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EDI In Action

To realise the vision of becoming the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales, cricket is changing.

Across the game, activity is under wayÌýto get a wider variety of people involved in the sport, through our ‘Inspiring Generations’ strategy for cricket in England and Wales and the further steps we have announced to tackle discrimination and champion inclusivity.Ìý
This activity and its impact ranges from expanding women’s and disability teams, through to funding community initiatives to get more people involved, working with partners to reduce barriers to participation, and participating in cross-sport diversity campaigns in order to build on what works.Ìý Action will differ according to the specific needs of different groups alongside work by individual counties and other organisations across the cricket network, and we expect this to continue as our EDI efforts evolve and society continues to change.Ìý
You can learn more about some of the work that’s already happened across cricket in some of these areas below.Ìý
Southern Vipers stream pic

2024

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ Updates Inspiring Generations Strategy and Launches Five Additional Action Plans

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ launched the updated , setting out its vision for the game over the next four years.Ìý

Also launched were:Ìý

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Find out more here

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ Publishes One-Year on Update on Delivering ICEC Recommendations

One year on from the response to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report, the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ updated on the progress made against the actions it set out to become a more inclusive sport.Ìý

Find out more

First SACA Graduate Earns England Call UpÌý

The South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) celebrated Jafer Chohan's call up to the England Men's squad as their first graduate to earn an international cap.Ìý

SACA work to provide opportunities for players from South Asian communities and Jafer's journey from the academy to the international stage is a shining example of their work in action.Ìý

Launch of the Grass Pitch Improvement Fund

The Fund will help cricket to tackle inequalities around access to safe, good quality grass cricket pitches across England and Wales.

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Launch of The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund

The England and Wales Cricket Board and partner Metro Bank announce new fund directly aimed at women and girl's coaching and volunteering.

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Eight new professional women's teams

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ confirmed the eight First Class Counties who have been successful in their bid to be awarded Tier 1 women’s team status from 2025. In addition, two additional First Class Counties were named to expand Tier 1 from eight to ten teams by 2027, and the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ announced an intent to grow to 12 teams by the 2029 season.

£35m Government funding

Government announce £35m in grassroots cricket facilities and widening access to the sport within state schools, enabling over 900,000 young people to play cricket over the next five years.

Find out moreÌý

Players use sign language to promote anti-discrimination messaging

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ announces that this summer all the first-class venues in England and Wales will feature players using BSL on the big screens to promote anti-discrimination messaging.

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ICEC progress update published

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ publishes an update on progress so far in delivering the actions pledged in response to the ICEC report.

Plans unveiled to take women's professional game to next level

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ announces the creation of a three-tiered domestic competition structure and a shift in the ownership model underpinning the women’s professional game. It is also confirmed that the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ will invest a further £4m-£5m per year into the women’s professional game from 2025-2028, taking the annual investment in this space to c.£16m. An extra £1m is also committed to women’s salaries in The Hundred, taking the top salary for women’s players to £50,000 – up from £15,000 in the first year of the competition.

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Record participation in disability cricket

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ reports a 70% increase in participation by disabled people since pre-COVID levels. A record number of disability cricket fixtures (269) are scheduled to take place in 2024, and there has been a 46% increase in participating teams since 2022.

Sue Redfern umpires in the County Championship

2023

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Lord's hosts Iftar to celebrate Ramadan 2022

2022

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Somerset Disability cricket

2021

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ extends partnership with Lord’s Taverners to make disability cricket accessible in every county

An expanded partnership between the Lord’s Taverners and the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ sees a commitment to expand the Super 1s disability cricket programme to every county and improves the sustainability of table cricket – aiming to increase participation, inspire social change and empower tens of thousands more young people to fulfil their potential and build life skills through the sport. The game changing £2m partnership is part of the biggest investment into a disability cricket programme.

Graces CC and Unicorns CC compete in historic LGBTQ+ cricket match

The two clubs make history by competing in what is believed to be the first cricket match played between two wholly inclusive LGBTQ+ cricket clubs. The game is supported by the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥, with the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ Association of Cricket Officials providing officials for the day.

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The Hundred launches to throw cricket’s doors open

More than 16million watch the first year of England and Wales cricket’s newest competition The Hundred, with eight city-based teams competing in double-header men’s and women’s contests. The competition features equal prize money for men and women, has smashed attendance records for women’s cricket and has attracting a broader audience to the game, with high numbers of female ticket buyers and junior tickets.

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Cricket comes together to launch 12 point plan to tackle racism and discrimination and foster inclusivity

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ and the wider game comes together to commit to a 12-point, game-wide action plan to tackle racism and all forms of discrimination in the game and to promote equity, diversity and inclusion at all levels. The plan includes a list of actions focussing on areas where further improvements are needed including understanding and educating more; addressing dressing room culture; removing barriers in talent pathways; and creating welcoming environments for all.

Find out more

Disability Cricket Champion Clubs

Launched in 2021, the Champion Club initiative has grown year-on-year, providing support for cricket clubs to develop regular inclusive cricket provision for disabled cricketers.

Find out more

Girls play cricket at school

2019

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ sets out Inspiring Generations visionÌý

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ launches Cricket’s strategy for 2020-24 – with the overarching ambition to inspire a generation to say, ‘Cricket is a game for me’. The strategy sets six key priorities including transforming women’s and girls’ cricket, engaging children and young people, making cricket accessible and supporting communities.Ìý

First urban cricket centre opens in Leyton, east LondonÌý

A year after the launch of the South Asian Action Plan, the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ opens the doors to the first new urban cricket centre, the Leyton Cricket Hub. The ground-breaking centre form part of a plan to increase participation and encourage positive social cohesion, providing accessible and affordable cricket for the local community, brought to life through programmes such as Women’s Soft Ball Cricket, All Stars Cricket and tape ball cricket.Ìý

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£50m injection as part of new Transforming Women’s and Girl’s Cricket Action PlanÌý

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ launches its  to transform women’s and girls’ cricket with the fundamental goal of making cricket a gender-balanced sport. The plan includes a £50m injection into the women and girls game, and the ground-breaking commitment to the funding of 40-full time professional, domestic contracts for the first time.Ìý

Find out more

all-stars-cricket

2018

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ and Sport England team up to launch South Asian female volunteer drive

£1.2m of lottery funding is announced to train up to 2,000 South Asian female volunteers as ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ activators to deliver cricket programmes for young people.

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ becomes first national sports governing body to march under own banner at London Pride

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ marches in the Pride in London Parade, becoming the first sporting national governing body to participate as an individual organisation.

Ìý

Core Cities Programme targets ethnically diverse urban areas

The Core Cities programme is set up by the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ in partnership with Sport England, working across 13 ethnically diverse urban areas. Initially designed to support the South Asian Action Plan and focused on the cities that had the largest South Asian demographics, it has expanded its reach over time. In 2024 the programme is supporting 300 locations and 50,000 people, with each Core City developing a plan to expand their work with Black communities in 2024.

Read more

Plan unveiled to engage South Asian Communities

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ announces a wide-ranging Action Plan to transform the way it engages with South Asian communities and draw more players, fans and volunteers into every level of the game.

Find out moreÌý

2017

All Stars Cricket launches for 5-8 year olds

A brand new participation programme is launched for girls and boys aged five to eight – the first nationwide entry-level initiative for cricket. The scheme is delivered at local cricket clubs and centres across England and Wales throughout the summer.

Find out moreÌý

Jamie Goodwin batting for England PD

2015

England win Physical Disability world title

England win the first ever Physical Disability World Series (International Committee of the Red Cross International T20 Tournament for people with Physical Disabilities) in Bangladesh

2014

England Women enter professional era

The ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ awards 18 players from the England Women's Performance Programme new contracts as the women's game enters a professional era.

2012

England play the first ever international physical disability cricket series that is recognised by NGBs

England take on a Pakistan Physical Disabilities squad in three 40-over matches and two Twenty20 matches at the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai. It was the first ever international cricket series between two teams of physically disabled players where both teams are recognised and endorsed by the governing body of cricket in their country.

2009-11

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ supports international disability teams

As national governing body, the ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ integrates disability cricket organisations and fully supported existing international disability teams from 2009, with the Physical Disability team introduced in 2011