England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s Post

Our #TasteOfCricket tour made its second stop this week at the brilliant KRIMMZ GIRLS YOUTH CLUB, run by the inspiring Khadija Patel. Women and children from the local community in Bolton came together to enjoy some cricket taster sessions run by Lancashire Cricket Foundation and delicious food prepared by local passionate chefs who are also members of the club. Curries and samosas were on the menu, fuelling lots of cricket action on the pitch! Thanks to Lancashire and North West Thunder player, Shachi Pai, for making a special visit to inspire the excited kids, and to KRIMMZ GIRLS YOUTH CLUB, Lancashire Cricket Foundation (especially Jennifer Barden) and Remitly for partnering with #TasteOfCricket on this event. Stay tuned for the next stop on our #TasteOfCricket tour this weekend and find out more about the campaign here: https://lnkd.in/eZz9SH74 #TasteOfCricket #RaisingTheGame 

Hamza Shaikh has described an 'unbelievable' week after he captained the Young Lions for the first time in the first Men's Youth Test against Sri Lanka. https://lnkd.in/eQNcV5BF

Congratulations to the Lord's Taverners for hosting an incredible Table Cricket competition, culminating with an exciting Finals Day at Lord's. We're continuously proud to partner with such a fantastic charity, doing incredible work to engage more people in cricket. Well done to all the schools competing to become champions 🏆! #RaisingTheGame

What’s your favourite cricket tea 🥘🍴🏏? The England Men’s Deaf Team recently enjoyed a #TasteOfCricket picnic and told us their favourite cricket teas! Submit your own cricket tea recipe for a chance to feature in our #TasteOfCricket cookbook, here: https://lnkd.in/eXy2BUyW #RaisingTheGame

Great to see support from across the professional and recreational game for Rainbow Laces, cricket's seventh year celebrating the campaign for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport.

This week we held our first #TasteOfCricket event at Holyport Cricket Club 🥘🍴🏏 It was a wonderful celebration of food, community, inclusivity and cricket, showing the power of the cricket and food to unite communities together. Special thanks to England Men’s player, Josh Tongue, and England Men’s Deaf Team player, James O’Connor, for popping in to share a special match tea with the club and play some cricket with the kids. They also stayed to watch some exiting matches from the club’s disability, women and girls', walking cricket and men’s teams! Stay tuned for more #TasteOfCricket match teas this summer, supported by Remitly, as part of our continued efforts to Raise the Game! Learn more about the campaign here: https://lnkd.in/eeBwN5bK #TasteOfCricket #RaisingTheGame 

Two years ago cricket wasn’t on the agenda for children at Hawthorn Primary School, an inner city state school in Newcastle upon Tyne. But since then, pupils have been getting free coaching funded by the ECB and delivered by Chance to Shine NORTHUMBERLAND CRICKET BOARD LIMITED as part of our increased investment in state school cricket - and the impact has been remarkable. England Men’s Test Captain Ben Stokes visited the school to see for himself how much the children are enjoying it, and the benefits the teachers are seeing. Head teacher Jane Dube writes here about the impact she’s seen: https://lnkd.in/ei-4aKcH This year, working with Chance To Shine, we’re delivering free cricket in more than 4,300 state schools. Many of them are in underserved areas, in schools like Hawthorn where more than 40% of children are eligible for free school meals. In the next five years we aim to reach millions more children so they too can experience the benefits which cricket brings.

Quality Sport and PE in schools isn't just important for children's health, it teaches so many valuable life skills as well. Today England Men's Test Captain Ben Stokes visited Hawthorn Primary School in inner city Newcastle, a state school where cricket wasn't played until 2 years ago. Now children benefit from free sessions funded by the ECB and delivered by Chance to Shine and NORTHUMBERLAND CRICKET BOARD LIMITED. It was clear today how much the children enjoy the sessions, and teachers have noticed positive benefits in the classroom as well. This is why it's so important that politicians ensure there's a minimum two hours' quality PE or sport in school each week as part of the National Curriculum.

A year on from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report, ECB Chair Richard Thompson reflects on the steps we've taken towards addressing discrimination and making cricket a more inclusive sport, and the work that's still left to do. Lasting, meaningful change is not a quick fix. It will take time, and we will continue to listen and learn along the way. https://lnkd.in/egevZJCy