Review highlights critical safeguarding lapses by Durham Cricket
An independent review has found that Durham County Cricket Club failed to act appropriately following the convictions of former junior coach Michael Strange for multiple child sex offences. Despite Strange’s known connections with the club and repeated convictions between 1993 and 2004, the review found no evidence that the county or associated clubs reached out to the victims or reassessed their safeguarding policies.
The review, commissioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Cricket Regulator, and conducted independently by Ray Galloway, expressed strong concerns about the club’s prolonged inaction.
“Even when many details of the abuse perpetrated by MS (Strange) were in the public domain, they still did not recognise the opportunity to learn from what had happened, nor their responsibilities with regard to the victims and their potential need for support,” the report stated.
It further concluded: “No evidence was found that safeguarding policies and procedures had been the subject of internal review, nor any consideration being given to reach out to the victims. It is surprising that the case of MS was not the catalyst for an internal review of policies and procedures by the clubs and the county.”
The report, released this week, described the overall lack of institutional response as deeply concerning: “As it stands, more than 12 years since the initial conviction of MS, the fact that neither club nor the county board have embraced the opportunity to learn from the case, and to ensure that the needs of the victims are being addressed, is a matter of concern.”
Michael Strange’s history and institutional response
Michael Strange, 65, served as a junior coach and talent scout in Durham’s pathway system during the mid-1990s through the early 2000s. In total, he was convicted of 34 separate offences, including indecent assault, rape, and gross indecency, involving 10 victims — many of whom were young boys under his mentorship.
In his most recent conviction in September 2023, Strange was jailed for the sixth time in 12 years for abusing two teenage boys under his care. Both boys, considered promising cricketers, were driven out of the sport as a result of the abuse.
The review revealed that despite his disqualification from all cricketing activity in 2006, Strange was still able to attend matches at his local club due to a lack of communication around his ban. Although no known offences occurred after this disqualification, the report criticised the systems that allowed him continued access to club environments.
Durham Cricket issues apology and pledges action
In the wake of the report, Durham Cricket issued a public apology and expressed gratitude to the victims who came forward.
“We are extremely grateful to those victims who were able to come forward to ensure Michael Strange was convicted for his crimes and to those who contributed to this report. The brave actions of these individuals will help protect future generations within our sport,” the club said in its statement.
Durham continued: “Our immediate thoughts are with the victims and those affected by the horrific conduct of Michael Strange. We apologise that this occurred within our sport and it’s something that everyone has been and continues to work hard to prevent ever happening again.”
The club also affirmed its commitment to change: “We welcome the recommendations of the report and will continue to work closely with the English Cricket Board (ECB) to ensure each one is addressed and acted upon to make cricket as safe as possible for all.”
ECB response: acknowledgement and future commitments
Responding to the findings, ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould offered an apology to victims and underlined the board’s renewed focus on safeguarding.
“Everyone should be able to take part in cricket safely, and our first thoughts today are with the people who were harmed by Michael Strange. We are sorry this happened to you within our sport,” said Gould in an official statement.
Reflecting on the historical context of the abuse, he added: “It is more than 20 years since Strange was suspended from cricket and while the review recognises that safeguarding understanding, policies and practices have developed significantly since then – within cricket and across society more widely – we will never be complacent. This review highlights the importance of everyone being able to recognise concerning behaviour, and to act upon it.”
Gould reiterated the ECB’s commitment to continuous improvement: “We are constantly developing and strengthening our safeguarding work as well as the education we deliver across the game, and the review’s findings and recommendations will inform our continuing work. By learning from this appalling case, we can keep people safer today.”
The findings from this independent review serve as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that institutions bear in safeguarding those under their care. As the sport continues to evolve, both structurally and culturally, the hope is that lessons drawn from this case will lead to concrete change — not only within Durham Cricket but across the entire cricketing landscape. Accountability, vigilance, and proactive safeguarding must remain at the forefront to ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated.
