Today, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) published their game-wide State of Equity in Cricket report.
The report provides an update on where the game is against their own Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) action plans and reflects on some of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) recommendations from 2023.
Key areas in the report focus on the game’s culture, people and leadership; broadening access to talent pathways; state school support; work to engage ethnically diverse communities; and action to tackle discrimination.
Middlesex Cricket welcomes this report. As a club, we remain committed to making positive changes that ensure that cricket is a game for all.
Here at Middlesex we are firmly committed to improving ED&I and have made progress across many areas over the last several years.
Our ED&I plan, which was launched in 2021, and has continually evolved, has four main principles to it:
• Building Trust – we have been working hard in this space, integrating safeguarding into all our work, educating internally on ED&I and building deeper links with our communities
• Board – there is diverse representation on the board of both Middlesex Cricket and Middlesex in the Community (MITC), the Club’s charitable arm. Both also include individuals from outside of cricket
• Bias – through ED&I training, the Club is building a strong culture of listening and working with those who raise concerns
• Social Cohesion – We are working with partner organisations and other London counties to deliver successful programmes, changing cricket for the better
Today’s report from the ECB highlights that progress is being made across the game, but work must and will continue. We strive to be a game for all across Middlesex and we will take time over the coming days and weeks to extensively review its contents and work with relevant stakeholders to address any ongoing challenges that we face.
Positive strides have been made by Middlesex in areas highlighted today for a prolonged period already and will continue to work with the ECB along with other partners to ensure that we make our game as accessible and as welcoming as possible.
Be assured that we are continuing to do everything in our power to make cricket as equitable, diverse and inclusive as we can.
Andrew Cornish
Chief Executive Officer
You can view the full State of Equity in Cricket Report HERE.
