England Cricket Board sets ambitious plans for 2014-17

Hugh Morris, MD, England Cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board proposed a new strategic plan earlier this week, a plan which aims on producing successful England teams at various levels of the game, and also focus on producing an attractive domestic game and increase participation between 2014-17.

David Collier, ECB Chief Executive said: “Those strategic plans transformed the face of the game in England and Wales. During the last eight years community club facilities have secured more than £200million worth of enhanced facilities and our first-class cricket grounds have developed world-class spectator facilities, which boast outstanding drainage and multi-use facilities.“

Adding to this, ECB Chairman Giles Clarke said: “The main driving force of this new strategic plan is to excel in our operations and to localise delivery wherever possible. At a time when investment in leisure and entertainment is under great pressure the plan allows us to consolidate our facilities, to enhance our operations and to achieve excellence both on and off the field.“

The following targets set were:

1. An increase in participation as measured by Sport England’s Active People Survey from 183,400 to 197,500.2. Increase attendances at at county cricket matches by 200,000.3. Complete sponsorship and broadcasting agreements through 2019.4. Win the World Test Championship and Women’s World Cup in 2017.5. Win the Investec Ashes Series and World Cup in 2015.6. Expand the number of clubs participating in NatWest CricketForce from 2,000 to 2,200.7. Complete co-operation agreements for each of the 39 county boards with their first-class county or 8.Minor County partner.8. Deliver two world-class global events in 2017 which exceed budget and exceed customer satisfaction targets.9 .Increase the number of cricket’s volunteers to 80,000 by 2017.10. Expand the number of participants in women’s and disabilities cricket by 10% by 2017.11. Award all Major Matches through 2019 by December 2014.12. To increase the number of TwelfthMan members (the official fan community of England Cricket) from 220,000 to 250,000 by 2017.13. Complete an approved community engagement programme with all 18 first-class counties and MCC.14. Provide first-class counties with total fee payments of £144m between 2014 and 2017.15. For each £1 provided in facility grants through the ‘Sport England Whole Sport Plan Grant 17.Programme’ ensure a multiplier of three with other funding partners.16. Provide a fund of £8.1m of capital investment to enhance floodlights, sightscreens, replay screens, power sub-stations and broadcasting facilities at first-class county venues.17. Provide an interest-free loan fund to community clubs of £10million.18. Leverage the 2014 tour by India to engage with a minimum of 10,000 cricket supporters of Asian origin.19. Qualify and engage 50 Level 4 coaches to support the development of professional cricketers.20. Expand the number of coaches who have received teacher level 1, 2 or 3 qualifications to 50,000.21. Deliver an annual fixture for the Unicorns against a touring (Full, A or U19) ICC member nation.22. Provide a fund of £2million for community clubs to combat the impact of climate change.23. Introduce a youth T20 competition engaging 500 teams by 2017.

Source: ECB