ECB Coaches Association links Inspiring Generations

THIS STRATEGY WILL BE DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GAME Cricket is a game that unites communities and improves lives. It has been inspiring generations for hundreds of years. Whether through the drama of a Test Match, a tight finish at a local club, or a game on the beach or in the park, cricket has been evolving all the time as the world has evolved around us. In England and Wales our game has never been in a better position: we have 2.5 million players, 10.5 million followers and over one million people attending cricket annually. Our Women’s team are World Champions and our Men’s ODI team are ranked number one in the world. Our Test Match audiences are the envy of the cricketing world. We have firm foundations upon which to grow; a strong county network covering England and Wales, new broadcast partnerships delivering greater reach and revenue, and commercial partners who share our vision of the power of cricket. In short, we have an unprecedented opportunity to support the core, grow the game and make sure that cricket remains relevant for generations to come. This plan has been built in partnership with the whole game and the whole game will ensure its success. It is a plan that will be delivered by County Cricket Clubs and Boards. It balances the need for the sport to continue to serve its loyal fans with extending cricket’s appeal – particularly to younger audiences and women and girls. It will see more invested in our sport than ever before, with initial investments of at least £½ billion going into the county and recreational game. The competition for cricket has never been greater as the global battle to capture our attention intensifies. The world is changing around us; by 2030 it is forecast that 88% of us will live in towns and cities, technology and connectivity is transforming our choices for how we spend our leisure time, and attention spans are shortening. Modern society expects diversity and inclusivity, not as a ‘nice-to- have’ but as a pre-condition of any business. We cannot not duck the realities of the challenges we face or the opportunities we have. WELCOME FROM TOM HARRISON ECB CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER This five-year plan for 2020-24 sets six clear priorities for how we tackle those challenges and outlines a range of key activities. It is also a plan that can adapt and flex to the fast pace of change. And crucially, it respects and protects the traditions of the game that we all value, whilst setting out how we can attract the next generation of fans who are the future of the sport. It will give the whole game a bright future. All of this will be delivered in partnership with the game, united behind a clear purpose: to connect communities and to inspire current and future generations through cricket. I N S P I R I N G G E N E R AT I O N S 2. 3.

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