Cricket network urged to make 2026 a defining year for women’s game

Counties and cricketing organisations have been urged to seize the moment of England and Wales hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup next month and make 2026 the biggest ever year for women’s cricket.

Leaders from across cricket came together at today’s ECB Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Whole Game Conference at Edgbaston, with the event themed around making the most of hosting the tournament.

The year has already got off to a strong start, with ticket sales having surpassed any previous edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and a record-breaking number of fixtures for women’s and girls’ grassroots cricket already played and scheduled at the start of this season.

Olympic Gold Medal-winning GB hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh spoke at today’s event to give her insights on seizing the moment in the spotlight, while a number of counties shared what they are doing to make lasting change.

Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said:

“This year’s AGM was centred on a simple but powerful ambition — making 2026 the biggest year for women’s cricket that our game has ever seen.

“Over the past decade, through significant focus and investment we have transformed the women’s and girls’ game — doubling the number of grassroots teams in the last three years, moving from our first ever domestic professional contracts in 2020 to having more than 150 professional players today, and smashing attendance records year after year. The game is growing at pace.

“What is particularly important is that this progress has been a collective effort. Everyone across the game — counties, clubs, volunteers and partners — has played a role in getting us to this point.

“2026 presents a unique opportunity to take women’s cricket into the mainstream, with the home ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the first women’s Test at Lord’s, and a summer of domestic competitions that will thrill existing fans and capture new audiences.

“Our responsibility now is clear: to turn that momentum into lasting growth — in participation, in visibility, and in long-term value for the game.

“Today was about aligning behind that ambition, and ensuring that together we make 2026 a defining year for women’s cricket.”

As well as growth in the women’s and girls’ game, 2025 also saw strong results for the growth of cricket participation more generally, including:

• A record number of club cricket fixtures, with 249,000 matches scheduled, up from 240,000 in 2024 and 205,000 in 2022.
• Cricket being delivered in more schools for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Additional Learning Needs (ALN) schools in Wales) – 934 last year, up from 761 the previous year.
• Cricket is one of only three team sports seeing player growth amongst under 16s.

Richard Thompson said: “As we strive to make cricket the most inclusive team sport, it is encouraging to see significant progress being made in growing the game last year, and we look forward to building on this in 2026.

“As well as wishing England Women all the very best for their World Cup campaign, I’m excited to see our England Men’s team bouncing back after the disappointment of the Ashes this winter, while also having a great summer of domestic, grassroots and disability cricket to enjoy.”

Financial Statements 2025/26

The ECB is also publishing its Financial Statements for 2025/26. This has been a hugely significant year for cricket finances in England and Wales, with more than £500m having been secured for the professional and grassroots game through the sales of stakes in the eight teams in The Hundred.

The accounts show that more than £160m of the sale proceeds has already been paid out to the Professional Counties, helping them either pay down debt, build reserves or fund revenue-generating projects to secure their long-term sustainability. Each Professional County is able to apply for the remainder of its share of the proceeds for use in any of these ways.

Away from The Hundred investment process, it was a positive year financially with the India Men’s team having visited for a gripping five-Test series. Overall, the ECB’s turnover increased to £409m, which includes increased broadcast and ticketing revenues due to the India Test series. Through careful budgeting and some difficult decisions – including reducing headcount – the ECB was able to make record contributions to the Professional and Recreational game, whilst delivering a £12.6m profit from business-as-usual operations to build reserves.

While the domestic media rights deal gives certainty over a large part of the ECB’s budget until 2028, the ECB’s revenues are inherently cyclical, given the differing value of overseas broadcast rights when different teams visit. For this reason, our finances are planned over several years to ensure financial commitments to the professional and recreational game can be maintained even in years of lower income, meaning the ECB expects to record a profit in some years and a loss in others. While a white ball tour by the India Men’s team this year is expected to result in another year of strong revenue in 2026, the ECB anticipates recording a loss in 2027 due to the absence of any such tour.

Six new Honorary Life Vice-Presidents appointed

For the second year running, the ECB has granted six Honorary Life Vice-President Awards to celebrate and recognise individuals from the professional and recreational game who have given long service to the sport, or made an exceptional contribution to making cricket a more inclusive sport or growing the cricket and breaking down boundaries.

This year’s winners are:

• Keith Fletcher OBE. A prolific batter who was England Men’s Captain and later coached the national team. Served as President of Essex CCC until the end of 2025.
• Dennis Amiss MBE. An England international for over a decade he devoted more than 65 years to Warwickshire and the county game, serving as player, Chair, Chief Executive and President. Later served as England Selector and ECB Vice-Chair.
• Enid Bakewell MBE. One of the most influential figures in women’s cricket, becoming a trailblazing England all-rounder long before the professional era. Scored over 1,500 international runs, took 75 wickets and won the inaugural Women’s World Cup with a match-winning 118.
• Bharat Patel. Has made an exceptional contribution to cricket and his community in Leicestershire over more than 40 years. Instrumental in creating a coaching programme for youngsters, and growing the club’s All Stars and Dynamos offer to more than 100 participants, also helping establish a women’s and girls’ setup with more than 30 members.
• Cate Hayes. Devoted more than 20 years to creating one of the most inclusive and successful junior and women’s cricket programmes in Nottinghamshire. Has helped grow West Bridgfordians CC’s junior section from a small group to more than 400 players across every age group, ensuring there are sufficient volunteers at the club to oversee a packed calendar of over 200 junior fixtures. Champions women’s cricket, creating a thriving, welcoming pathway for girls and women at WBCC.
• Mick Hornsby. Has dedicated his life to cricket, representing Eastrington CC in Yorkshire for many years, umpiring for over a decade and later serving as groundkeeper into his 90s. His commitment has been so profound that the club proudly named their pavilion in his honour, and his passion, loyalty, and influence have shaped generations.

ECB Chair Richard Thompson presents Honorary Life Vice-President awards to Dennis Amiss (above) and Bharat Patel and Cate Hayes (below)

Non-executive Director ratification

The appointment of former England Men’s batter and National Selector Ed Smith to join the ECB Board as a Non-Executive Director was ratified at the AGM. He will take up the role from October 1, 2026.