A message from ECB Chair Richard Thompson to everyone who contributes to cricket in England and Wales

As we approach the end of the year, let me start with one simple message: Thank you.

Over the last 12 months, we’ve seen so much positive progress across our game. Whether breaking down barriers and welcoming newcomers to our sport, inspiring more youngsters than ever through our national programmes, seeing record numbers of grassroots fixtures and more than 3m attendances for the professional game, launching a new domestic women’s structure or securing transformational investment through The Hundred to underpin our game at all levels – it doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through the dedication and commitment shown by each and every person involved in cricket in England and Wales.

So on behalf of everyone at the ECB, let me say it once again: Thank you.

I appreciate I’m writing this against the backdrop of a tough Men’s Ashes tour that isn’t currently providing the Christmas cheer we hoped for. With Australia now having retained the Ashes, it’s of course been a very disappointing series for all of us so far. With two Tests remaining, however, I hope we can still give fans – and particularly those who have travelled so far to give the team outstanding support – something to cheer. But as I reflect on the year, there is much for us all to be proud of which we shouldn’t overlook.

In the recreational game we’ve seen a record 200,000 fixtures played this year, while more than 106,000 children signed up to our youth programmes All Stars and Dynamos Cricket for the first time, including a record number and proportion of girls.

One of my personal highlights of the summer was watching the growth and changes in the women’s game, with nearly 3,000 girls’ teams playing this year and another step forward in the professional women’s game taking hold, giving a new generation of stars the chance to build their profile and become the household names their talent deserves. Next year we have an opportunity to push much further as we host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with three weeks of standout cricket before the final at Lord’s where we all hope Nat Sciver-Brunt will be lifting the trophy. What an opportunity to inspire the next generation and create more heroes. It’s our chance to turn a moment into a movement, taking women’s cricket into the mainstream and keeping it there.

Who can forget the sight of Chris Woakes, arm in sling under his jumper, standing bravely and ready to answer his country’s desperate call as the England Men’s team valiantly attempted to chase those final runs against India at the Kia Oval which would have seen them win a remarkable Rothesay Test series? For a series defined by its competitive spirit, and played in front of sell-out crowds, Woakes’ readiness to give everything encapsulated exactly what makes cricket so special. I was also delighted to host India in our first international men’s mixed disability series, including a match at Lord’s, and well done to Callum Flynn and his team for their 6-1 win.

And what an exciting county season, with Notts winning their first Rothesay County Championship title since 2010, Leicestershire and Glamorgan promoted for the first time in more than 20 years, and an emotional Metro Bank One Cup win for Worcestershire in the men’s game. Congratulations also to Lancashire for scooping two trophies at the start of a new era for the women’s game.

Off the pitch, I firmly believe that finalising the series of investments into The Hundred - pushing more than £500m directly to our professional counties and the grassroots game – is a seminal moment in cricket’s growth. This funding will play a transformational role in building the sport across all communities of England and Wales, helping secure the financial sustainability of our 18 professional counties while injecting £50m into the grassroots game, funding new and improved facilities and more opportunities to play.

Cricket also continues to make progress towards the goal of becoming the most inclusive team sport – an ambition that I am delighted has galvanised the whole game. Last month, we published our State of Equity in Cricket Report one year ahead of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s recommendation. It showed progress in a range of key areas, from broadening access to our pathways and creating more opportunities for state school cricketers to welcoming more ethnically diverse and female non-executive directors into the game. Beyond those achievements, £50m has been invested in facilities since 2023 to create more inclusive places to experience cricket, while the introduction of a Cricket Regulator has added extra strength to our governance. We remain anything but complacent, as there is still much to be done, and we will continue to push forward on all of these fronts.

As we approach the end of 2025, we need to also take time to remember those who have left us this year. Dickie Bird will forever be part of cricketing history and remains for many people our best ever umpire. More recently, we have sadly had to say goodbye to Robin Smith, while David Lawrence’s brave battle against motor neurone disease finally came to an end in June. To them, and to the countless others cricket has lost over the last 12 months, we offer our gratitude and remember the enduring impact they have made on our sport.

The best way we can pay tribute to those that have laid cricket’s foundations is to continue to build upon them. I know from my travels across England and Wales just how powerful cricket can be. How it can bring communities together and inspire people from all walks of life. And how lucky we are to have an army of thousands of extraordinary unpaid volunteers who make us the game we are.

We know we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver new growth for cricket to reach more people. All of us at the ECB will work tirelessly to do that, because I firmly believe that this is cricket’s time.

Thank you for everything you have done in the last 12 months. For all the achievements – big and small – and for all the dedication you’ve shown. Wishing a very happy Christmas to those who are celebrating, and the best of wishes to all for 2026.

Richard