Although football is the most popular sport in the UK cricket has remained the national sport with several association cricket clubs created throughout this country. With more clubs involved in this sport, people play this game at all levels with over 1.1 million adults attending cricket matches each year across England and Wales.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is the governing body of cricket in this sovereign state that was established on 1 January 1997. This single regulator combines the roles of the former regulators like the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council. After the World Cup triumphs of 2017 and 2019 that awaken more new projects to enhance the future of this sport, this cricket board has to face the biggest challenges ever
ECB Main Duties
The ECB’s main responsibility is based on the preparation and development of the British teams that represent the country at the highest level competitions. This authority also helps local and bookmakers outside the UK to prevent match-fixing events. These teams are selected by the National Selector and are trained and coached by the coaches, the head coaches who are the regulator's employees. In addition, the body also employs the English Test match captain and other contracted players who are in charge of the National Cricket Performance Centre, an indoor cricket training complex used by the national team
What's more, ECB is also responsible for the financial direction and commercial exploitation of cricket within the UK by raising revenue from the proceeds of sales for tickets. This can take place at One Day International and Test matches in England and Wales. Managing the income from the sale of sponsorship and broadcasting rights, mainly in relation to the British team, is the body's other duty.
ECB New Initiatives to Enhance the Cricket within the UK
A new year means more new initiatives for this UK cricket board to enhance this sport within the country. The regulator, therefore, established the following approaches for the purpose of further development.
Commit to further policy to abolish discrimination
To increase the diversity across cricket and to drive out discrimination within the UK, ECB is involved to further policy. This plan is divided into three steps and will be part of a new equality, diversity, and inclusion plan to make cricket a sport for everyone. These three measures include a new independent commission for equality in cricket, a forum for the race in cricket, and a new equality code of conduct
Concerning the new independent commission for equality, this initiative aims to assist ECB in evaluating the evidence of inequalities and discrimination of all forms within cricket and the measures required to address this issue. As for the forum for the race, this project’s purpose is to provide a safe and confidential space for cricket gamblers who use GamStop that allows this regulator to be aware of the experience people have faced through this sport.
The third plan is based on the new equality code of conduct that has to be adopted by all cricket organisations operating under the ECB’s jurisdiction. This strategy's purpose is to sanction and detect discriminatory behaviour through disciplinary processes.
ECB and LV have launched Funds4Runs
Due to the COVID-19 impacts, ECB and LV= General Insurance (LV= GI) have launched #Funds4Runs, a project that aims to help the grassroots cricket community to recover and rebuild financially. This £1m investment will be focused on the lives of children across four areas such as those from deprived backgrounds and diverse communities, those who participate in women's and girls’ programmes, and those disability groups.
Apart from that, this scheme is also based on three wider ECB objectives. These purposes include connection communities and life improvement through cricket, the growth of the cricket relevance locally, and increase long-term engagement with the game in these communities. In this Funds4Runs programme, cricket clubs across England and Wales will also have the opportunity to register in a filmmaker project titled First Run. This scheme is delivered exclusively in partnership with the British Film Institute (BFI).