ICEC report on the state of first-class cricket in England and Wales

The press release on the report of the Independent Commission for Equality in Cricket is published as a pdf here.

The main summary is:

With one in two respondents experiencing discrimination in the game, the report, Holding Up A Mirror To Cricket, lays bare the extent of game-wide failings, to reveal: 
● Racism is entrenched in cricket. The game’s structures lead to racial disparities and discrimination, and the ICEC heard many examples of stereotyping, exclusion and racist behaviour. ● Women are marginalised and routinely experience sexism and misogyny. The women’s game is treated as subordinate to the men’s game, and women have little or no power, voice or influence within cricket’s decision-making structures. 
● There is little to no focus on addressing class barriers in cricket. Private schools dominate the talent pathway, there is scarce provision of cricket in state schools and there are substantial cost barriers faced by those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 
● The complaints system is confusing, overly defensive and not fit for purpose. There is profound mistrust, victims and those accused of discrimination are not properly supported and people are simply not reporting, for fear of victimisation and concern that no action will be taken. All too often people are suffering in silence. 
● The systems in place to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) require significant improvement. There is game-wide confusion about how the regulatory system works, with a lack of rigorous EDI standards. The ECB’s dual role of promoter and regulator creates the potential for conflicts of interest.

Things have clearly got worse since I used to put on whites to make up the numbers in local cricket teams. Then there was an easy path from players of talent to move from club cricket to first-class, whatever their social origins. That in turn was enabled by cricket being fostered in state schools.

Racial prejudice has always been with us, but it was noticeable that when John Arlott discussed a touring ban of South Africa with county cricketers, he found majority support for Basil d'Oliveira and against Apartheid. One wonders whether the attitude in county dressing-rooms would be the same now.