Grounds to Play - Ecb - England and Wales Cricket Board

03Contents04 Foreword by David G. Collier, Chief Executive06 Message from Giles Clarke, Chairman09 The Pillars of our Game10 Investments in Grounds to Play12 Energising people and partnershipsto deliver national goals at local level13 How we will deliver Energised people andpartnerships to deliver national goals atlocal level17 Vibrant Domestic game18 How we will deliver the Vibrant Domestic game23 Enhancing facilities, environments and participation25 How we will deliver Enhanced facilities, environmentsand participation28 Successful England teams30 How we will deliver Successful England teams

04ForewordIn May 2005, ECB launched our first strategic plan‘Building Partnerships’. Many at the time describedthe plan as over ambitious, in part because when welaunched the plan, ECB had negative reserves andfunds for investment were scarce. However, we canlook back with pride on having delivered the vastmajority of goals within Building Partnerships.Indeed, partnerships have flourished and have been at the heartof laying solid foundations on which we can now build an excitingfuture. The opportunity for this investment has been driven bysound management of the game’s finances with prioritised andtargeted investment.Streamlining our governance; building participation by morethan 20% per annum (as measured through our focus clubs andCounty Boards); developing women’s cricket; attracting volunteers;expanding our spectator base; introducing grants and loans toclubs; developing disabilities cricket; and regaining the Ashes haveall combined to produce a strong base for our next strategic plan.But the next four year cycle does provide a number of challenges.The global economy is weaker than in 2005 and during our next fouryear period, the UK will host the Olympics which, whilst providingundoubted sporting benefit to our nation, will compete for precioussponsorship.Cricket has through generations been an integral part of our localcommunity. This plan seeks to build and preserve that role.Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.uk

05If we are to sustain and grow the astoundingparticipation growth over recent years our focusmust now shift to developing our facilities andcoaches from Playground to Test Arena to supportthat growth. During 2007, KPMG completed areview of the game’s finances which highlighted thepaucity of reserves at club and county level and theavailability of capital to invest in facilities at all levelsof the game.In 2005 I asked you to play your part,enthusiastically and actively, in creating a worldclassgame in England and Wales. The responsewas outstanding and I look forward to yourcontinued support as we deliver Grounds to Play.The theme of this plan therefore progresses toGrounds to Play and it is in the areas of facilitiesand coaches where our investment will befocussed.David G. CollierChief ExecutiveEngland and Wales Cricket Board

06Message fromthe ECB Chairman, Giles ClarkeIn the last two years, in my role as Chairmanof the England and Wales Cricket Board,I have had the opportunity to meet, listenand consult with a wide range of our valuedstakeholders and partners.The common theme expressed is that we must build a game whichvalues and respects all stakeholders as equals and the ECB mustplay a key role in delivering structures and policies from Playgroundto Test Arena, which enables cricket to flourish and stakeholders todevelop facilities and reserves.The issue facing all venues and the community game is findingcapital funds to invest and develop facilities.It is the main driving force in this new strategic plan – Grounds toPlay – but everyone will recognise the difficult economic times andthe uncertain future in which we find ourselves.Given this economic background the strategy will be continuallyreviewed during the next four years but the vision and direction wehave identified is clear and transparent.This strategy is a major commitment to invest in all areas of cricket.It will strengthen our game and provide the opportunity to lead thecricket world in facilities, coaching, participation and volunteering.Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.uk

08Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.uk

09The Pillars of our GameBuilding Partnershipsintroduced the four keypillars to develop thegame of cricket:Energising people andpartnerships to deliver nationalgoals at local levelVibrant domestic gameEnhancing facilities,environments and participationSuccessful England teamsThese pillars have stood the test of time during theBuilding Partnerships plan and will remain the corepillars within Grounds for Play.In 2005 ECB had negative reserves and a keycomponent of the plan was to strengthen the financialposition of the game. We now have £23 million ofreserves, some of which have been reinvested in loansto clubs. However, it is important for the continuedhealth of the game that counties and clubs strengthentheir financial position to enable us to manage thedifficult economic times ahead.Investment in facilities is one way of strengthening thehealth of the game. This is equally applicable to thelocal club as it is to a Test match arena and benefitsboth the facilities which our players and spectatorsenjoy as well as providing greater financial stabilityfor the game. Each pillar therefore has an increasedpercentage of investment in coaches and facilities toprovide cricket with Grounds to Play.

10Investments in Grounds to 48.0% Play2006-09 actual v 2010-13 planPlanned Average Expenditure Growth13.2%22.2%5016.6%45403530PercentageGrowth% Expenditure growth2520151050%26%28%50EnthusingParticipationVibrantDomesticGameSuccessfulEngland30Grounds to Play25www.ecb.co.uk

PercentageGrowth2015111050%26%28%2006-09 actual v 2010-13 plan5Percentage of expenditure growth relating toincreasing capital spend03025Percentage ofexpendituregrowth relatingto increasedcapital spend% Growth relating to capital expenditure201510526%15%18%0EnthusingParticipationVibrantDomesticGameSuccessfulEngland

12Energising people andpartnerships to deliver nationalgoals at local levelHaving streamlined the managementof ECB and established the CountyBoards, where feasible, servicescurrently provided from the centrewill be transferred to County Boards.In particular the roles of CountyCommunity Coaches and DevelopmentManagers are best delivered locallyand this transition will be encouraged.Performance Related Fee Payments (PRFP) haveenabled a consistent strategy to be adopted by thegame and have incentivised counties. PRFP will beexpanded to 44 percent of the fee payment by 2013.ECB has been well supported by Sport Englandthrough the Whole Sport Plan process but the wideryouth, health, crime and education agendas falloutside the remit of the Department for Culture,Media and Sport. ECB will forge closer workingrelationships with a number of Governmentdepartments to deliver programmes which sit at theheart of the local community.ECB will support international diversity by seeking tobring major events to the UK, neutral Test matchesand further expanding women’s and disabilitiesprogrammmes.Securing the future of our game requires anincreased proportion of our expenditure beinginvested in assets rather than revenue expenditure.This policy will deliver enhanced facilities andstrengthen the financial position of clubs, countiesand the ECB alike. To support this policy TeamSalary Payments, support for investment in facilitiesand Performance Related Fee Payments will haveenhanced focus in supporting investment in assets.The Partnerships formed since 2005 includingthose with Counties, County Boards, Government,PCA, UK Sport, Sport England, The Lord’s andLady Taverners, the Cricket Foundation, ClubCricket Conference, ESCA, Bunburys, MCC, ICC,broadcasters and sponsors will continue to bestrengthened to deliver Grounds to Play.Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.uk

13How we will deliver Energisedpeople and partnerships to delivernational goals at local levelWe will enhance asset growth by:Continuing interest free loans to community clubsExpanding NatWest Cricket ForceSeeking to support corporate or public sector cricket grounds under threat of closure through the EWCTSeeking to expand partnerships for Indoor CricketWe will provide leadership to focus this investment through:Performance Related Fee PaymentsTeam Salary PaymentsEngland and Wales Cricket TrustProposing innovative programmes to Government to address crime, health and education issues

15Energising people andpartnerships to deliver nationalgoals at local level - the rolesand goalsEngland and Wales Cricket Trustto provide up to £5 million of interest free loans tomember clubs for recreational projects and to workwith grounds in inner city areas to provide greatercommunity use by 2013.Sport Englandto enhance the Whole Sport Plan award of £38million by obtaining a further £10 million of lotteryaid support by 2013.First Class Counties and ECBto introduce and support Team Salary Payments.ECB and Governmentto work in partnership to seek mutually beneficialsolutions in the areas of health, diversity, crime andunemployment.Cricket Foundationto continue to deliver the Chance to shineprogramme.ICCto reduce the number of Global Events to two in afour year cycle plus a Test Championship play off.ESCA and the Bunburysto provide leadership for the development ofschools representative cricket and the BunburyFestival

16Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.ukwww.ecb.co.uk

17Vibrant Domestic gameECB’s guiding vision is to develop cricket from Playground to Test Arena.The player pathway is athlete focused and provides a guide for playerssupporting the health of the game throughout England and Wales.A Vibrant Domestic game is represented by:Primacy of Test match and LV County Championship cricket providing the ultimate test ofcricketing skills.A First Class game which encourages and rewards player development and success and creates acontinual supply of cricketers for England Under 19, Lions and England full International teams.One day domestic cricket which provides the commercial income at county level to sustaindevelopment programmes and investment in Championship cricket.Expanding disabilities and women’s cricket by showcasing international and double headerTwenty20 matchesEstablishing Friends Provident T20 as a world class competition played primarily on Fridays andSundays to attract new spectators and income to venues.Support scholarship programmes for overseas winter training to enhance the talent pool of youngcricketers.Increase the pace of integration between First Class Counties, Minor Counties and County Boardsto ensure a consistent pathway from youth to senior county level.Rewarding the development of 13-18 year old cricketers who mature into first class cricketersand increase the percentage of cricketers developed through the system who represent England.

18How we will deliver the VibrantDomestic gameWe will ensure that prize money in theLV County Championship reflects thatthis is the premier competition.We will increase the percentage ofTeam England earnings in favour ofTest cricket as opposed to one daycricket.We will increase PRFP for thedevelopment and playing of Englandqualified Under 26 cricketers to ensurea healthy England team.We will play a T20 and a 40 overcompetition to provide the commercialincome for Counties to sustain theCounty Championship programme.We will expand our investmentin England Women’s cricketersinvolvement in Chance to shine andsupport double header televisedT20 cricket.We shall ensure broadcast coverageof club, community, women’s andyouth cricket as a pre-requisite tobroadcasting agreements.We shall reward County Boards andFirst Class Counties for integratedyouth programmes.We will fund scholarship programmeseach year so that players can embarkon international training visits andextended courses at the NationalCricket Performance CentreWe will focus on expanding ourofficials to match participation growth.We will increase rewards for counties(first class and non first class) whoproduce 13-18 year old cricketerswho develop into first class cricketers.Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.ukwww.ecb.co.uk

19Vibrant Domestic game -key driversA Vibrant Domestic game requires the effective delivery of:The player pathwayEnthused umpires and coachesA first class game deliveringplayers for selection for EnglandteamsVibrant domestic one day cricket tosustain counties’ commercialincomeIntegrated youth representativeteamsMarketing and promotion of thedomestic game with central themesand local deliveryQuality facilities and quantity tomeet demandAn opportunity for all young playersat County Academies.

21The Vibrant Domestic game -roles and goalsRoles and Goals:ECB - to champion a play-off match for Test Championship with ICCECB and Counties - to invest £3m in rewards for development of youngEngland players and enhance the quality of academiesECB and Counties - to develop a plan for promotion of domestic cricket,to make available LV County Championship cricket highlights through theInternet and to lobby Editors of the national press to reinstate coverage ofdomestic cricket.First Class Counties - to develop promotional programmes for familiesand schools at domestic cricket with a minimum of one such promotionper annum per County.County Boards, First Class and Minor Counties - to integrate theselection and management of youth representative teams with the CountyAcademies by 2012.Umpires, Scorers and Coaches Association - to obtain sponsorshipsupport in order to double the investment in umpires, scorers and coachesby 2013.

22Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.ukwww.ecb.co.uk

28Successful England teamsSuccessful England teamsOur target is for England teams to retain the Ashes and to win an ICC Test Championship event,ICC World Cup or ICC Twenty20 World Cup by 2013.We will incentivise Counties who develop England players.We will ensure that the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough remains the mostadvanced state of the art facility in world cricket.We will invest in central contracts, the Lions squad and a development squad to provide furtherexperience for potential England players.We will support an England Lions playing programme which mirrors the format of cricket playedin ICC competitions.We will invest in a programme of matches and development to support our Women’s teams bethe best prepared teams in world cricket.We will provide leadership programmes to develop potential future County and England captains.We will integrate the coaching techniques of the England Team with county cricket by invitingCounty Coaches/Directors of Cricket to be involved with England programmes.We will provide the necessary resources to support the Strength and Conditioning and Medicalprogrammes to ensure they are the best in world cricket.We will invest in a programme of matches and development to support our disabilities teams bethe best prepared teams in world cricket.We will work with England players to adopt personalised playing programmes to reflect theagreed playing maximum of 105 days cricket per annum. Players representing England will beprovided with up to 10 match days within the limit of 105 days to participate in other events.ECB shall lobby ICC to play ICC Global Events twice in a four-year cycle plus a TestChampionship play off match every four years.The Home international programme will be limited to either 7 Test, 10 ODI and 2 T20 matches; or6 Test, 13 ODI and 2 T20 matches per annum.Focus will be placed on the England Under 19 team with a target of winning the world eventin 2012.Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.ukwww.ecb.co.uk

29Successful England teamsSuccessful England teamsThe key partners in the player pathway for Team England are the First Class Counties.The objective in this 5 year plan is to enhance communication and the sharing of best practicebetween Team England and Counties to ensure that players transition smoothly from domestic tointernational cricket.A minimum pool of 50 England qualified players under the age of 26 regularly playing domesticfirst class cricket is required to operate a competitive England Lions team. Rewards for thedevelopment of these players should be enhanced.The national performance centre must be the world’s leading facility and have available theworld’s leading coaches and science and medical teams.The introduction of the IPL and Champions League further challenges player workload, whilstreducing income to ECB and Team England. In order to manage workload a maximum of 10playing days per year should be accommodated outside the Team England playing schedule forthose players participating in more than 95 days per annum of international match cricket.The women’s team must gain experience of venues in which Global Events are tobe scheduled.In order to replicate international tournament formats, the England Lions must play at home andabroad replicating ICC tournament playing conditions.Developing future Captains of both England and Counties is seen as a priority and this will be ledfrom the National Cricket Performance Centre.The disabilities team must gain experience of venues in which Global Events are tobe scheduled.It is imperative that to balance playing programmes there are no more than two ICC GlobalEvents in a four year cycle.

30How we will deliver SuccessfulEngland teams - roles and goalsTeam England - to win the final of the ICC World Cup, Test Championship or ICC Twenty20 World Cupby 2013.First Class Counties - the goal is to have a minimum of 50 Under 26 England qualified cricketersplaying first class cricket by 2011 and by 2013 50% of those players to be in the top half of either thebowling or batting first class averages.National Cricket Performance Centre - to invest £1 million between 2010-2013 to ensure thefacility remains state of the art and to engage coaches and managers who are widely respected as the bestin their area of expertise.Alignment with First Class Counties - to engage one first class coach per winter to workwith an England team and to invite First Class County coaches to work in co-operation with Team Englandcoaches.England Under 19 - to win the 2012 Under 19 World Cup.ICC - to reduce player workload by only having one global event every other year.Women’s cricket - to support the marketing and promotion of the world champion women’s team andto increase the performance resource attributed to women’s cricket.Grounds to Playwww.ecb.co.uk

31Successful England teamsHow we will deliver Successful England teamsBy expanding the pool of Under 26 Englandqualified cricketers to a minimum of 50playing regular first class cricket by 2013.By providing substantially increased incentivesto counties (first class and non first class)who develop England players in the age group13-18.By providing a development pathway fromUnder 19 to development squad to Lions toEngland team.By providing an annual programme ofmatches for the Lions’ squad at homeand abroad playing to ICC event formats.By producing a programme of tours and homeseries for our women’s squads on a four-yearcycle.By producing a programme of tours andhome series for our disabilities squads on afour-year cycle.By developing leadership courses for futurecaptains.By creating world class strength andconditioning and medical programmes.By employing world class coaches at theNational Cricket Performance Centre.By reducing the number of ICC Globalevents.By limiting Home International series andfocusing on quality.By setting clear targets for the Under 19 team.

ECBEngland and Wales Cricket BoardLord’s Cricket GroundLondon NW8 8QZT: 020 7432 1200F: 020 7289 5619E: info@ecb.co.ukwww.ecb.co.ukFrom Playground to Test ArenaMarch 2010Front cover photography courtesy of Andrew Richard Mills.www.ecb.co.uk