Grassroots Cricket Clubs

Tuesday 16th December 2025 Westminster Hall

[KARL TURNER in the Chair]

14:30

[Andrew Lewin (Welwyn Hatfield) (Lab)]

I beg to move,

That this House has considered Government support for grassroots cricket clubs.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. There is something quintessentially English about amateur cricket: the thud of the bat on ball, the awkward silence after a catch goes down—I know, I have been there—and the beer mats hanging out of trouser pockets, as players hope to dry the ball on another soggy May afternoon. Mostly importantly, this summer 2.5 million of us played the game, which is a force for good in so many ways.

I want to reflect on why grassroots cricket is so important to our communities and needs to be nurtured and invested in, and to ask the Minister how the Government can work with clubs, schools and the game’s governing body, to ensure that our great game thrives and is open to all. Cricket has always been a big part of my life. I am wearing the tie of Bishop’s Stortford cricket club, where I first rocked up as a six-year-old. I have played for a few clubs in my time. The excellent Play-Cricket website, used by clubs across the country, records that I have batted 193 times and scored 3,854 runs in club cricket. This is a 90-minute debate, so we have plenty of time—[Interruption.] No, don’t worry, Mr Turner. I was sorely tempted but, as I intend to stay in your good books, I will resist the temptation to talk any more about my career.

[Dr Neil Hudson (Epping Forest) (Con)]

It was a great privilege to serve under the captaincy of the hon. Member this summer for the Lords and Commons cricket team, in our valiant defeat against Marylebone cricket club. I note that, despite that valiant defeat, neither I nor he has received a call-up from Brendon McCullum or Ben Stokes in Adelaide. My constituency is home to some wonderful clubs: Epping, Theydon Bois, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Roding Valley and High Beach. Such clubs are the beating heart of our communities. Does the hon. Member agree that the Government should do all they can to support those fantastic institutions, which offer so many opportunities to people young and old?

[Karl Turner (in the Chair)]

Order. Before the hon. Gentleman continues, I remind Members that interventions are meant to be very short.

[Andrew Lewin]

Of course, Mr Turner, but I hope we can make an exception for a teammate. I thank the hon. Member for his intervention. I have played at some of the clubs that do so much for his community. I know that that is true of many hon. Members who will take part in the debate. As for future call-ups, there are still three test matches to go.

I want to thank Welwyn Garden City cricket club in my constituency. This August, I played a small part in helping to organise a tournament to raise money for two brain tumour charities. The driving force behind the day was Connor Emerton, the club captain, whose brother Shay was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged just 24. Shay and Connor both played on the day, and £10,000 was raised for brain tumour charities. That epitomised the best of a grassroots cricket club: a community coming together, enjoying an English summer’s day and raising money for an exceptionally important cause.

Grassroots cricket is in good shape: 2.5 million played the game in some form last year, and 216,000 fixtures were recorded across England and Wales, which is the first time the amateur game has surpassed the 200,000 mark in a single calendar year.

[Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston) (Lab/Co-op)]

I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. The Co-operative party, which I chair in Parliament, believes that community ownership and local control really matter. Does he agree that stronger protections for grassroots cricket organisations such as Harborne cricket club in my constituency, and greater support for communities to safeguard and run their own facilities, are essential if we are serious about community support?

[Andrew Lewin]

I strongly agree, and will talk a little more about the protections we can offer clubs and what more we can do to build and establish clubs of the future.

Cricket clubs set a new record for participation in the England and Wales Cricket Board’s All Stars and Dynamos youth programmes this year, with more than 105,000 children signing up, including a record number of girls taking up the game. Just short of 3,000 girls’ teams played fixtures this summer—another double-digit percentage increase on the previous year.

[Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)]

The hon. Member makes a good point about the growing diversity in cricket. My constituency is home to Challow and Childrey cricket club, as well as to Didcot cricket club, at which there is a junior division, one of Oxfordshire’s largest disability cricket associations, and a women and girls division. Didcot cricket club is also very diverse. Does he agree that cricket, and sport in general, can bring communities closer together and therefore need more central Government support?

[Andrew Lewin]

I could not agree more on the power of cricket in bringing communities together. I am pleased to hear that the hon. Member has such a thriving club in his community.

As in all good teams, complacency is not an option. We are in a good place, but when we reflect on grassroots participation in our game, and who has access to it, we must question whether facilities are always truly open to all. Many of the best cricket facilities in the country are located at private schools—that is not a new phenomenon. There are good examples of such facilities being opened up and shared with a much wider community. King Edward’s school, Birmingham has been highlighted to me as an exemplar. It has a decades-long relationship with Warwickshire county cricket club, and makes its pitches and indoor facilities available all year round. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. I would be grateful if the Minister said a little about what her Department is doing to build on examples of best practice, and to encourage more private schools to open their facilities to the whole community.

High-quality pitches and outfields will always be core to our game—they are an essential tenet of it—but our sport is evolving fast. I was delighted by our Government’s commitment to the first two cricket domes in Luton and Lancashire earlier this year. The domes will provide a unique opportunity for the game to be played all year round. I would value hearing more from the Minister on the Government’s plans to accelerate and expand the roll-out of these domes.

[Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle) (Lab)]

My hon. Friend makes an important point about indoor cricket, which is particularly vital in Cumbria because our weather requires slightly more cover-ups than cover drives. I recently learned that, through the Super 1s programme, Cumbria Cricket is now offering table cricket to young disabled people in a number of schools such as James Rennie school and Richard Rose central academy in my constituency. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Lord’s Taverners funding that makes that possible is absolutely vital to ensuring that the game of cricket is inclusive at a grassroots level?

[Andrew Lewin]

I agree. My hon. Friend’s constituency has a proud cricketing history. I know a little bit about the work of the Lord’s Taverners; it is an inspiring organisation that helps young people with disabilities and additional needs to thrive and enjoy our great game.

In respect of domes, it is so important that we keep an eye on urban centres in particular, where there is so much passion for our game but far fewer opportunities to take part.

We also need to plan today for the facilities of tomorrow. I support the Government’s planning reforms and believe that we need a collective focus on building homes and communities that stand the test of time. Sports facilities, cricket pavilions and pitches are part of what distinguishes a community from a simple housing development. Sports England has been a statutory consultee in the planning process since 1997. In the 18 years prior to Sports England being given that status, 10,000 sports pitches were sold off. Since 1997, that number has fallen to fewer than 600.

We need a planning system that values sporting facilities—not simply to preserve them, but to recognise that our most successful places often have a sports club at their core. As the NHS rightly shifts its focus from sickness to prevention, the public health benefits of getting this right today will be felt for decades to come. I appreciate that much of the decision-making power here lies in the remit of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, but I would be grateful if the Minister said a little about the representations that she is making to ensure that protecting existing sports facilities and building them for the future is part of live conversations about planning reform.

The biggest and best change to happen in cricket since I was playing as a kid is not Bazball—sorry, Brendon—but the growth of the game for girls, women and people with disabilities. I have also had the privilege of visiting a Super 1s cricket programme at Chancellor’s school in Brookmans Park in my constituency. It was one of my most uplifting days in this job—I saw young people with disabilities and additional needs come together in the simple joy of playing a game of cricket. Hatfield Hyde cricket club in my constituency is another leading club in Hertfordshire for disability cricket, and my visit for next season is already booked in.

The growth of the women’s game has the potential to reach new heights next year as we host the women’s T20 world cup. I hear that ticket sales are going well—I can say with certainty that they will be drastically more affordable than tickets for a certain event happening at the same time in the US. May I invite the Minister to tell us what plans she has to capitalise on England’s hosting of the world cup next summer, so that it lives long in the memory, not just as a tournament but as a catalyst for further growth of our game?

Grassroots cricket is in good health. The top order has built a good foundation, and there is much to be optimistic about, but in cricket parlance we need only add two wickets to the scorecard for things to start looking a bit more vulnerable. Now is not the time for overconfidence or any rash shots outside off-stump—and that is as true for our long-term stewardship of the game here as it is for England in Adelaide over the next five days. I look forward to hearing from the Minister about how she plans to play it from here to ensure that grassroots cricket keeps growing, is open to all, and can be a success story in constituencies all across the country.

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Karl Turner (in the Chair)]

Order. I remind Members to bob should they wish to catch my eye to speak in this debate.

14:40

[Dr Al Pinkerton (Surrey Heath) (LD)]

I thank the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) for securing this important debate, despite what may be happening down under at the moment.

Grassroots cricket plays a fundamental role in shaping us as individuals. Although such cricket clubs clearly help to keep us fit and healthy, their influence extends far beyond physical activity. They are often where we first learn what it means to be part of a team, and how to respond to frequent setbacks, stay motivated and take responsibility, both individually and collectively. I am sure that many Members present, as well as those of our constituents who are watching from home, will reflect on their own experiences of grassroots sport, whether in childhood or in later life, and recognise how profoundly those moments have stayed with them.

Lessons learned on the pitch or in the clubhouse so often translate directly into later life, such as working with others towards a shared goal, striving to meet clear objectives, and developing the discipline required to train early in the morning or late into the evening, just as we do in our professional lives. Grassroots sport therefore contributes significantly to quality of life for individuals and families, building not only physical health but resilient, confident characters.

I am very proud to have seven grassroots cricket clubs in my Surrey Heath constituency—Camberley, Frimley, Valley End, Bagshot, Chobham, Pirbright and Normandy —each of which plays a vital role in shaping lives and strengthening our community. These clubs support both children and adults, providing opportunities that promote physical and mental wellbeing. Indeed, my wife and son have both played for Camberley cricket club over recent seasons, so I have seen at first hand the positive impact that it has had on our whole family—I only wish that my diary as a Member of Parliament allowed for more time to watch my son play on sunny weekend afternoons.

More broadly, those clubs have had a profound impact on the people they serve, particularly women and girls. Although girls are of course encouraged to participate in sport, there remain far too many barriers to their continued involvement, especially as they reach adolescence. Factors associated with puberty, including changes in body confidence, concerns around kit and facilities, and a lack of appropriate female role models or coaching provision can all contribute to girls disengaging from sport at a critical stage in their development.

That is why access to welcoming, inclusive grassroots environments is so important. Outreach initiatives such as the ECB’s All Stars cricket programme play a vital role in encouraging girls and boys to start playing cricket early, build confidence and foster a sense of belonging before the effect of those barriers takes hold. Just as importantly, clubs that actively invest in girls’ pathways through dedicated coaching, suitable facilities and clear progression routes can help to ensure that participation does not fall away as girls grow older.

This summer, I had the great privilege of visiting Pirbright cricket club to observe a training session involving girls and boys. Seeing girls confidently taking part in a summer training session, supported by coaches who understood their needs and fostered an inclusive culture, was a genuinely fantastic sight. It is so important to have environments just like that, where girls feel visible, and are supported and valued.

However, it is also important to recognise the challenges that grassroots cricket clubs face. While my constituents are fortunate to benefit from seven clubs in the constituency, each with strong outreach and summer programmes, growing participation in cricket is limited in part by the availability of high-quality cricket grounds.

A cricket pitch is a highly specialised and bespoke facility, and unlike football or rugby pitches, it does not easily lend itself to multi-purpose use. As a result, cricket facilities are too often overlooked in the planning of new developments and communities. That is why it is so welcome to see an exception at the new Mindenhurst development in my Surrey constituency, where a brand-new cricket pitch and pavilion are being created right now. Indeed, we are looking forward to the first summer of cricket on that ground in just a few months’ time. I truly hope that that example will be replicated across the country, ensuring that future communities have access to the facilities that they need in order to support and expand grassroots cricket for generations to come.

With that in mind, I ask the Government: what investment and incentives are being put into grassroots sport infrastructure, particularly given the changes to the national planning policy framework and the overwriting of so many of the protections that are currently in the planning process? What steps will be taken to ensure that facilities such as cricket pitches are properly considered and provided for as part of future planning?

Finally, I pay tribute to the volunteers, club coaches, PE teachers, participants and parents—and the parents who are also participants and volunteers—who dedicate their time, week after week, to supporting grassroots sport. Their commitment is the foundation on which those clubs that I have mentioned rely. I wish the best of luck to all the budding cricketers who are honing their skills in winter nets over the coming months, in readiness for next summer—some of whom may go on, one day, to represent their county or even their country.

14:47

[Melanie Onn (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner, and I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) for securing this important debate. Grassroots sport offers so much to so many across my constituency. Whether it is personal fitness, social interaction or a chance to emulate a sporting icon, the importance of our local clubs and teams should not be underestimated. People in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes do not just “like cricket”; they “love it”. We are proudly home to two major clubs—Cleethorpes cricket club and Grimsby Town cricket club—both successful teams and pillars in their communities, offering achievements on and off the field.

For all that passion and commitment, grassroots cricket is fragile. It relies on volunteers, fundraisers and facilities that are often one extreme weather event away from crisis. That is exactly what Grimsby Town cricket club has faced this year. It has been flooded three times in 2025 alone, most recently—fortunately—just days after a very successful charity day. It has not only affected the pitch but disrupted junior coaching, women’s cricket, training sessions and matches. It has hit a club that gives young people structure, confidence and aspiration, and that brings communities together, week after week.

What makes it even more frustrating for those involved is the lack of clarity about responsibility and accountability —getting clear answers from Anglian Water has been painfully slow, and small, volunteer-led clubs simply do not have the resources to battle large utilities on their own. While I am very happy to lend my support and the weight of my office, it highlights exactly why Government support matters—not just through funding streams for grassroots sport, important though they are, but through backing local clubs when they are seeking answers from water companies and regulators.

Clubs such as Grimsby should not be left feeling stumped when looking for answers, so what assurances can the Minister offer to grassroots cricket clubs so that they do not stand alone when batting for the survival of their club? I hope that this debate underlines why protecting grassroots sport must mean protecting the places that it is played in and the communities that keep it alive.

14:49

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

It is always a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Turner. I thank the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) for setting the scene so well.

I have to say, I was never much good at cricket, to be truthful, but I loved it. I was one of those guys who went to the crease and would bat about three or four balls. Usually, my idea was just to hit the ball as hard as I could, and if I missed it, the wicket was away. My prowess at the cricket crease never lasted more than about four balls. But I never got a duck; I always got at least a four, a two and maybe a one, but that was as far as it went. However, cricket is one of the many sports that I enjoy watching. I still follow the Leicestershire cricket team; I do that because I followed the Leicester football team back in 1969, when I was at boarding school at Coleraine Inst.

When the Ashes come, everyone’s national pride rises. As my old mother always taught me, I always support the home nations, so I root alongside most of the hon. Members in this Chamber, whether it be for England, Scotland, Wales or indeed us back home. However, the benefit of cricket is not simply giving the Aussies what for once in a while—and I have to say, it is once in a while these days. The benefits are felt in communities throughout the United Kingdom.

I want to talk about those grassroots, as that is in the title of the debate. The benefits are felt everywhere. Grassroots cricket in Northern Ireland thrives through clubs under the Northern Cricket Union, offering youth and adult programmes across Northern Ireland. I am very proud to say that a number of the popular clubs lie within my constituency. There is absolutely no doubt that everybody else here is going to talk about their cricket clubs as well—and why shouldn’t they? We want to promote them. We have Ards cricket club, Bangor cricket club and North Down cricket club, which is in Comber and is probably one of the better ones out of the three. These cricket teams provide coaching, matches and community for all ages and genders, as seen with the initiatives from Cricket Ireland. I read a synopsis on cricket, which sums up the benefits to the local community as follows:

“Grassroots cricket clubs in Northern Ireland are vital community assets, fostering social cohesion, physical health, and personal development by providing inclusive, accessible sporting opportunities for all ages and abilities, building local pride, offering guidance, and creating spaces that bridge divides, supported by funding from Sport NI and local councils to improve facilities and coaching.”

All of those things are admirable.

[Baggy Shanker (Derby South) (Lab/Co-op)]

Does the hon. Member agree that the work of fantastic charities such as Derbyshire Cricket Foundation is essential to nurturing the game from the ground up and ensuring that people from all walks of life can enjoy it?

[Jim Shannon]

I certainly do. The hon. Gentleman is certainly right to highlight the issue of Derbyshire, as I and the hon. Member for Leicester South (Shockat Adam) will do shortly; we will also highlight the attributes and the plusses of Leicestershire cricket team as well.

I love the fact that sport draws people together, as the hon. Member for Derby South (Baggy Shanker) referred to in his intervention. With the increase in adverse mental health in Northern Ireland, particularly in young men, we must promote and support these clubs, now more than ever, to help them get people involved and part of something worthwhile—something positive for them, that they can grasp and be part of—and hopefully take away the concerns, anxiety and even depression, sometimes, that they may have.

Only last month, the Communities Minister in Northern Ireland was at Lisburn cricket club to announce that its application has been approved for the next stage in the Olympic Legacy Fund. That fund is designed to build on those breathtaking Northern Ireland Olympic successes —and boy have we had a brave few in the last few years —and ensure a lasting legacy for local sport. It just so happens that the Communities Minister is one of my colleagues in Northern Ireland; I understand the good work that he does.

That funding will help sports clubs grow stronger, enable facilities to be modernised, and help communities come together through sport. I believe that it will secure many benefits for the local community. Indeed, part of that funding awarded by the Minister for Communities is reliant on the club also crowdfunding a contribution towards the total investment, so the money comes, but the club has to match it. That will mean community fundraising events, which will inevitably draw more people into involvement in the club.

It is clear that we must invest in the grassroots clubs that deliver so much in return. I look to the Minister—where it is within her remit—to ensure that clubs throughout the United Kingdom have access to funding to create fit-for-purpose clubs and facilities. This is not just simply about funding, but about an investment in health and mental wellbeing, and in communities. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response on what can be done to help those volunteer clubs that really are a lifeline in so many rural communities.

14:55

[Andy MacNae (Rossendale and Darwen) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Turner. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) for securing this debate. It gives me a chance to wax on about surely the greatest cricket league in the country—the historic Lancashire league, of which my constituency of Rossendale and Darwen has been at the heart throughout. Three of the founding 14 members—Haslingden, Rawtenstall and Bacup—were there right from the start.

Haslingden is just outside of my constituency, unfortunately. It was the first club, formed in 1853. Rawtenstall and Bacup have proud histories. Bacup has been at Lanehead Lane since 1860—160 years at the same cricket ground—and I think it is England’s highest sporting ground. Clearly, weather plays a factor. Rawtenstall has been at Bacup Road since 1886.

These clubs are steeped in history. Perhaps their greatest moment, which epitomises the nature of Rawtenstall and Bacup’s rivalry, was the championship title game of 1922. Both teams were tied at the top of the league and had to play a play-off in Haslingden in front of 5,000 spectators. They got as far as the fourth innings and fell out over the playing conditions. For the next five days, the teams turned up on alternate days, until the match was finally abandoned and they shared the title. That rivalry continues to this day.

One of the great factors of the Lancashire league is the international professionals that we welcome. There are too many to list. Rawtenstall had Sydney Barnes for three years—one of the true greats. Bacup had Everton Weekes, at the height of his powers. In the year he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year, he was playing at Bacup. It is absolutely remarkable. When I moved to Bacup back in the 2000s, I was stunned to find that Chris Cairns was the professional. He was a great New Zealand all-rounder. These places have deep histories.

[Dr Hudson]

The hon. Member is talking about sporting and cricketing heroes. Kids need to be able to look up to those role models and heroes. There is no doubt that broadcasting deals have ploughed money into grassroots cricket. Does he agree that the ECB should look at enabling more access to international cricket on terrestrial TV, so that children watching the Ashes or the England-India series can see these heroes and aspire to be like them?

[Andy MacNae]

I remember that great series of 2005 where we all saw the Ashes on Channel 4 playing out with great drama. It was amazing. There is no doubt that access to those moments on terrestrial TV is massively important.

Through the all-party parliamentary group for cricket, my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield has been convening many meetings around this issue, with broadcasters. There are subtleties to it, but the fundamental is that people need to be able to see their heroes. That is one of the great things about the Lancashire league. People could go down and see Viv Richards or Everton Weekes playing. Past generations have stories about seeing these players in the flesh—it was massively inspiring. Modern formats like the Hundred play a real role here. The number of kids in the audiences there is really inspiring.

Darwen are relative newcomers to the Lancashire league, only joining in 2017, but were champions in 2022. The club has gone from strength to strength in recent years, under the brilliant leadership of chair Chris Lowe. It has drawn in money through partnerships with Blackburn with Darwen council, the Aldridge trust and the ECB. It has invested in a brilliant new club house and, more recently, a cricket dome, one of only two currently in the country, and a brilliant indoor facility for kids. I was involved in opening it recently. It is a truly inspiring sight and it is so important that we have these year-round facilities in places like Lancashire, because kids want to play all year.

That is one of the great risks in our patch: we have these wonderful summer programmes—All Stars and Dynamos—and yet the spark can be so easily lost during the winter. Innovations like cricket domes are brilliant value for money. The Darwen club has already established a partnership with 13 local schools, which gives them a conduit into the game all year round. These are clubs with all sorts of different histories, but what they have in common is brilliant youth programmes engaging kids and great community facilities. At Bacup, where my son was involved in the All Stars, we have brilliant, inspiring trainers—Terry, Lawrence, Ben and Sam. On a Sunday morning in the summer, the sight of all the groups across the pitch is wonderful and inspiring. Indeed, the sausage sandwiches in the clubhouse afterwards are equally inspiring in their own way.

As I said, all these clubs have great facilities, which have become the heart of their communities. The first birthday party I went to at my kid’s school was in the cricket clubhouse. We have our town board meetings in Darwen clubhouse. We have so many major, vital community events in these community sports facilities; they are so important to us.

The other thing these clubs have in common is that they could do so much more for our communities, which brings us to the funding question. Some great stuff has been done with grassroots funding over the years, but, as all colleagues have said, it has a fragile status. I think we all recognise that there is perhaps a disconnect between the investment we put into sport and the great value of sport across society in terms of health, wellbeing and economic outcomes. One question I am sure the Minister will want to reflect on is the extent to which our investment matches the huge benefits that sport can bring to our communities.

In that regard, I associate myself with the remarks made by my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield about Sport England and its role as a statutory consultee. To get the benefits, we have to have the facilities retained in our communities. We have to protect them, and Sport England plays a vital role there. I cannot remember the exact stat, but it only objected to something like 3%—a tiny number—of the applications that it was consulted on. It is not a barrier, but it brings much value and vital expertise into the mix.

I will finish with one final reflection on funding, from the point of view of someone who lives in a small town and whose cricket clubs are in small towns. The role of sports clubs in small towns and villages is disproportionate to that of those in big towns and cities. They are vital, so I ask the Minister to consider how our funding approaches and prioritisation might reflect the value that those clubs—not just cricket clubs, but football clubs, rugby clubs and so on—have to our small towns. They are the heart of our communities and we must retain them.

15:02

[Shockat Adam (Leicester South) (Ind)]

It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Turner. I thank the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) for securing the debate.

Cricket is our heritage. It has probably been played since the mid-1500s and was formalised in the late 1700s. The sport likely originated with shepherd children using shepherd’s crooks as bats and rags or wool as a ball. It is a legacy of the empire and is enjoyed globally. Cricket is also a major business, generating billions in revenue when done right, mainly from the Indian premier league. But fundamentally, for many, cricket is more than a sport; it is a passion. As the hon. Member alluded to, nothing says England more than a green with players in white and the sound of leather hitting willow. In the summer I am blessed, because there are so many cricket clubs in my constituency that barely a weekend goes by when I am not invited to a tournament to hand out a trophy. I would like to mention SASA cricket club, just because it provides really great food and hundreds of people of all ages come—it is fantastic to see.

In April 2024, the then Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Richmond and Northallerton (Rishi Sunak), made a pledge to invest £35 million in grassroots cricket. It was much needed, given that 80 school cricket pitches had been lost over the decade since the Conservatives came to power in 2010, and 150 publicly accessible cricket pitches had also been lost. This is part of a larger erasure of grassroots sporting facilities, including 2,488 school grass pitches. I know it is a different sport altogether, but 677 publicly accessible tennis courts were also lost. Unfortunately, in October 2024 the present Government reversed that promise, citing the financial black hole and saying that the pledge belonged in fantasy land.

Simply, we need more cricket facilities, ranging from dedicated facilities with well-manicured lawns, changing rooms and scoreboards, to the strip of synthetic turf that is all some people need. All such facilities are unfortunately in short supply in my city and my constituency. That is a shame, as the city of Leicester is cricket mad.

The issue is that countless grassroots teams are competing with minimal resources. Teams that play just for fun come to play on one solitary turf—the only one available for miles around. If one team cannot play, hostilities sometimes arise, and then, if the teams are from different ethnicities, races or religions, an issue of resource constraints suddenly escalates into something much bigger. Sacco, the largest cricket club representing south Asian players in Leicester, unfortunately has no home to play in at the moment and may have to face extinction, while the wonderful SASA team that I described earlier just needs a piece of turf and would be delighted with a small changing room. Small investments now will sustain these clubs and save us millions in terms of community cohesion and other issues in the future, while delivering the benefits that we all know only sports can deliver.

I also want to speak briefly about women’s cricket. It is expanding but, again, a lack of infrastructure, volunteers, coaches and ground shares could put a halt to that. What are the Minister’s plans for the growth of women’s cricket in this country?

My final points are on a slightly darker subject: the lessons learned from the horrendous racism and discrimination faced by Azeem Rafiq. Many will know the young, talented cricketer who paid the price for his honesty. It ruined his career, but it could have been a lot worse. I spoke with the former Yorkshire county cricketer this morning. It would be fair to say that he is somewhat disappointed that the implementation of the findings of the “State of Equity in Cricket” report, which was instigated after his case, has not matched their intention, but he remains hopeful and so do I.

The report speaks of opening

“access to the talent pathways through reducing financial barriers”.

Cricket is very expensive, and talent is everywhere but opportunities are not. Children from poorer and ethnic backgrounds are literally paying the price. They need support and we need to reverse the trend—I think we are going some way towards doing so—whereby over 30% of recreational cricket is played by south Asian children but only 3% of professional players are south Asian. We have to bridge that gap somehow.

We also need more diverse boards across the county game. It is difficult to obtain information about diversity on our county cricket boards. Women in senior roles are few, so it was wonderful for me to meet the new Leicestershire county cricket club chief executive officer, Emma White, who has strong ideas and plans to bring the club back to the community. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Leicestershire county cricket club—the mighty Foxes—on their promotion to division 1. A “hear, hear” would be nice. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] Thank you very much.

However, there is a real lack of representation of black people on cricket boards, and much further to go to ensure that the recreational game has the capacity and expertise to deal with discrimination issues. Disability cricket also requires deeper integration within county and club systems, and more work is needed to develop disability cricket for women and girls. Grassroots cricket is the lifeblood of the future of the game. We must invest in it or, simply, it won’t be cricket.

15:08

[Robin Swann (South Antrim) (UUP)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I congratulate the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) on securing the debate.

I do not want to start with something controversial, but I will. The hon. Member said that cricket is “quintessentially English,” and I think the hon. Member for Leicester South (Shockat Adam) was surprised, too, to see me and the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon)—two Northern Ireland MPs—in the Chamber to take part in a debate about the values of cricket.

To start with, I do not think that the hon. Member for Leicester South should be surprised at the fact that the hon. Member for Strangford is here, because I do not think there is a debate in this place that he does not attend—he is always at the scene. But cricket has deep, embedded roots and love in our villages and small towns in Northern Ireland, and indeed across the island of Ireland. The owners of the old flax and spinning mills created their own cricket teams around the mills, and many of those teams are still in existence today. That is why I want to take the opportunity to talk specifically about two cricket clubs in my constituency.

The first, Muckamore cricket club—or, to give it its full title, Muckamore cricket and lawn tennis club—was established in 1874 and just celebrated its 150th anniversary. It is still going strong, with its own grounds and a number of teams across all ages. Over the years, it has grown to become one of the premier clubs within the Northern Cricket Union, culminating in its second Challenge cup victory on its 150th anniversary last year.

The club includes all ages and abilities. Its older members still come together to form a walking group that walks around the town of Antrim to keep up social interaction. They still take that opportunity to call into my constituency office to tell me what I should and could be doing and give me their opinions on everything. That shows the strength of the connection through the cricket club that has been built up through the years and generations. The hon. Member for Leicester South talked about the number of tennis courts that have been lost. The lawn tennis club has taken the next step and developed a partnership with a group to build padel courts that can be used in all seasons. That shows its commitment to a healthy lifestyle and keeping people fit and active.

The second club is Templepatrick cricket club, which plays out of the Cloughan in Ballyclare. If anybody knows Northern Ireland, there is a slight confusion because it is named after a different town from the one it plays in. That club formed more recently, in cricket terms—in 1969. Cricket in Northern Ireland is a cross-community sport. It is often not recognised for the work it does in that regard. Templepatrick was recently shortlisted for Cricket Ireland club of the year and has one of the biggest youth systems across the island of Ireland. The club capped a successful 2024 campaign by winning section 1 and securing promotion to the top flight.

This debate is about Government support, which is obviously an issue. The hon. Member for Strangford mentioned the support that exists in the devolved nations, but unfortunately, a number of different clubs and sporting codes in my constituency have been raising with me since I was first elected the issue of support from local government and from Antrim and Newtownabbey council. That is why I conducted a survey earlier this year of all the sporting clubs across the constituency and of teams across different codes, which engendered a significant response. On the back of that, I produced a sports development report for the constituency with the intent of informing a plan to improve provision, boost investment and deliver support for local teams and clubs.

Given the subject of the debate, I want to concentrate on the issues raised by Muckamore and Templepatrick cricket clubs. Those issues have already been mentioned, but they are not unique to England. They include an appeal for indoor areas and nets at council leisure facilities, which could benefit continual practice all year round, especially in cold and adverse weather. The hon. Member for Strangford mentioned Government grants. Although both clubs said that grants were important to maintain safety standards and good facilities, they found that the new process in Northern Ireland of match funding grants can often be restrictive for some clubs. It means going back to the same people time and again to get match funding, whereas previously core grants were made for a specific issue.

The last issue that both clubs mentioned, which was also mentioned by the hon. Members for Surrey Heath (Dr Pinkerton) and for Leicester South, is the benefit of increasing and upgrading existing facilities to bring about an increase in the number of women and girls taking part in the sport. There is a wide interest in that. The biggest obstacle for both clubs is setting up changing facilities to make their facilities more accessible.

I commend the other Members who have spoken about the benefits of cricket, both physical and from a mental health point of view. I know that the Minister will respond on the subject of the debate, but I seek assurance that she works with her devolved counterparts to make sure that the benefits of sport, and especially cricket, are fully recognised.

15:15

[Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)]

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Turner. I congratulate the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) on securing this debate. Cricket is not played much in Germany, so I had to come a long way when I married my cricket-loving husband who spent most of his summer weekends either playing or listening to endless—and I thought monotonous —commentary on the radio, but I quickly brushed up on the meaning of “googly” and “duck”.

In those days, cricket was very much a man’s game, and the woman’s role was to sit and watch. I felt I had become a cricket widow—I had the option to take along my toddlers, who would then invade the pitch as children do, or to wait at home long into the evening until a game was finished. As the years went by, it got better, becoming something my husband did with his sons.

It got a little worse again when, under my husband’s watch, my son knocked out his front tooth—with very little sympathy from his dad, who said, “He knows he has to catch like this and to get his head out of the way,” and very little sympathy for me as a mother, who thought her beautiful son was ruined forever. He has since found love. Of course, I learned to love the game—and what a beautiful game it is.

Grassroots cricket clubs are a vital part of my community in Bath, with some fantastic local initiatives. I will begin by repeating some of the challenges facing grassroots cricket clubs in state schools. The findings of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report are clearly unacceptable.

The report found that children in state schools remain heavily under-represented on the sport’s talent pathways. It described widespread and deep-rooted elitism and class-based discrimination, alongside structural and institutional racism and sexism, as we have already heard. Two of the biggest barriers are the lack of cricket provision in state schools and the high cost of equipment. All of us in this room agree that a child’s opportunity to get involved in sports should never depend on their parents’ income or the type of school they attend.

The England and Wales Cricket Board responded with its state school action plan 2024, which also laid bare the inequalities that exist within the sport. An independent school is eight times more likely to have a proper grass pitch and 10 times more likely to have a qualified coach. Given these facts, it is no wonder that most county and national-level players come from private schools.

I will now come on to the positive part of my speech about the inspirational work of Lansdown cricket club in Bath. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest club in Somerset. I was proud to attend its 200th anniversary this year, where a microphone was put in front of my face and I had to say what is great about cricket. I said, “It covers so many sporting talents: you have to run, you have to catch a ball, you have to bat and you have to”—at that point, I could not think of that special word, so I said, “throw the ball.” Even though I had spent so much time watching and listening to cricket games, I could not think of that important word—bowl.

The anniversary was a wonderful community event, and it showed that cricket clubs provide so much for their communities beyond sport. Lansdown’s partnerships with local state schools have been transformative. Using a cluster model, it has worked with three local primary schools and one secondary school to deliver more than 200 coaching sessions to nearly 5,000 children.

Lansdown’s success shows what can happen when local clubs, schools and sponsors pull together, but it also shows how fragile those projects can be without sustained investment. Bath is blessed with many grassroots clubs, but significant constraints remain, particularly regarding facilities for girls and access to local coaches. That is why Government investment must reach the grassroots directly.

Alongside centralised cricket domes in major cities, funding should flow to proven networks such as Chance to Shine, the Lord’s Taverners and the Somerset Cricket Foundation. Those excellent organisations already know the local landscape and can ensure that funds reach the children who need them most.

Earlier this year, the Government announced a much reduced investment of £1.5 million for only two cricket domes in Luton and Preston, after cancelling the previous £35 million commitment made by the former Prime Minister in April 2024, as we have already heard. That decision was deeply disappointing, and will limit the potential to reach children in underprivileged areas who do not have access to cricket at school.

The case for support is wider than just sport. Through initiatives such as “Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams”, we have seen how structured team sport changes lives. It improves mental health, reduces anxiety, builds self-esteem and creates a sense of belonging for young people who may struggle elsewhere. Cricket can be such a wonderfully inclusive game if we want it to be. It values patience and teamwork—yes, listening to a lot of cricket commentary requires patience too—welcomes a range of body types and personalities, and offers a place for every child to thrive.

Finally, I echo two of the key recommendations from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket. First, the Government should make resources available for significantly higher levels of cricket provision in state schools. Secondly, Ministers should work actively with private schools to open up their facilities and gift coaching hours to local state schools. I ask the Minister: what progress has been made on achieving those goals? Clubs such as Lansdown have shown us that, when local partnerships are properly supported, cricket can be a genuine force for community inclusion and opportunity. I hope that Bath’s success can be replicated across the country.

15:21

[Steff Aquarone (North Norfolk) (LD)]

I congratulate the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) on securing this debate. I am pleased to wind up for the Liberal Democrats. In place of my hon. Friend the Member for Frome and East Somerset (Anna Sabine), I am acting as our 12th man on this occasion. I am pleased to be the opener for the Front-Bench speeches; I hope to put in a good innings, something of a rarity for English openers at the moment. I must warn hon. Members that my speech takes a Bazball approach to cricketing puns: I am trying to score as many as I can as fast as possible.

I know that Norfolk is a first-class county in every way, and I still remain hopeful that the ECB will see us that way as well. I could use this speech to lobby strongly for a new Hundred franchise based in Norfolk, or for a 2027 Ashes test to be played at Cromer cricket club. I hope hon. Members will indulge me in a brief journey through the proud cricketing heritage of Nelson’s county, and how much of that is rooted in North Norfolk.

Of the handful of first-class matches that Norfolk has played, our first was in 1820, when a team took on Marylebone cricket club at Lord’s. It is believed that that team was primarily made up of Holt cricket club, based in my constituency. We also have a strong heritage of cricketers hailing from Norfolk. Recent England internationals Olly Stone and Emily Arlott hail from Thorpe St Andrew and King’s Lynn respectively. Perhaps most famously, the legendary cricketer and commentator Henry Blofeld was born in Hoveton, in my constituency.

Grassroots cricket is a much loved part of North Norfolk’s culture. I am reminded particularly of the village of Aldborough, with The Cricketers pub sitting next to the traditional village green pitch, and the houses behind the stumps aptly named First Slip and Second Slip cottages.

Grassroots cricket is beloved across many Liberal Democrat constituencies, with an array of great clubs: South Petherton cricket club in Yeovil and its All Stars programme for five to eight-year-olds; Sherborne cricket club in West Dorset, which dates all the way back to 1837; Bradford on Avon cricket club in Melksham and Devizes; and Malmesbury and Sherston Magna cricket clubs in the South Cotswolds. There is also all the work that Hampshire county cricket club does across its county, based in Eastleigh; Lansdown cricket club, which we have heard about; and, obviously, all seven grassroots clubs in Surrey Heath—as well as many more that are pillars of their local communities.

For many young people, a grassroots cricket club is their first encounter with the game. It is where they learn to play in a setting that is safe and supportive. Those teams are where the next Ben Stokes or Nat Sciver-Brunt are currently learning their craft. Without support and investment, the bright sparks of the future of English cricket could fizzle out—and after the first two tests in Australia, it is clear that we could use some hope for the future.

Looking at the root of the issues, it is clear that access to cricket must be widened. Of the 11 players starting the next Ashes test, only two were not privately educated. The dream of being an England cricketer must be equally accessible to all the young people growing up in my constituency, not only those with the ability to attend a fee-paying school.

I want to reassure the Minister that she should not feel stumped, as the Lib Dems have ideas to help. One way to take easy action is to look again at the amount of free-to-air international cricket available in this country. Before the general election, the Lib Dems sought to amend the then Media Bill to allow for one ODI and one test match to be free to air every year. Sadly, the Conservative Government voted that down and the Labour party abstained, but I hope that this Government might consider looking at that again. Inspiring more young players through their TV screens, who may then seek out their local grassroots club, is a sure-fire way to support the long-term existence of those teams. It is a simple change that can deliver broad benefits.

Those benefits are wide-ranging. We know the power that sport has to support community cohesion, bonding people over their shared passion and bridging divides that may otherwise exist. We also know that sport is a key tool for battling health inequalities, which is a huge issue in coastal communities such as mine, where health outcomes and life expectancy are poorer. When the Government consider the support they can give to grassroots clubs, I hope they see it as an opportunity to tackle health inequalities around our coastline.

I remain hopeful that there are future Ashes winners playing in Aldborough, Holt, Ashmanhaugh, Bradfield and the many other clubs across the towns and villages of North Norfolk. Cricket is an icon of our country, a sport recognisable as truly British the world over. All Governments have a responsibility to ensure that it has a secure future, and it is vital that this Government do not duck it. They should take inspiration from England’s bowling attack in Perth and deliver this at pace—although hopefully with a little more success. Grassroots cricket clubs will want them to play a straight bat and cut out the spin. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] Thank you.

Despite that being tongue in cheek, I hope the Minister recognises the passion for our grassroots cricket clubs displayed across the Chamber today. I have been bowled over by the breadth of contributions this afternoon; Members have really hit for six in supporting their local clubs. I wish all Members a merry Christmas and a happy new year. I hope that we will return in 2026 to the sight of an England comeback and a 3-2 Ashes victory.

15:26

[Joe Robertson (Isle of Wight East) (Con)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I congratulate the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) on securing this important debate. His timing is excellent, because I am confident that tonight we shall witness the start of a resurgence by the England men’s cricket team, as they begin their Ashes comeback in Adelaide. Although the first two tests have not exactly gone to plan, it was fantastic to see Joe Root finally score his first test century in Australia, taking his grand total to 40.

Around 2.5 million people play cricket each year, which includes 1.4 million under-16s. In 2025, 43,000 teams competed in 216,000 fixtures—passing the 200,000 mark for the first time. This popularity is reflected in the England and Wales Cricket Board’s All Stars and Dynamos youth programmes, with over 105,000 children signing up, including a record proportion of girls. The girls and women’s game is growing fastest, with the number of women’s teams up 18% and girls’ teams up 13% in 2025 compared with 2024.

It is against that success and momentum that we must consider how the Government can provide support to build on the progress made. In the last four years, the ECB has awarded £55 million in grants, invested £32.2 million in 6,638 awards for recreational game projects, invested £22.8 million to create more welcoming and inclusive stadiums, invested £12.7 million in women and girls’ cricket, and invested £4.9 million in improving equality, diversity and inclusion in professional cricket. The previous Government committed £35 million to grassroots cricket in state schools, aiming to reach 930,000 young people, including 80,000 with special educational needs. That included £14 million for accessible cricket, 2,500 new pieces of cricket equipment and 16 cricket domes in cities due to host the women’s T20 world cup and the men’s T20 world cup.

That investment was allocated and it sought to make a substantial impact for those who are currently underserved. The Government may say that the funding was not allocated, but that is simply not true. Will the Minister commit to reviewing the short-sighted decision to reallocate the funds elsewhere, especially given the vast benefits that cricket brings, not just to our communities but also by supporting a healthier population? The decision to backtrack is a disappointment. If all the Government can offer is warm words, that is plainly not enough. The Government must work alongside the ECB, as they still finance the hubs programme. Has the Minister considered how much further and faster the programme could go if it is delivered with the Government rather than despite the Government?

We know that clubs are desperate for support. The Cash4Clubs initiative, which gives away £2,000 to 250 clubs for community sport and to drive participation, saw 1,400 applications this year, with recent cricket club winners including the Young Lions. It had hoped to double the pot this year, but the Budget and gambling tax have haltered that progress. Cricket is the only major sport that does not receive any direct funding for tournament or legacy delivery because of hosting major cricket events. Will the Minister commit to review that ahead of the 2026 and 2030 T20 competitions to be hosted here?

The average age of a cricket pavilion in England and Wales is more than 70 years. Although clubs are already struggling due to rising maintenance costs, including energy, lighting and other upkeep, the Chancellor has further burdened them with increased business rates bills. Many clubs also seek to contribute to their local communities by employing locally. The increase in national insurance contributions has prohibited that.

In my constituency, Ventnor cricket club is the island’s largest and highest performing club. It runs senior men’s, women’s and girls’ teams, junior disability cricket and over-50s walking cricket. The club’s facilities include a main building valued at just under £1 million, incorporating a three-lane indoor net and sports hall. Despite that success, the club faces significant challenges. The Government are failing to address the growing accessibility problems facing cricket pitches, as local authorities, particularly in urban areas, deprioritise maintenance to make savings, offloading responsibility, leading to a managed decline of sports facilities. Does the Minister not recognise that if clubs are forced to make significant savings, that will impact the positive action they take, which contributes to the communities they serve?

Furthermore, the proposal to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee is deeply concerning. In the past five years, 90% of applications it reviewed resulted in pitches being improved or protected. Without its expertise, and amid local authority budget and capacity pressures, safe and sustainable cricket facilities are put at risk. I welcome the comments of the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield about Sport England and its role as a statutory consultee.

Although the Minster may claim that local authorities will upskill, does she not share my concern that they may face challenges in prioritisation, budget constraints and lack of sport expertise? Does she agree that facilities planning must include schools and public leisure facilities? Before building new developments, the Government should assess the reasons why existing assets are not accessible, such as high hire costs, and should consider solutions such as local subsidised hiring. It is disappointing that the opening schools facilities fund, which aimed to do exactly that, was scrapped.

Finally, the outlook is concerning and Government support must be provided at the earliest opportunity, not years down the line when the opportunities may have passed. I urge the Minister to consider what more could be done to reduce bureaucracy and get on with delivery. Sports bodies, including the ECB, are ready to provide support, as we all want the best for our communities.

15:34

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I am pleased to respond to this debate, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) on securing it. I applaud his work chairing the all-party parliamentary group for cricket. He is an incredibly important champion for the sport.

This nation has a rich and proud cricket history, and I am not going to pass judgment on how the Ashes are going—I will leave that to other Members—but I share the optimism of the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson), for a comeback.

In mentioning the Ashes, it is important to say that I know that the thoughts of the whole House are with the victims, families and everyone affected by the abhorrent Bondi Beach terrorist attack. Both teams will be wearing black armbands this evening.

I will begin my response to the debate by addressing some of the specific points put to me; I will address others as I progress. My hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield is right to point out that this year 2.5 million people played the game. It is incredibly important to communities up and down the country. I know that from my own constituency.

[Monica Harding (Esher and Walton) (LD)]

Does the Minister agree that grassroots cricket clubs are essential to community integration? I give the example of Thames Ditton cricket club, which welcomed the Afghan refugee community to play in its youth team. They made solid friendships, which will last for life.

[Stephanie Peacock]

The hon. Lady makes an incredibly important point—one that I am sure all Members agree with. Indeed, I have seen that in my own constituency of Barnsley South. I visited Darfield cricket club a few months ago, and since we last debated cricket in this Chamber, my town lost the late, great Dickie Bird, who hailed from Barnsley. I pay tribute to all the work he did over a long and happy life.

My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Edgbaston (Preet Kaur Gill), who is no longer in her place, spoke about the importance of her local club, Harborne cricket club. Indeed, my cousin and his family have been members of that club for many years.

The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) gave many examples of clubs in his local community, and his colleague from Northern Ireland, the hon. Member for South Antrim (Robin Swann), asked me specifically about engaging with my counterparts. I am always delighted to do that; I visited Northern Ireland a few weeks ago and met with and chaired a meeting of Sports Ministers. I am also due to meet them tomorrow in relation to a separate subject. I am always keen to engage.

There were a number of questions about private schools, and I can see the huge benefit from opening up facilities. A good example from Birmingham was given, and I will certainly reflect on the points made to the Department for Education. The hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) asked me specifically about class, disparity and some of the statistics. I share her concerns and her worry. To close that gap, we want to increase opportunities for state school children. We intend to start a new teacher-training programme, which aims to reach more than 160,000 students over the next year, and to train 1,000 teachers by 2030. I am happy to write to the hon. Lady with more details if she is interested.

My hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Melanie Onn) made an important point, which I really appreciate, about flood damage. I had a similar challenge in my own constituency, albeit with a football club, rather than a cricket club. Sport England’s movement fund can offer specific support for flood damaged facilities. I will perhaps write to my hon. Friend after the debate and can facilitate a meeting, if that would be helpful, with Sport England to help her and her club.

The hon. Member for Epping Forest (Dr Hudson), who is no longer in his place, made a point about broadcasting. We debated broadcasting and cricket on 9 September in this very Chamber. Broadcasting revenue is, of course, very important to the ECB and is reinvested into sport. The Lib Dem spokesperson, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone), made a similar point. It is important to remember that the evidence shows that watching live sport is the thing that most inspires people to get involved, so it is a balance.

I will come to cricket domes shortly, but I want to address the point about funding head-on. Language is very important, and it is particularly important in this place. The hon. Member for Leicester South (Shockat Adam) spoke about a commitment and the previous Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Richmond and Northallerton (Rishi Sunak). The hon. Member for Bath spoke about funding being cancelled, and the Opposition spokesperson, the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East, spoke about funding being allocated. The simple truth is that the previous Government announced £35 million, but it was not costed or delivered. This Government are not only funding facilities with £400 million over the spending review period, but also through Sport England funding of more than £250 million, and an additional £1.5 million for cricket domes, so I simply do not recognise the characterisation of the points that those three Members made.

The hon. Member for Leicester South made an important point about the importance of cricket to his community and gave an interesting overview of the long history of the sport. I want to pick up the point about the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket. My Department continues to monitor progress. I will reflect his comments to the ECB and I will write to him, and if it is helpful, we can certainly set up a meeting.

I know that I have not covered all the points, but I intend to address them in my speech. As we watch the England men’s team, it is important to remember that each player began their cricket journey at a grassroots club. Grassroots cricket reaches a broad and diverse range of communities. For example, a third of recreational players come from south Asian backgrounds that overwise make up just 8% of the overall population, as the hon. Member for Leicester South said. He asked specifically about women’s cricket, as did a number of other Members, which I will talk about a few times in my speech.

I have been delighted to see growth in women’s cricket, particularly over recent years. The England women’s team has inspired thousands of women and girls to pick up a cricket bat, and I applaud the team for its work to champion the game and for acting as role models for fans across the country. I am thrilled that England and Wales will be hosting the T20 women’s world cup next year. I look forward to watching some great cricket, but it will also be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the sport to new audiences.

The ECB’s investment in community cricket is supporting the growth in participation. I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of ECB’s cricket projects across the country, and I can attest to how that work, coupled with the exceptional and tireless support of volunteers, is helping people to discover a love for the sport. ECB figures show that 2024 was a record-breaking summer for all recreational cricket, with over 190,000 games played across England and Wales, which is up 12,500 on the previous best. I am sure all Members will join me in hoping that that upward trend continues in the figures for 2025 and the years to come.

As participation in the sport continues to grow, it is important that we recognise grassroots clubs and the positive contributions they make in their local communities. The Government recognise that grassroots sports clubs, including cricket clubs, are the beating heart of communities up and down the country. My hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) asked me to reflect on the value of sport. I am really aware of its value as Sport Minister, and all the club volunteers I have met over the last 18 months have really brought that to life for me. The social value generated by sport and physical activity is calculated to be £123 billion a year, and we are committed to breaking down barriers to ensure that everyone has access to, and benefits from, quality sport and opportunities for physical activity.

Cricket clubs make a huge contribution to their communities, and I know that week in, week out, local people come together to support their clubs, their children’s teams and young players. They engage people from all backgrounds and foster an inclusive environment, as Members from across the House have outlined. I witnessed that during my visit to a women’s and girls’ cricket festival at Sheffield Collegiate cricket club, which brought together four local grassroots clubs. The club is a prime example of how cricket clubs provide important community hubs for a diverse range of people.

Cricket clubs also provide opportunities for young players, like Joe Root, to progress to the elite level. The Government provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests more than £250 million of Exchequer and lottery funding. That includes long-term investment in the ECB, which receives up to £13.4 million over seven years to invest in grassroots cricket initiatives in local communities and get people involved in cricket.

Earlier this year, I saw some of the great work that the Chance to Shine project does to provide opportunities for under-represented children to play, learn and develop through cricket at its 20-year impact report event in Parliament. I was delighted to see that work in action when I visited the Chance to Shine project in my constituency in Worsbrough in Barnsley last year. This Government are committed to supporting such initiatives, which not only break down barriers to participation but allow everyone to get involved in the sport they love.

I am particularly proud of the Government’s recent commitment to invest £1.5 million of capital funding for two new state-of-the-art cricket domes, one at Farington cricket club in Preston and the other in Luton. I was lucky enough to visit Luton women and girls cricket club earlier this year with the local Member of Parliament, my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen), and to hear at first hand how this investment will benefit local clubs. It was really inspiring to speak to the young girls involved in the club.

We are proud that this investment is in addition to the funding that Sport England provides the ECB to support grassroots participation. In June, we announced that a further £400 million will be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities, which will remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, including women and girls. This funding will support more women and girls to take part in the sport they love, particularly by ensuring that funded sites across the UK provide priority slots for women and girls. This is vital investment that will improve sports facilities, including cricket facilities, across England and Wales. Part of the work will involve assessing sports facilities in communities—for example, sports facilities that may be made available for wider use, a point raised by a number of Members.

Members have also raised the issue of planning. My hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield mentioned the importance of protecting cricket grounds in planning reforms. I completely agree. Improving the planning system should not be done at the expense of playing fields. As the Minister for Sport, I want to ensure that communities have the sports facilities and playing fields that they need.

The Government are currently consulting on proposed changes to Sport England’s statutory consultee role in the planning regime and the national planning policy framework. I encourage anyone interested to feed into those processes. My hon. Friend acknowledged that that is a MHCLG lead. I have of course spoken to the Minister responsible directly, and this is something I also spoke about when I appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

The Government are very much looking forward to England and Wales hosting the Women’s T20 world cup in 2026. The tournament provides a great opportunity to showcase our world-class cricket venues, while making sure that women and girls have opportunities to see elite female cricketers compete at the highest level. I encourage everyone taking part in today’s debate to get behind the tournament and lend their support—I know from the quality of the debate and from hon. Members’ enthusiasm that they will all do just that.

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield for securing this debate and all other hon. Members for taking part with such passion and insight. I hope my hon. Friend takes from my response that the Government are committed to supporting grassroots cricket and ensuring that it continues to flourish across our country.

15:46

[Andrew Lewin]

There were so many good speeches, and I want to briefly reflect on the highlights from each. I congratulate the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Dr Pinkerton) on the new cricket pitch and pavilion landing this year. I was really sorry to hear about the flooding that impacted the club of my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Melanie Onn). Cricket is particularly exposed to the damage of climate change in this country and across the world. We need to be really conscious of that.

We already knew that there has never been a parliamentary debate missed by the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon); now we know he has never got a duck either. That is particularly big news in Westminster.

My hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) talked about the brilliance of the Lancashire league. I largely agree with him, but as I went to York university, I will say no more—I want to remain friends.

The hon. Member for Leicester South (Shockat Adam) gave a really powerful speech. I particularly support his comment that while there is talent everywhere, opportunity is not equally shared. He made a powerful point about state-of-the-art facilities—some young people just need some synthetic turf. His point was very well made.

I am sorry that the hon. Member for South Antrim (Robin Swann) and I got off on the wrong foot. He is absolutely right to say that cricket has a very proud history in Ireland. It is not just the Aussies who have beaten the English in recent history; the Irish team has as well, as has Scotland—a lot of people share in that.

I love the journey of the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) from cricket widow to a champion of the sport, and the opening up of the game. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone), is, I think, all out of puns. He might be a little optimistic in thinking that there will be an Ashes test at Cromer cricket club, but the parliamentary cricket team is always looking for fixtures, so we can talk afterwards.

The hon. Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson) and I might not agree on everything, but we can agree on the class and permanence of Joe Root, whose career has spanned six Prime Ministers.

Most importantly, I thank the Minister for everything she is doing for our game: for her commitment to raise the issue of opening up facilities in private schools with the Department for Education, for the specific £400 million investment, and for considering how those two things can work together. I think that will matter to a lot of the Members who have spoken today, and many more colleagues as well. She finished by encouraging submissions to the MHCLG consultation. I do not need any excuse to write about cricket, so I will certainly be doing that. I thank everybody who took part in the debate today.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House has considered Government support for grassroots cricket clubs.

15:49

Sitting suspended.