Derbyshire County Cricket Club remains firm in its zero-tolerance stance towards discrimination or prejudice of any kind, and the Club fully supports the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in its commitment to swift action across the game following the release of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report.
We welcome the thorough ICEC report, released today, and thank those who have come forward to detail their experiences in cricket. No specific clubs or individuals have been named in the report, which sets out game wide recommendations.
Central to Derbyshire’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan is ensuring we are an organisation which reflects and represents the diverse community in the county and beyond.
Commended for governance structure and led by a diverse Supervisory Board which is representative of our community, the Club has made significant progress in recent years, which includes the introduction of an EDI training for all players, coaches and off-field staff, open trials, the introduction of Disability Liaison Officer and an Access to Cricket Grant established in partnership with the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation (DCF).
Cricket in Derbyshire continues to grow at all levels, and participation across recreational cricket in the county increased in 2022. Widening participation in the game and inspiring a generation to say ‘cricket is a game for me’ has been the cornerstone of the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation strategy for several years and this strategy is supported by the County Club. Commitment to this strategy has been demonstrated by the ongoing positive action taken to increase participation among under-represented groups, illustrated in the Foundation’s 2022 EDI report and 2023 EDI Plan.
While important steps have already been taken, today’s ICEC report must serve as a marker for further change as cricket unites in its commitment to being a game for everyone. We recognise more change is needed in Derbyshire and across the game to affirm cricket as inclusive and accessible to all. We fully support the ECB in its ambition for cricket to become the most inclusive sport in England and Wales.
Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “This is a momentous day for cricket and as a Club, we are receiving the report at the same time as everyone else, so will now digest its findings and recommendations.
“We are fully supportive of the ECB’s plan to take immediate action where possible, while as a game we must take the necessary time to analyse the report and liaise with all relevant stakeholders to form a longer-term action plan.
“Derbyshire County Cricket Club is fully committed to using the power of cricket to connect communities and the findings in the ICEC report clearly highlight that as a game, we must strive to do more to better reflect those communities we represent.
“I want to re-iterate that the Club’s confidential EDI reporting process is open and any and all concerns will be thoroughly investigated.”
The Club can be contacted confidentially and directly via [email protected], or alternatively individuals can use the independent reporting services set up by the England & Wales Cricket Board and the Professional Cricketers’ Association: [email protected] or [email protected].
