ECB Invests £2 Million to Take Disability Cricket Nationwide
The ECB wants every county in Wales and England to be able to access disability cricket and has committed to investing £2 million to achieve that end. Lord’s Taverners will run the scheme which is reportedly the biggest investment into a programme of disability cricket any national cricket board has ever made.
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Launch of Super 1s in All Counties
The scheme will oversee the launch in all counties of the Super 1s disability cricket programme. Currently, only 20 out of 39 counties have the programme in operation. The investment is also aimed at making table cricket — an adapted version of cricket played on TT tables — more sustainable. Increasing participation, inspiring social change and empowering thousands of youth to use cricket to build life skills and achieve their potential.
<David Gower Weighs In
David Gower, the current president of Lord’s Taverners and former England skipper, has been quoted as saying to the media, “This partnership is a true game-changer for the Taverners. This is the largest investment by a cricket board into a disability-specific programme and to work with the ECB is an incredible honour. The charity’s work has proved life-changing for so many participants and we’re very excited about the opportunity to bring our work to young people in every county across the country.”
<Active Programme in All Counties by 2024
By the end of this year, Lord’s Taverners aim to complete the launch of the new programmes in Wiltshire, Devon, Northumberland and Worcestershire. They also plan to launch a project in the Eastern Counties of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. They aim at having an active programme in all counties by the end of 2024.
<Growing Popularity of Table Cricket
About 357 schools and more than 8800 young people currently play table cricket. The investment is also aimed at further developing the game which offers young people suffering from more limiting disabilities to play cricket. The game will also help in developing a network of schools and young leaders who will get together not only to play the game but also to improve mental and physical well-being, foster a sense of belonging and encourage young people to interact and develop such skills as confidence and independence.
Nick Pryde, ECB’s Director of Participation and Growth, has been quoted as saying to media outlets, “We’re committed to making cricket as inclusive and diverse as possible and this partnership will be a big driving force towards that. Bringing the Super 1s to every county really will change lives. It’s a fantastic way to increase accessibility and show that cricket can be a game for everyone.”