Grassroots Cricket Clubs

Steff Aquarone Excerpts

Tuesday 16th December 2025 Westminster Hall

[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.