ECB announces plans to turbocharge growth of women and girls' game

The ECB has announced plans to ‘turbocharge the growth’ of women and girls’ grassroots cricket following a record-breaking 2023 Women’s Ashes series.

The series made history when Trent Bridge hosted the first-ever women’s Test in England to be played over five days.

Australia won the Test by 89 runs but England went on to claim the T20I series 2-1, the first T20I defeat for Australia since the 2017/18 Ashes. A second Nat Sciver-Brunt ODI century helped England to a 2-1 ODI series victory as Australia narrowly retained the Ashes with an overall 8-8 draw.

Building on a successful year as the inaugural Champion Partner of Women’s and Girls Cricket, Metro Bank and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are stepping up their partnership with the launch of The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund with the aim of tripling the number of girls’ teams at clubs by the end of 2026.

Leshia Hawkins, MD of Recreational Cricket at ECB said: “We’re delighted to be working with Metro Bank to launch the Girls in Cricket Fund.

“This Fund is going to turbocharge the growth of grassroots cricket among women and girls by creating even more coaches and volunteers who will support and drive the next generation of girls playing the game.

“From that first moment of inspiration to become a volunteer, right through to expert resources for coaches, the Fund is there to support every step of the journey.

“This is not just about getting more women and girls involved in cricket, it’s about inspiring them, empowering them to progress through the game in their chosen role, and helping to positively transform their lives in cricket.”

The ECB, in partnership with Metro, will distribute the Fund to focus on recruiting, educating, supporting, and celebrating those who make grassroots women and girls’ cricket possible.

To help this mission come to life, the Fund will provide support to current and potential new coaches and volunteers, female and male, both in clubs with a girls’ section and those starting new girls’ sections.

Danielle Lee, Brand and Marketing Director at Metro Bank, said: “We are excited to be working with the ECB to help move the dial on women’s and girls’ participation by funding this grassroots’ initiative – which we believe will allow thousands of girls to develop an interest in playing cricket.

“When girls regularly participate in sport, our research shows this helps them to excel and develop in every aspect of their lives. Together, we are going to help girls fulfil their potential.”

The Fund comprises seven ‘pillars’ of activity designed to help overcome these barriers, as well as driving growth in girls’ club cricket and providing lasting support as people progress through the game.

Initial distributions of the Fund will be for a coach development subsidy programme to provide financial support for new and existing coaches of girls’ club cricket.

This will support the creation of a club coach programme helping the growth of these coaches within their own club environment. In addition, a new girls’ cricket hub comprising of digital learning resources - accessible for all volunteers and coaches – will share knowledge and experience among the women’s and girls’ club cricket network.

Head to metrobankonline.co.uk/cricket where you can discover more about The Metro Bank Girls In Cricket Fund, and help to champion the future of girls’ cricket.