The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been criticized for not committing to making participation in the county talent pathway free, according to Cindy Butts, the chair of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (Icec). The ECB recently unveiled several new action plans aimed at making cricket the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales, including a plan to boost participation in state schools by training hundreds of teachers and investing up to £26m in facilities by 2030. The governing body also aims to provide free cricket for 3.5 million children in state primary schools over the next six years.
This announcement comes over a year after the publication of the Icec report, which revealed deeply rooted and widespread forms of institutional and structural racism, sexism, and class-based discrimination across cricket. One of the report's recommendations was for the ECB to implement a state schools action plan, which has since been followed. Another recommendation was for the county talent pathway to be made free. In an update last month, the ECB reported that it had invested £3m since 2022 to reduce costs for parents participating in county age group programmes, but noted that making the pathway completely free would require diverting significant resources from other projects, many of which benefit those who can afford to contribute.
Currently, three of the 18 first-class counties—Durham, Yorkshire, and Lancashire—operate completely free talent pathways, including the provision of playing kits. Butts praised the ECB for its progress in equity matters but emphasized the need for further improvements. "One of my key concerns since we made our recommendations is that they have not committed to making the talent pathway free for all," she told the Guardian. "I think that’s a mistake. We commissioners firmly believed that cricket will never be a game truly for everyone unless the talent pathway is made free."
Butts also highlighted the importance of progression in addition to participation. "Cost is a significant barrier to underrepresented groups, whether based on class, gender, race, or a combination of all three. It’s a significant barrier to greater levels of involvement and fairness," she said. Alongside its state school action plan, the ECB has also published a talent pathway action plan, with a pilot programme to provide extra coaching for state-school cricketers in the county age-group system.
Butts concluded by acknowledging the ECB's ongoing efforts. "One thing I would say about the ECB is that I think they’ve kept the momentum up and are continuing on a longer programme of improvement," she said. "So hats off to them for that. I think that is excellent and a real model for other organisations."
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
