Rob Reed 📅 🏏

Even if a player averaged 40+, there's no guarantee that as a coach, they will have a +ve effect. 2 completely different skillsets.

Yeah, some data is unclear what it means, too... is CAG state school % for winter training cohort or summer matchplay, a smaller number, for example.

In a recent ECB article, the number of boys and girls benefitting from this training is stated as just 700. While this is a 'floor' figure that could be higher, this represents a tiny fraction of all state school kids.

What is actually happening?

The Supplementary Support Programme appears to be funding  just the age groups U13, U14 & U15 for 2025/2026...

When will there be 50% extra training to state school kids on talent pathways? The recent Equity in Cricket (2025) report describes this as 'a notable area of progress' but its currently not for all age groups, not necessarily 50%, and possibly not yet at all pro counties...

Perhaps some smoke and mirrors going on? I feel like the Equity in Cricket report was rushed out. It's quite thin on detail, especially budgetry info.

Pilots have run at Warwickshire and Hampshire. Don't know of any more. People not keen to chat about this stuff, which in itself is concerning. Not sure Somerset count as a pilot bcs it seems the SSP is based on what they have done since 2023.

*report should

To validate progress the reports hold include improvements in end goal outcomes, not a list of 'actions' as you say. Even some evidence that pilots have worked would be useful.

YouTube video by CRICKETher The CRICKETher Weekly – Episode 295: Hurricanes Top WBBL; England's Next Gen; ECB Equity Update

On the CRICKETher Weekly:

* Syd gets on board the WBBL Cane Train
* The importance of the ICC’s Emerging Nations Trophy
* Why can’t England play in-swing?
* Who will make their England debut in the next 12 months?
* Raf reviews the ECB’s latest Equity Report

Some progress has been made but in certain areas, such as classism/state school numbers, there are worse outcomes than last year (Oct 2024). Lots of actions but little progress.

RE: Funding. I suspect there isn't funding yet, for example, to roll out extra state school CAG training in all 18 PCCs.

The timing of the report is interesting...
It's only 2.5yrs since the ICEC report. So the 3yr report was 'due' next year, post Ashes.
Also publishing on the 1st day of the men's Ashes warm up match, with many hacks on a jolly in Aus may simply be a coincidence.

The ECB ducks & weaves State School delivery. | One More Summer Today’s England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) State of Equity Report 2025 shows fewer state school girls in County Age Groups than last year and a lower percentage in Emerging Player Programmes for both...

ECB Equity in Cricket report & the MCCF Hub programme show little progress since ICEC. 🏏

70% more hubs yet ONLY *6* more players on England & Wales talent pathways!
onemoresummer.co.uk/post/the-ecb...

Also interesting this report is published on the 1st day of the Ashes warm up match. Most sports journos will be busy covering that.

2022 200 joined with 74 hubs
2023 180 joined with 77 hubs
2024 206 joined with 126 hubs

From MCCF Accounts.

Is the £1million investment in 2023 from the ECB & MCC being effectively spent?

Also despite a 70% increase in the number of MCCF hubs there has been NO significant increase in the number of state school kids joining talent pathways from this ECB supported programme...

Afaik there are only 2 counties with plans to deliver this in 2025/26. 🤔 and there are definitely counties without plans to do this!

...All 18 PCCs will provide Supplementary Support in 2025- 26, engaging an estimated 690 state-educated boys and girls.'

This represents just around 6% of state school kids in the talent pathway & will, on average, be one boys & one girls age group at each county.

RE: 50% extra coaching for CAG state schoolers
'In 2024-25, 11 PCCs participated in a pilot and engaged 422 cricketers aged under 13-15, providing additional coaching and playing opportunities...

ECB publishes State of Equity in Cricket Report 2025 The report provides an update on progress happening across cricket to make it more accessible and inclusive.

ECB State of Equity in Cricket 2025

Since last year there are LESS state school girls at CAG & EPP level, fewer boys at EPP but a 25% increase in state schooled boys in Academies (now 40%). At professional level no change. 👀
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4400947

You Can’t Fix a Living System, Part I The Machine in the Gym

This, from Loren Anderson via Substack, perfectly encapsulates why I believe in the #EcologicalDynamics approach in #coaching #sportscoaching

To win: Top order needs to aim for a run a ball SR mainly through lower dot ball%. Teams also need mid order (& lower order) to go at 100+ e.g. Gardner, Ghosh, de Klerk. Perhaps Heather Knight & NSB were around mid 80s SR bcs they felt they couldn't get out.

Really interesting point on the comparison of batting strike rates at this and the previous WCs. How does Eng structure the team to be more comfortable reaching 300 which seems to be a new standard? They did get 300 v India in the summer.

What will be the 'minimum' expectation at the home T20 WC?

France has done this, too. Brilliant idea

Are there any England A &/or U19 fixtures scheduled over the winter pls?

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Jewish figures across the globe call on UN and world leaders to sanction Israel

The Wiltshire CAG state % actually dropped 2.3% for boys & 4.5% for girls in 2025, but fair play to them for publishing this. Perhaps it refocuses the issue so that progress can be made in this next cycle?

Perhaps counties should also publish RAE data which would be incredibly easy? Bucks do.

‘Collect and report key data such as demographics…’. It doesn’t specify that this should be made public however. The CPA has been active since Feb 2025.

One way to drive meaningful change is through accountability and a requirement to publish relevant data. A section in the ECB’s Talent Pathway Action Plan (Oct 2024) entitled ‘Enforcing higher standards through the County Partnership Agreement’ (CPA) requires counties to ...

It is worth noting that Sussex, as well as improving state school %s within the County Age Groups for both boys & girls in 2025, they have improved their male EPP/Academy to 34.5% in 2025 from 21% in 2023. The boys national % is 49% for EPP and 32% for Academy (ECB, Oct 2024).
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