mental health and educational attainment, and engaging young people in positive activities. In 2017 Sport England found that the contribution of community sport was worth £85.5bn to the economy and for every £1 spent on sport and physical activity it generated almost £4 in return.

Amongst many issues, we have two priorities we are keen to see addressed in the Party manifestos.

Firstly, ensuring that school sport is fit for the future.

An obesity timebomb is ticking in young people and the Chief Medical Officer has reiterated that every child should undertake the equivalent of an hour a day of physical activity.

The societal benefits of ensuring children develop a healthy relationship with sport and physical activity are huge, but while we expect children to leave school with numerical, verbal and written literacy, our current approach leaves physical literacy to chance.

Good progress has recently been made towards offering all boys and girls the opportunity to play the sport of their choice, but we now need to see this commitment backed up by the offer of good quality PE sessions.

We hope that the manifestos due to be published next week will include a commitment to put physical literacy at the heart of the school day by having a minimum of two hours of quality Sport and Physical Education mandated within the National Curriculum and every child guaranteed the opportunity to be active for an hour a day inside and outside of the school setting.

Secondly, investment in sports facilities across the country.

Clubs, pitches, courts and local facilities are the lifeblood of all communities. They are a vital part of our nation’s wellbeing and national infrastructure. Everyone should have access to good quality sports facilities. Yet many are now in a poor state. Across our sports we have all identified a common need for additional investment to improve grassroots facilities.

We want to see our political leaders commit to building on the progress that has been made recently through Government investment in good quality facilities through models such as the Football Foundation, legacy investment connected to international events such as the recent Rugby League World Cup, the Women’s World Cups for Rugby (2025) and Cricket (2026) and the Parks Tennis programme.

We are keen to encourage a sporting debate. We will make sure all commitments and information provided by any of the political parties is shared across our members.


Cricket Players remarks on it.

England Men's all-rounder Moeen Ali: "Keeping our bodies and minds healthy is crucial. I grew up in Birmingham and was state-educated. Playing cricket and football with my friends was a big part of my life. It taught me how to make good friends, support others, and work together as a team.

"Not everyone enjoys sitting in classrooms, but playing sports during breaks or in PE was always the highlight of my school days. I believe every kid in the country should have the chance to enjoy a well-rounded education that includes sports and PE. It helps us develop good habits and a positive attitude.

"I'm asking all political parties in the UK to ensure that every child has access to at least two hours of PE each week. It's also crucial that whoever is in charge of the government invests in local sports facilities, so every area has top-notch pitches and places for kids to play. This should be a top priority for everyone."

England Women's captain Heather Knight: "As captain of the England Women's cricket team I wholeheartedly endorse this letter. It's absolutely imperative that young people are given access to sport, the benefits are clear and unquestioned, and it's our responsibility to give them those opportunities - one hour per week is not enough time.

"Equally, access to facilities is something every young person should have, and I hope the next Government takes the chance to ensure our nation's young people can play the sports they love."

England Men's Deaf cricketer and teacher Josh Price: "As a teacher and also a member of the England Men's Deaf Cricket team, I know first-hand the power of sport. It's so vital we give young people the chance to play sport.

"Without access and without facilities, we are taking away their opportunity to discover a love of something so valuable. I've seen what sport can do for young people and I hope the next Government is committed to harnessing that power across the country."

England Men’s bowler Mark Wood: “Physical and mental well-being are the building blocks that you need for life. I had the best upbringing in Ashington, where all sports played a massive part in my development and still do so today. It fosters strong friendships amongst your peers, solves problems, teaches you about being there for your mates, and stimulates what is right and wrong.

"Not everyone enjoys classroom situations, but getting out in the sports hall, playground, or playing field and enjoying sports are among the best times at school.

“It is not just the responsibility of one political party, but of all, to ensure that at least two hours per week of sport and PE are part of their manifesto and the National Curriculum for every child in this country. We need your support to make this change a reality.”
 
Hamza Shaikh to captain England Men U19s in Sri Lanka Tests

Warwickshire batter Hamza Shaikh will captain England Men U19s for the first time during the two-match Youth Test series against Sri Lanka this month.

Shaikh, 18, has skippered Warwickshire’s Second XI and is a part of the FCC Select XI that will this week play West Indies in a three-day warm-up match at Beckenham.

Shaikh said: "Captaining England at any level is an incredible honour. I’ve got to know the guys well over the last couple of years so I know I’ll have great support and experience to draw on.

“I’ve captained Warwickshire’s Second XI several times this summer. At times I’ve been captaining sides including the likes of Chris Woakes, Liam Norwell and Jake Lintott. They’ve helped me and given me more confidence in my leadership on and off the field, advising on bowling options and field placements.

"I like to think I’m a fairly calm guy and captaincy doesn’t phase me. I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully coming away with a series win.”

A 14-player squad has been selected for the series, which begins at Wormsley on Monday 8 July before the second Youth Test at Cheltenham from Tuesday 16 July.

England Men U19s Youth Test squad

Hamza Shaikh (Warwickshire – captain)
Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire)
Charlie Barnard (Lancashire)
Jack Carney (unattached)
Jaydn Denly (Kent)
Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire)
Kesh Fonseka (Lancashire)
Alex French (Surrey)
Alex Green (Leicestershire)
Eddie Jack (Hampshire)
Freddie McCann (Nottinghamshire)
Harry Moore (Derbyshire)
Noah Thain (Essex)
Archie Vaughan (Somerset)

ECB
 
Mott sacked rumours 'not true' - ECB chief Gould

Rumours that England white-ball coach Matthew Mott has been sacked are "certainly not true", says England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould.

Earlier this week, The Times reported, external that Australian Mott was set to leave his role after disappointing campaigns in England's 50-over and 20-over World Cup defences in the past nine months.

England director of men's cricket Rob Key is assessing those tournaments and is holding talks with Mott and captain Jos Buttler.

Immediately after the T20 World Cup, Key offered no assurances that Mott or captain Buttler would stay in their roles.

Asked by BBC Test Match Special if Mott had already "received his cards", Gould said: "That's not true. That's certainly not true.

"Matthew Mott is a really good guy and coach. He's got a great track record and it is the same with Jos [Buttler].

"We are always assessing options - that is what happens in high-performance sport, you are always assessing your options.

"You never want to be drawn into being given the dreaded vote of confidence or anything like that. Competitive sport always brings scrutiny and decisions.

"We'll constantly want to assess our options but we'll always want to do the right thing by the sport, the team and individuals."

Mott, 50, was appointed when England split the head coach roles in 2022 and later that year presided over the triumph at the T20 World Cup in his home country.

But England, champions in 2019, endured a calamitous 50-over World Cup in India last year, winning only three of their nine matches.

And they surrendered the T20 title in the Caribbean and United States in June, beaten in the semi-finals by eventual champions India.

A run to the last four seemed like a minimum requirement for Mott to keep his job, though England managed to win just one of the four games they played against other Test-playing sides.

At the beginning of July, Key was asked if Buttler and Mott would remain in charge and said he would look "at what's the best way for that white-ball team to move forward".

Asked if Mott's job was safe, Gould added: "I'm not going to be giving, or drawn into, any vote of confidence because I know where that leads.

"We'll always use whatever time we've got available to make the best decisions possible. We won't be pressured into anything other than that."

He was then asked if any decision was imminent and said: "No."

Mott has a losing record in one-day internationals, having lost 18 and won 16 of his completed matches in charge, but a better record in T20s, where he has 23 wins and 19 defeats.


BBC
 
England to pay touring fees to Zimbabwe for historic one-off Test tour in 2025

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will become the first host board in the modern era to pay a touring fee in bilateral cricket when Zimbabwe arrive for a one-off test next year, ECB chief Richard Gould said. Gould told Sky Sports on Friday that the ECB and other financially strong boards, such as the Indian and Australian boards, had a huge responsibility to ensure the competitiveness of Test cricket.

The longest format of the sport has become less popular outside the game's heartlands amid the global rise of lucrative Twenty20 leagues and as smaller countries struggle to meet the growing financial costs of Test cricket. "When you look at whether it's the revenue share from the ICC or indeed the revenue share from bilateral cricket, which is fairly old fashioned in truth in the way that it's delivered," Gould said.

"Normally the touring team gets itself into the country and then it's looked after in terms of accommodation, all the rest of it but there's no fee for that team that's touring. Next year when we play against Zimbabwe, there will be a fee for that team that's touring." The Test is set to be played in May at a venue yet to be decided. It will be the first time Zimbabwe travel to England for bilateral cricket since 2003.

SOURCE: https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...-one-off-test-tour-in-2025-2572622-2024-07-27
 
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirms that Matthew Mott has stepped down as the England Men’s White-Ball Head Coach with immediate effect

The decision follows England’s recent ICC T20 World Cup campaign, where the team was knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual winners India.

Mott, who met with Rob Key, ECB’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, last week, will leave his role after two years in office.

Appointed in May 2022, the 50-year-old Mott enjoyed immediate success, leading the team to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in the autumn of 2022. Under his leadership, England achieved white-ball series victories against Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Pakistan.

Assistant Coach Marcus Trescothick will take charge on an interim basis for the rest of the home summer. In September, the team will play a white-ball series against Australia, which includes three Vitality IT20s and five Metro Bank ODIs from 11 to 29 September.

Rob Key, ECB’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, said:

“On behalf of everyone connected to England cricket and me personally, I would like to thank Mathew for all he has done for the team since his appointment. He can be proud of his achievements as he leaves his post as one of only three coaches who have won a Men’s World Cup with England.

“After three World Cup cycles in a short space of time, I now feel the team needs a new direction to prepare for the challenges ahead. This decision was not made lightly, but I believe it is the right time for the team's future success. With our focus shifting towards the Champions Trophy early next year and the next cycle of white-ball competition, it is crucial that we ensure the team is focused and prepared.

“Marcus Trescothick is well respected in the dressing room and will take charge of team affairs alongside white-ball captain Jos Buttler. Marcus and Jos have a good rapport, and I think their partnership will help us maintain continuity and stability.

“The search for a full-time replacement will now begin. It is essential that we go through the right process to ensure we get the best person for the job.”

Matthew Mott, added:

“I am immensely proud to have coached the England Men’s team; it has been an honour. We have put everything into trying to achieve success over the past two years, and I am incredibly proud of the character and passion that the team has displayed during that period, including a magnificent T20 World Cup victory in 2022.

“I would like to thank the players, management, and everyone at the ECB for their commitment, support, and hard work during my time. I leave with many great friendships and incredible memories.

"Finally, I would like to thank the England fans, who have always backed us and given us fantastic support wherever we have travelled around the world.”

England Men’s Interim White-Ball Head Coach, Marcus Trescothick, added:

“I am looking forward to working with Jos Buttler, the players and coaches over the next few weeks. The focus is building towards the series against Australia and our plans for next year’s Champions Trophy campaign.

“England cricket is in a strong position, and the potential is huge, given the quality we have available. It is about harnessing that potential and developing the work that has already been put in place by Mathew Mott and the rest of the set-up. I’m excited about the challenge and shaping how we want to play.”

Source: ECB
 
The Bald Eagle said:
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirms that Matthew Mott has stepped down as the England Men’s White-Ball Head Coach with immediate effect

The decision follows England’s recent ICC T20 World Cup campaign, where the team was knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual winners India.

Mott, who met with Rob Key, ECB’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, last week, will leave his role after two years in office.

Appointed in May 2022, the 50-year-old Mott enjoyed immediate success, leading the team to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in the autumn of 2022. Under his leadership, England achieved white-ball series victories against Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Pakistan.

Assistant Coach Marcus Trescothick will take charge on an interim basis for the rest of the home summer. In September, the team will play a white-ball series against Australia, which includes three Vitality IT20s and five Metro Bank ODIs from 11 to 29 September.

Rob Key, ECB’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, said:

“On behalf of everyone connected to England cricket and me personally, I would like to thank Mathew for all he has done for the team since his appointment. He can be proud of his achievements as he leaves his post as one of only three coaches who have won a Men’s World Cup with England.

“After three World Cup cycles in a short space of time, I now feel the team needs a new direction to prepare for the challenges ahead. This decision was not made lightly, but I believe it is the right time for the team's future success. With our focus shifting towards the Champions Trophy early next year and the next cycle of white-ball competition, it is crucial that we ensure the team is focused and prepared.

“Marcus Trescothick is well respected in the dressing room and will take charge of team affairs alongside white-ball captain Jos Buttler. Marcus and Jos have a good rapport, and I think their partnership will help us maintain continuity and stability.

“The search for a full-time replacement will now begin. It is essential that we go through the right process to ensure we get the best person for the job.”

Matthew Mott, added:

“I am immensely proud to have coached the England Men’s team; it has been an honour. We have put everything into trying to achieve success over the past two years, and I am incredibly proud of the character and passion that the team has displayed during that period, including a magnificent T20 World Cup victory in 2022.

“I would like to thank the players, management, and everyone at the ECB for their commitment, support, and hard work during my time. I leave with many great friendships and incredible memories.

"Finally, I would like to thank the England fans, who have always backed us and given us fantastic support wherever we have travelled around the world.”

England Men’s Interim White-Ball Head Coach, Marcus Trescothick, added:

“I am looking forward to working with Jos Buttler, the players and coaches over the next few weeks. The focus is building towards the series against Australia and our plans for next year’s Champions Trophy campaign.

“England cricket is in a strong position, and the potential is huge, given the quality we have available. It is about harnessing that potential and developing the work that has already been put in place by Mathew Mott and the rest of the set-up. I’m excited about the challenge and shaping how we want to play.”

Source: ECB
Click to expand...

'Key must approach McCullum about England white-ball job'​


England managing director Rob Key must speak to Brendon McCullum about becoming the country's new limited-overs head coach, says former captain Eoin Morgan.

Matthew Mott stepped down from the white-ball role on Tuesday after England failed to defend either of the limited-overs World Cups during his tenure.

His assistant Marcus Trescothick has been put in temporary charge for the series against Australia in September as Key begins the search for a successor.

Morgan, who skippered England to glory at the 2019 World Cup, said on Sky Sports that Test coach McCullum "is one of the best coaches in the world" and should be sounded out about combining the two roles.

"Rob Key should have that conversation, because we've seen the dramatic turnaround in the Test team and the foil he has made with Ben Stokes," Morgan said.

"I'm not sure he [McCullum] has given it a lot of thought yet [but] he should.

"He is a very versatile, more than capable coach, who is highly regarded and ultimately made the England Test team a better side - which is what you want from your head coach."

McCullum was asked after last month's Test series victory over the West Indies if he could combine his current role with the white-ball job, but did not answer.

Key split England's head coach position into separate Test and white-ball posts after the last man to combine the roles, Chris Silverwood, left in 2022.

Morgan acknowledged Key would have to make the prospect an appealing one for New Zealander McCullum, who took over as Test coach in May 2022, to take on the extra responsibility.

He added: "The question would be how will he [McCullum] make it fit over the course of the next 12 months? But from Rob Key's point of view he needs to make it attractive."

Key said after Mott's departure that England needed "a new direction to prepare for the challenges ahead".

Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who was part of Mott's backroom staff and is currently leading Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, is one candidate, having being tipped as a future head coach of the national side by Key.

Jonathan Trott, the former England batter, has impressed as head coach of Afghanistan but has just taken over Pretoria Capitals in the SAT20.

Australian Mike Hussey, who is currently in charge of Welsh Fire in The Hundred, has also previously been part of England's coaching team.

Morgan also mentioned former India coach Rahul Dravid, ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming as potential candidates.

Dublin-born Morgan is adamant Mott's replacement must be someone who can hit the ground running.

"It's not the option of let someone come and in and grow, you are talking about winning World Cups and winning Champions Trophies," Morgan said.

"This is not an opportunity for a young guy to come in. You want the best person on the planet to come in and help captain Jos Buttler and the England team get better."

www.bbc.com

Eoin Morgan: Rob Key must approach Brendon McCullum about England white-ball job

England managing director Rob Key must speak to Brendon McCullum about becoming the country's new limited-overs head coach, says ex-captain Eoin Morgan.
www.bbc.com
 
England Men's 2025 summer international fixtures revealed

A three-match ODI series between England Men and West Indies Men will begin a few days later at Edgbaston on 29 May, with a three-match IT20 series straight after. This follows the conclusion of a historic Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, starting on 22 May, which will be the first time Zimbabwe have played a Test match in England since 2003.

The West Indies series will be followed by concurrent England Men against India. A five-match Men’s Rothesay Test series

The Rothesay Men’s Test series promises to be a thrilling clash, with the sides currently at numbers two and three in the ICC world rankings. The last series ended in a 2-2 draw after England won the rescheduled fifth Test by seven wickets in 2022 in Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s first summer at the helm. The match had been delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

England Men's series will begin at Headingley on 20 June before matches at Edgbaston, Lord’s and Emirates Old Trafford. The series will conclude at The Kia Oval in early August.

The home international summer will then conclude in early September, with England Men taking on South Africa in three Metro Bank ODIs and three Vitality IT20s, before the team travels to Ireland for three ODIs from 17-21 September.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “Staging England Men’s and England Women’s series alongside each other has been popular with fans and supported the continued growth of the women’s game, with both the Ashes last year and the Pakistan series earlier this year proving successful. I’m excited we’ll be doing the same again for the West Indies and India series next year. Cricket fans are in for a real treat, and I hope they’ll be out in force to support both Men’s and Women’s sides.

“India touring is always a big draw and a highlight of any cricket summer. The last Men’s Test series here was a nailbiter and I’m sure next year’s clash will be just as exciting, while our women’s series are always fiercely competitive. I’m delighted we’ll also be welcoming both West Indies teams back again for white ball series, following this year’s Men’s Test series.

“To be welcoming Zimbabwe back for a Men's Test Match will be a historic moment, more than 20 years since their last visit. Test cricket is so beloved in this country, and we know that we have an important role to play in supporting developing test cricketing nations so that this format of the game thrives long into the future.

“I’m also delighted we can confirm that India Women will return in 2026 to take on England Women in the first-ever women’s Test match at Lord’s. It will be a truly special occasion, and one of real significance.”

Full 2025 international fixtures

England Men v Zimbabwe - Rothesay Test

Only Rothesay Men's Test: 22–25 May - Trent Bridge, Nottingham 11:00 BST

England Men v West Indies - Metro Bank ODI Series

1st Metro Bank ODI: 29 May - Edgbaston, Birmingham 13:00 BST
2nd Metro Bank ODI: 1 June - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff 11:00 BST
3rd Metro Bank ODI: 3 June - The Kia Oval, London 13:00 BST

England Men v West Indies - Vitality IT20 Series

1st Vitality IT20: 6 June - Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street 18:30 BST
2nd Vitality IT20: 8 June - Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol 14:30 BST
3rd Vitality IT20: 10 June - Utilita Bowl, Southampton 18:30 BST

England Men v India - Rothesay Test Series

1st Rothesay Test: 20–24 June - Headingley, Leeds
2nd Rothesay Test: 2–6 July - Edgbaston, Birmingham
3rd Rothesay Test: 10–14 July - Lord’s, London
4th Rothesay Test: 23–27 July - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
5th Rothesay Test: 31 July – 4 August - The Kia Oval, London

All 11:00 BST start times

England Men v South Africa - Metro Bank ODI Series

1st Metro Bank ODI: 2 September - Headingley, Leeds 13:00 BST
2nd Metro Bank ODI: 4 September - Lord’s, London 13:00 BST
3rd Metro Bank ODI: 7 September - Utilita Bowl, Southampton 11:00 BST

England Men v South Africa - Vitality IT20 Series

1st Vitality IT20: 10 September - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff 18:30 BST
2nd Vitality IT20: 12 September - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 18:30 BST
3rd Vitality IT20: 14 September - Trent Bridge, Nottingham 14:30 BST

England Men white-ball tour of South Africa

17 September - Venue tbc 10:45 BST
19 September - Venue tbc 10:45 BST
21 September - Venue tbc 10:45 BST

ECB
 
The independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) has issued its sanctions decision in relation to Heather Knight after she was charged over a non-recent photograph which appeared on social media

Ms Knight admitted a breach of ECB Directive 3.3 which stated at the time of the offence in 2012: “No such person may conduct himself in a manner or do any act or omission which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the game of cricket or any Cricketer or group of Cricketers into disrepute.”

CDC adjudicator Tim O’Gorman issued Ms Knight with a reprimand and a £1,000 fine, which is suspended for two years.

On 16 September the independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) suspended Alex Hepburn from playing for a period of 10 years.
Alex Hepburn was charged by the Cricket Regulator with two breaches of Directive 3.3 of the 2017 ECB Directives earlier this year. The first charge related to Mr Hepburn’s arrest and subsequent criminal conviction in April 2019, and the second charge related to his participation in an offensive WhatsApp group in 2017. At the relevant time, Mr Hepburn was a professional cricketer with Worcestershire CCC.

Mr Hepburn spent a period of time in prison, and the Cricket Regulator was able to serve him with notification of charge earlier this year.
Mr Hepburn failed to respond to the Charge Letter and related communication. As such, the CDC Panel reached its decision in his absence. Mr Hepburn has not appealed the CDC Panel’s decision.

For the first charge, relating to his criminal conviction, Mr Hepburn has been suspended from playing cricket for a period of 10 years, commencing on 30 October 2021. Further, before he is permitted to play, coach or undertake any cricket related activity which falls within the authority of the ECB in the future, he is required to undergo appropriate professional treatment for the issues which led to his criminal conviction (if appropriate with the involvement and oversight of the PCA) and to undertake appropriate training and education courses.
For the second charge, concerning his participation in an offensive WhatsApp group, Mr Hepburn has been suspended from playing for a period of 2 years (which is deemed served, having commenced on 30 October 2021).
 
ECB to ban transgender women at elite level from 2025

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will ban transgender women from playing at the elite level of women's domestic cricket from 2025.

Any player who has gone through male puberty will not be eligible to feature in the top two tiers of the women's game.

The new regulations will also apply to The Hundred's women's competition, but transgender women will be eligible to play in tier three of the domestic structure, which comprises traditionally lower-level counties, and in recreational cricket.

It follows the decision from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in November 2023 to ban transgender women who have gone through male puberty from playing international women's matches.

The ECB said it had carried out an "extensive consultation" and considered the interaction between "fairness, safety and inclusion" before reaching a conclusion.

"Having considered wide-ranging views gathered during the consultation, as well as in consultations conducted during 2023, and the relevant science and medical evidence, the ECB has decided that from 2025 it will adopt the same approach as the ICC for women's professional domestic cricket," the ECB said.

"This provides consistency, given that a primary purpose of the top end of the domestic structure is to produce international players."

The ICC said it would review its rule within two years. The ECB has not specified whether it will also carry out a review once its own regulations come into effect.

"The detailed policy will now be developed over the coming months, in consultation with stakeholders, and is due to be formally in place in time for the 2025 domestic season," the ECB said.

It added: "Considerable time has been taken to reach this policy position.

"The ECB recognises that transgender participation is a complex area, with many strongly held views, and it is impossible to balance all the considerations.

"We want everyone to feel included and welcome in our sport, and believe the position reached strikes an appropriate balance by ensuring fairness in the elite game while ensuring inclusivity at a recreational level, with specific safeguards in place to manage disparities and ensure safety."

The ECB previously required all transgender women looking to take part in elite level female-only competitions to apply for written clearance. Evidence was then reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The ICC's decision to ban transgender women from international cricket last year came two months after Canada's Danielle McGahey became the first transgender cricketer to play an official international game.


BBC
 
England Men's Central Contracts announced

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the updated Central Contract list for England Men's international cricket.

A total of 29 players have England Men Central Contracts - seven England Two-Year Central Contracts, 19 England Annual Central Contracts, and three England Development Contracts.

England Men Centrally Contracted Players 2024/2025

England Two-Year Central Contracts

Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)*
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Mark Wood (Durham)

England One-Year Central Contracts

Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)*
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)*
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)*
Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire)*
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

England Development contracts:

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)*
Josh Hull (Leicestershire)*
John Turner (Hampshire)
*Denotes newly-contracted player for 2024/2025

England Men’s captains Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have both signed extensions and are now contracted on two-year deals.

Test captain Stokes was previously on a one-year contract and white-ball captain Buttler was on a two-year contract.

Five players have signed England Central Contracts for the first time under new multi-year system that was introduced last year. Jamie Smith (Surrey) has signed a two-year contract while Will Jacks (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Phil Salt (Lancashire) and Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire) have signed one-year contracts.

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire) and Josh Hull (Leicestershire) have agreed England Development Contracts for the first time to join John Turner (Hampshire).

A further three players who were already contracted have also renewed with Gus Atkinson (Surrey) signing a two-year contract while Jack Leach (Somerset) and Reece Topley (Surrey) have agreed a further one-year contract each.

The system, which covers both red-ball and white-ball players, considers the likelihood of players featuring in England teams across formats over the next period while recognising performances in the preceding year.

Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, said: "The strength and depth of talent across England Men’s red and white-ball cricket is clear in the quality of players who are centrally contracted.

“These contracts reward the players we believe will play an important role for our England Men’s teams. Both our captains, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, have signed two-year central contracts that showcase the commitment of all the players to prioritise playing for their country.

“I want to congratulate all the players who have signed new central contracts ahead of what is set to be an exciting period for England Men’s cricket.”
 
On 20 June 2024, Middlesex County Cricket Club was charged by the Cricket Regulator with a single breach of ECB Directive 3.3

Following a full hearing before an independent panel of the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) on 17 September 2024, the CDC panel has found that the Cricket Regulator’s charge was not proven.
 
New independent Chair of Cricket Discipline Panel appointed

Richard Whittam KC has been appointed as Chair of the Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP), the new independent tribunal which will hear and adjudicate on cases of alleged regulatory breaches in professional cricket, and decide what sanctions are appropriate for any breaches that are found to have occurred.

Richard is a specialist regulatory and criminal barrister who will continue to practice from Matrix Chambers. He was a Deputy High Court Judge between 2016 and 2022.

Richard was appointed as the Rugby Football Union’s Head of Independent Judiciary last year. He has chaired discipline, safeguarding and appeal panels in rugby union since 2014. Richard is also a member of the Word Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby Judicial Panels.

The CDP’s function will be to consider cases brought before it by the Cricket Regulator, the body responsible for monitoring compliance with and enforcement of adherence to the game’s regulations on behalf of the ECB.

This new appointment by the ECB Board is for a four-year term following an open recruitment process. Richard will be responsible for presiding over specific disciplinary cases, appointing the other members of the CDP, and allocating those individuals to hear specific cases.

He is now recruiting members to join the CDP, with an appropriate range of skills and diversity. An open recruitment process for these roles is now under way.

Richard Whittam KC said: “I am delighted to be appointed to this important role. It is vital to the integrity of cricket that the sport’s rules and regulations are upheld. As the first Chair of the CDP I look forward to getting the Panel up and running and ensuring that cases are dealt with promptly, in a fair, thorough and transparent manner.”

Most cases which will come before the Panel relate to a breach of the ECB’s Professional Conduct Regulations, which contain various misconduct offences including bringing the game into disrepute (which gives rise to broad and varied cases).

However, the Panel, and the Chair in particular, also has a role to play in relation to other Regulations, including the Anti-Corruption Code, Player and Match Officials’ Minimum Standards, cricket Playing Conditions, Bowling Review Regulations, Pitch Regulations and Head Protector Regulations.

Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said: “The independent Cricket Discipline Panel will play an important role in enforcing cricket’s regulations and dealing with any misconduct and regulatory breaches. Richard Whittam KC has an impressive background in law and sports discipline which makes him the ideal person to chair the Panel.”

Once the remainder of the panel members have been appointed, the Cricket Discipline Panel will begin considering cases, taking over this role from the current Cricket Discipline Commission, which is chaired by Tim O’Gorman.

Mr Thompson added: “I’d like to pass on my sincere thanks to Tim O’Gorman and all the panel members from the Cricket Discipline Commission for the service they have given the game over many years. They have performed an important duty in enforcing cricket’s regulations, and I’m grateful for their continued service while the new Cricket Discipline Panel members are recruited.”
 
HOPKINSON AND DAWSON TO DEPART COACHING ROLES

England Men white-ball coaches Carl Hopkinson and Richard Dawson will leave their roles at the end of the current tour of the West Indies.

Hopkinson was part of the coaching team that helped win the 2019 ICC Men’s World Cup on home soil and the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after he joined the England Men’s set-up in 2018.

Former England international Dawson was Head Coach of the Young Lions team that reached the 2022 ICC Men’s U19s World Cup final and was appointed to the England Men coaching team ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

Hopkinson said: “It has been a career highlight not only to be part of the England coaching set-up for the past seven years but also to be involved in two historic World Cup victories, which is something I’ll always cherish.

“After starting as National Lead Fielding coach I worked alongside Richard Dawson to help the England Men U19s reach their first World Cup final for 24 years. It has been exciting to see young players we worked with at the World Cup grow into full England internationals as well as more recently helping some of the best white-ball players in the world continue to develop.”

Dawson said: “I have enjoyed every minute in the England environment and working with some of the best white-ball players in the world as well as great people in the coaching team and backroom staff from the U19s to senior team.

“Being head coach of the England U19 team that reached the World Cup final was a career highlight while it has been a pleasure working with some of the top spinners in the world while also developing the strength and depth of spin bowling talent from across the country. I look forward to seeing the white-ball team continue to progress and hopefully win more trophies.”

Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, said: “Hoppo and Daws are two outstanding coaches who have played important roles in the success of our white-ball teams.

“In addition to their coaching expertise with our senior teams they have also developed young players through the age groups to help set up the next era of our white-ball teams. England Cricket is in a better place because of them and I wish them well in the next chapter of their careers.”
 
All 18 first-class counties will host at least one women’s and men’s Vitality Blast double header next season after the schedule for a historic 2025 domestic T20 summer was revealed today.

The 2025 season will be the first time all women’s and men’s county teams will play side by side in the Vitality Blast, the original domestic T20 cricket comptition that delivers fast-paced and explosive action in front of passionate and diverse fans across England and Wales.

And while the Vitality Blast men’s competition enters its 22nd year, next season it will be bigger and better than ever before with the women’s teams playing in two Vitality Blast competitions – one contested by the eight counties from Tier One (playing alongside the men in the Vitality Blast) and the second featuring the 10 remaining counties (Vitality Blast Women’s League 2).

A total of 52 women’s and men’s double headers will be staged across 20 venues next season.

The Blast-Off weekend (29 May – 1 June) will kick-start the new-look competition with 10 double headers and all eight of the Vitality Blast women’s competition counties involved. Rivals Week will also continue in the men’s competition with the oldest county rivalries taking centre stage.

The group stage will then come to a high-stakes conclusion with ‘Friday Finale’ on 18 July. ‘Friday Finale’ will see the women race for the three Finals Day spots while the men have a last chance to book their place in the quarter-finals with eight men’s matches scheduled and all eight women’s counties in action on what promises to be a thrilling night.

Vitality Blast Men’s Finals Day is now established as one of the unmissable days of the cricket calendar and fans need to act fast to secure their place with only a limited number of tickets left for the Saturday 13 September showpiece at Edgbaston.

The first-ever Vitality Blast Women’s Finals Day will be staged at the Kia Oval on Sunday 27 July with fans who want to enjoy the unique Finals Day atmosphere able to register their interest, here.

ECB Director of the Women’s Professional Game, Beth Barrett-Wild, said: "It's so exciting to announce Vitality Blast women's fixtures alongside the men's fixtures. It's one of the clearest demonstrations to date of our aligned ‘one game’ approach to the delivery of men's and women's domestic cricket moving forwards, truly marking the beginning of a new era for professional cricket - one with gender balance at its core - in this country."

After consultation with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) the Vitality Blast Men’s competition will be balanced with more matches played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights to meet player welfare requirements, while also allowing a healthy number of fan-friendly timeslots.

Next season there are 17 scheduled Vitality Blast men’s competition matches on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and increase from five last summer. The number of back-to-back games has also been reduced by almost a third for next season.

ECB Managing Director of Competitions and Major Events, Neil Snowball, said: “The Vitality Blast is going to be bigger and better next season with the introduction of two women’s competitions and some key dates in the domestic calendar from the Blast-Off weekend, to Friday Finale and of course Finals Day for the men’s and women’s competitions.

“The Vitality Blast will be played at at least 25 venues across England and Wales next season which will give more people even more opportunity to watch high-quality men’s and women’s T20 county cricket.

“It has also been important that while putting the schedule together we have listened to the players by reducing the number of back-to-back games in the men’s competition. We have had constructive conversations with the PCA to meet those understandable needs while also balancing the commercial value of the Vitality Blast to counties.

“There is real anticipation for next season as first-time men's winners Gloucestershire aim to defend their title while we will have a first women’s champion crowned at the Kia Oval on 27 July.”

Today's fixture announcement follows confirmation in September that the men's and women's domestic T20 competitions would be aligned in collaboration with health and life insurer Vitality, as they continue to work with the ECB to invest in, grow and support the women’s game, seeking to inspire many more women and girls to play and watch the game.

The new professional structure will see £8m new funding per year being invested into women’s domestic cricket by 2027 – taking annual investment in this area to c.£19m – and could produce an 80% increase in the number of professional female players in England and Wales by 2029.

Neville Koopowitz, CEO at Vitality, said: “Today’s announcement details some of the changes happening within cricket, and reflects our dedication to working closely with the ECB to bring about further growth within women’s cricket and women’s sport in general.

“In renaming the women’s game to the Vitality Blast earlier this year, and now making these further changes to the competition, we are able to better showcase women’s cricket, further aligning it to the men’s game, which will make it more accessible and increase visibility of it across the country. This has the potential to positively impact participation rates in the game and sport more generally, resulting in healthier lives, which aligns perfectly with our core purpose - to make people healthier and to enhance and protect lives.”
 
Surrey will begin their bid for a fourth successive Men's Rothesay County Championship title at local rivals Essex following release of the full 2025 county schedule.

The fixtures for the County Championship, which will be title sponsored by Rothesay for the next three years, and Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s and men’s competitions have today been confirmed alongside dates for the Disability Premier League.

It follows confirmation last week of the fixtures for the Vitality Blast and new Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup, and completes a historic county schedule that will for the first time see women’s and men’s county teams play side-by-side in the Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One-Day Cup.

Fans across England and Wales will have more access than ever before to high-quality domestic women’s and men’s county cricket, with matches to be played at a minimum of 36 venues across England and Wales, with seven trophies up for grabs across the professional county game and DPL.

The Rothesay County Championship will begin on Friday 4 April with eight rounds in April and May. The two rounds at the end of June and two rounds at the end of July will see Kookaburra balls used, before three rounds in September to finish the domestic summer.

Surrey will be looking to become the first county to claim four Rothesay County Championship titles in a row since their all-conquering team from the 1950s won the trophy from 1952-58.

The first block of the new Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition will be played in April and May before returning in July while the Metro Bank One-Day Cup men’s competition group stage will be held in August.

Defending men’s champions Glamorgan open their title defence at home to Hampshire in Neath. The finals of the men’s and women’s competitions will be held over the same weekend (September 20 and 21) at Trent Bridge and The Utilita Bowl respectively.

The Disability Premier League final will be one of six domestic trophies on offer in September. The group stage will be played over three rounds – with the opening round at Loughborough on Sunday 24 August - before the final is set to be staged as a double header to England Men’s Vitality IT20 against South Africa Men at Sophia Gardens on Tuesday 10 September.

Pirates won their first DPL title last year following an unbeaten run to the final at Sophia Gardens where they beat Tridents by 32 runs.

Rachel Bradshaw, Chief of Staff at Rothesay, the UK’s largest pensions insurance specialist and Official Partner of England Cricket, commented: “It is exciting to see the always-anticipated release of the fixtures ahead of our first summer as the title sponsor of the historic County Championship. Rothesay is purpose-built to provide security for UK pensioners and we are delighted that we can also help to secure the future of cricket by inspiring all generations and making cricket a game for everyone.”

Rothesay County Championship – Division One: Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Yorkshire.

Format: Each county plays 14 Rothesay County Championship matches (seven home and seven away). The county that tops the table at the end of the 14 matches is crowned champion, with the bottom two counties in the table relegated to Division Two.

Rothesay County Championship – Division Two:Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire.

Format: Each county plays 14 Rothesay County Championship matches (seven home and seven away). The county that tops the table at the end of the 14 matches is crowned champion and is promoted, along with the second-placed county, to Division One.

Metro Bank One-Day Cup Men’s

Group A: Notts Outlaws, Essex, Worcestershire, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Hampshire, Leicestershire Foxes, Derbyshire Falcons.

Group B: Kent Spitfires, Yorkshire, Somerset, Lancashire, Durham, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Middlesex, Sussex Sharks.

Format: Each county plays the other eight counties in their group once (four home and four away games). The top county in each group at the end of the group stage progresses directly to the semi-finals. The second and third-placed counties at the end of the group stage progress to the quarter-finals.

Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women’s

Group: Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Warwickshire.

Format: Each county plays the other seven counties home and away for a total of 14 group-stage matches. The top four counties at the end of the group stage progress to the semi-finals.

Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women's League 2

Group: Derbyshire Falcons, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids, Yorkshire.

Format: Each county plays the other nine counties once during the group stage. The top four counties at the end of the group stage progress to the semi-finals.

Disability Premier League

Group: Black Cats, Hawks, Pirates, Tridents.

Format: Each team plays each other once during the group stage. The top two teams at the end of the group stage qualify for the final.
 
With the full 2025 domestic fixture list now released, PCA Chair James Harris has responded, citing “baby step progress” relating to the prioritisation of player welfare with a plea for the game to come together to improve matters for 2026.

Following the release of the 2024 men’s schedule, the PCA, its members and the ECB have been in increasing communication with the aim of prioritising player welfare, opposed to a fixture list compiled by prioritising commercial revenue.

Constructive engagements have been ongoing with the ECB, including representatives attending the PCA Summit in October, with all parties recognising the challenges of making structural changes to county cricket.

The fixture list for the 2025 men’s summer does see a reduction in back-to-back Blast fixtures, however, this still happens on 39 occasions, down from 55 in 2024.

With the transition to a county structure in the women’s game, professional players will be playing more than ever before, including a 60% increase in back-to-back fixtures in the Vitality Blast, compared to the 2024 Charlotte Edwards Cup.

This means when combining the men’s and women’s professional game, there are 54 back-to-back 20-over games in 2025, compared to 61 in 2024

The fixtures release follows 12 months of men’s players voicing their growing concerns on the workload, citing significant physical and mental worries. Research ahead of the 2024 season saw 81% of men’s players state the current schedule causes them a physical concern, 62% from a mental wellbeing perspective while 76% were worried about the safety of travelling arrangements.

This was supported by England batter Joe Root who featured in 13 early season games for Yorkshire, saying in May: “The creation of minimum standards to protect travel windows and player welfare is non-negotiable.”

Gloucestershire player Miles Hammond also recorded a video diary mid-season that featured his team play home and then away Blast games on successive nights before a seven-hour travel day to Scarborough to take on Yorkshire the next day.

During the meetings ahead of the 2024 season, players overwhelmingly asked for a minimum of one-day between T20 fixtures and three days between four-day games in a request to not only prioritise mental and physical condition, but to produce their best possible cricket.

PCA Chair and Glamorgan bowler, James Harris, said: “During our PCA Summit in October, the ECB acknowledged the men’s schedule is not fit for purpose and requires changes to ensure player welfare requirements were met with minimum standards on days of rest, recovery and preparation between fixtures.

“The players need change and with the ECB seemingly supportive, we need the 18 First-Class counties to acknowledge the concerns of not just the players, but the wider professional support staff and come together as a collective to make progressive changes to support the future of our sport.

“It is an impossible job to create a safe schedule with the current structure and there is baby step progress in 2025. The facts show there are still three more back-to-back Blast games in 2025 compared to 2023.

“In the women’s Blast, there will be a 60% increase in games on successive days. This is a trend we are keeping a close eye on as minimum standards should apply to all professional cricket.

“In the men’s game, there is just one day between the Blast Finals Day and a round of County Championship fixtures. If the reserve day is needed, teams would be expected to travel for hours after finishing at 10pm on the Sunday to start a four-day game 12 hours after they leave the pitch in the Blast final. You would have to question the integrity of both competitions.

“There remains further, almost impossible, periods that allow peak performance. In 2025, this is unacceptable in a world where the awareness of mental and physical health of elite athletes needs to be prioritised given the professionalism and scrutiny in the modern era.

“We urge the game to come together because this issue cannot be kicked down the road for any longer. We cannot wait for a tragedy before the game wakes up and recognises player welfare has not been prioritised.

“There is a lot of work to be done and we look forward to working with all relevant stakeholders to make some tweaks to the schedule for 2026.”

Lancashire bowler and PCA Rep, Phoebe Graham, said: “I’m really looking forward to playing in more double headers. A third of our fixtures are on the same day as the men which is awesome for the game and I love playing at Emirates Old Trafford.

“It does come with a caveat that four of the 14 fixtures are back-to-back which means we are potentially compromising performance. Three of those four fixtures are standalone games, including at least two hours travel between fixtures.

“There could be more thought behind the schedule with player welfare in mind.

“As we enter the fifth year of the professionalisation of the women’s domestic game we welcome more competitive cricket. However, we do need to make sure this is done safely and it’s fair for all teams across the competition.”

PCA Interim Chief Executive, Daryl Mitchell, said: “The implementation of more double headers between the men’s and women’s Vitality Blast is a real positive as the game continues to move towards an equal playing field.
“We all recognise the difficulties of compiling a fixture list in England and Wales and we are pleased the ECB has started to make some changes after listening to players on their concerns on the mental and physical toll.

“I know the ECB operations team has worked hard to allow greater gaps between fixtures in the men’s game. However, the schedule cannot be in a position of acceptance until we create some space to allow minimum standards throughout the season and the whole game is responsible for this.

“We are encouraged at the amount of common ground we have with the ECB and many counties. While this is reassuring, we need to understand the next steps and what timelines are in place now so in 12 months time, we are not in the same predicament of analysing periods of the season that are simply not safe.”
 
Former England head coach Chris Silverwood will return to Essex as director of cricket ahead of the 2025 county season

The 49-year-old was in charge of the first team at Chelmsford from 2016 to 2018, winning the County Championship in the second of his three seasons.

He was appointed by England in October 2019 but left in February 2022 following a 4-0 Ashes series defeat in Australia, taking over as Sri Lanka head coach two months later.

Silverwood resigned from that post in June and now replaces Anthony McGrath, who left Essex last month after nine seasons to become head coach at Yorkshire.

"It’s a club that holds very special memories for me, with the success we enjoyed in 2016 and 2017, and it’s been great to see the success Anthony McGrath has had in the years in between," he said.

"There is work to be done around the squad, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead, with an emphasis on working hard to help develop our homegrown players.

"I’m excited to get straight to work to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible and that the squad is in the best possible shape to compete on all fronts next summer."

Source: BBC
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FearlessRoar
  • Poll Poll
[PICTURES/VIDEO] PSL 2025 (Season 10) - Discussion Thread
2
Replies
106
Views
6K
The Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle
FearlessRoar
[PICTURES] PSL 2025 Draft - Discussion Thread
4 5 6
Replies
404
Views
8K
Rana
Rana
Cricket Warrior
  • Locked
England vs India | 4th Test | Manchester | July 23-27 | Pre-Match Discussion
2 3 4
Replies
285
Views
4K
sweep_shot
sweep_shot
The Bald Eagle
[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Lahore Qalandars PSL 10 | Squad and Discussion Thread
Replies
73
Views
3K
BouncerGuy
BouncerGuy
BouncerGuy
Former England fast bowler David 'Syd' Lawrence passes away at the age 61
Replies
4
Views
171
PakLFC
P
Back
Top