ECB praises Government investment

8 December 2005

ECB chief executive David Collier has welcomed the Government's announcement

The England and Wales Cricket Board has welcomed the Government's announcement of an investment of £5.25million into cricket as part of the National Sports Foundation.

David Collier, ECB chief executive, said: "The ECB is delighted that our discussions with the Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the need for greater investment in grassroots sport have been recognised through the creation of the National Sports Foundation.

"The ECB has initially been allocated £5.25million in the first two years of the Foundation's operation for investment in local projects and we view this as an excellent start in generating new income for the development of community sport. ECB is most grateful to the Secretary of State and the Minister of Sport at DCMS for their support of this programme.

"The ECB will work in partnership with Government, the Cricket Foundation and the ECB's Charitable Trust to ensure that our shared objectives of getting more people, especially women and children, playing sport are realised.

"The Chancellor's emphasis on investing in sport through schools and clubs is particularly welcome as the reinvigoration of cricket in state schools is a top priority for cricket throughout England and Wales.

"This announcement, and the recent decision by Sport England to increase its investment in cricket, is testament to the value of having set out cricket's strategic priorities in Building Partnerships. The ECB has been praised by Government for being fit for purpose and ready to deliver on investment in sport.

The extra funds will help encourage more women to play cricket © Getty Images

"I am particularly encouraged that in his statement the Chancellor chose to highlight the need to create more opportunities for women to play sport.

"Our women's team won the Ashes this summer and the Chancellor's commitment to encouraging more women to play sport will allow us to further build on this achievement."