A sport under transformation, but not yet transformed
English cricket has taken measurable steps toward becoming a more inclusive and equitable sport—but those leading the change know the work is far from done. A new independent assessment of the game, released in the ECB’s 2025 State of Equity in Cricket Report, reveals a sport in transition: one striving to align ambition with accountability, and facing pressure from within and outside its boundaries to turn progress into permanence.
Published a year earlier than promised, the 53-page report evaluates the ECB’s response to the 2023 Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) findings, which exposed deep-rooted issues of racism, classism, sexism, and elitism across all levels of the game.
Kate Percival, CEO of Sport Structures—the organization commissioned to conduct the review—summarized the shift in attitude driving reform:
“Cricket is not yet where it aspires to be, but the tone has changed. Inclusion is now seen as central to the game’s health and future,” Kate Percival said in a statement.
That sentiment echoed throughout the report, which noted that inclusion is no longer seen as an external pressure but a core part of cricket’s sustainability.
“The tone of the conversation has changed and inclusion is increasingly viewed as integral to cricket’s health, not an external demand,” read the Sport Structures statement.
Honest reflection, uneven progress
The ECB’s top leaders acknowledged both progress and ongoing shortcomings. Chief executive Richard Gould called the early release of the report part of a broader effort to “hold us to account,” highlighting areas of meaningful improvement alongside persistent inequities.
“The State of Equity in Cricket Report holds us to account in relation to our ambitions to become the most inclusive team sport. It shows us some areas of excellent work and progress, as well as where we need to go further,” Gould said in a statement.
Among the most promising areas were grassroots development and the expansion of access to cricketing opportunities across underrepresented communities.
“The extensive work to open up the talent pathway to young people from every background is a great example of the changes that can be made when cricketing organisations join forces to break down barriers and deliver systemic change,” Gould added.
Yet, despite this momentum, he made clear the transformation remains incomplete.
“We know there is still a great deal of work to do, and a number of areas where more action is needed to address structural issues. We said from the start there could be no quick fix, but we committed to delivering meaningful and lasting change, and that will remain our absolute focus in the months and years ahead as we build on the progress we are setting out today.”
A shift in mindset—but leadership gaps persist
While improvements in youth access, coaching, and governance structures were commended, leadership diversity continues to lag behind. The ECB itself has made progress—with 42% of its board now female and 33% ethnically diverse—but that progress has not been mirrored across the county game.
“Diversity in leadership and representation is improving but remains uneven,” said Sport Structures.
The report highlighted a sharp stagnation in county-level leadership.
“There has been no progress in the gender diversity in chair and CEO roles in PCCs, and this is a key focus for the coming years,” the report said.
Ethnic representation also remains disproportionately low.
“Ethnic diversity across chair and CEO positions in cricket remains low, and interventions in recent years have not yet led to improvements in representation,” the report stated.
ECB chair Richard Thompson reinforced this point.
“Becoming the most inclusive team sport was an ambition that chief executive Richard Gould and I set for the game, and I am proud that it has been our North Star since it was first proposed,” Richard Thompson said in a statement.
“There are many positives to reflect on, but we also recognise there is still much more to do, and there are areas where progress is more challenging,” he added..
He also stressed that leadership roles must begin to reflect the diverse communities cricket serves.
“While I am delighted to see many more women and ethnically diverse people as board members across the game, we need to focus on representation in executive leadership roles to ensure they reflect the communities we serve,” he stated.
A broader view from beyond the ECB
Cindy Butts, chair of the ICEC, offered an external perspective on the state of change. Having stepped back from direct involvement since the 2023 report, Butts continues to track how equity is unfolding across the game.
“It’s heartening to see progress – and it’s also a reminder that real equity in sport demands persistence, honesty, and the will to keep going long after the headlines fade,” she said.
“Since the Commission’s report, I’ve been watching progress from a distance.”
While no longer directly involved in the ECB’s equity implementation, Butts remains an active observer. Her ongoing engagement with the broader cricketing community has given her a front-row view into both the optimism and frustration surrounding the pace of change.
“I’m regularly contacted by journalists and by people within and outside the game, some encouraged by what’s changing, others desperate for deeper, faster progress,” she added.
She believes this tension is productive, not problematic.
“That mix of hope and impatience is healthy. It keeps the pressure where it belongs. Today’s report reflects that dual truth: steps forward, and a long road still ahead,” she stated
Disability and grassroots: slow but essential work
The report also turned attention to areas that still lag behind the broader movement. Despite progress in women’s professional structures, disability cricket and grassroots support systems continue to lack full integration.
“Disability cricket still needs deeper integration within county and club systems,” Sport Structures stated.
Likewise, expectations for investment in women’s cricket are outpacing the resources available in many regions, and the report noted the need for more consistent support at all levels of the game.
Keeping momentum in focus
The broader message from the ECB and Sport Structures is that inclusion is no longer optional—it’s an essential measure of the sport’s future. As the 2025 report shows, there is genuine movement in the right direction.
“Cricket is not yet where it aspires to be, but it is moving in the right direction, with growing honesty and shared purpose. The challenge now is to sustain momentum, connect national ambition with local reality, and build a game in which fairness, trust, diversity, and belonging are truly universal.” Sport Structures added.
The journey is far from over. But with transparency, pressure, and sustained effort, English cricket is confronting its past—and aiming for a more equitable future.
