Former England bowler Chris Woakes has given his backing to new ECB initiatives that plan to take cricket to more than 3,500 teachers and over 1,700 state secondary schools.
The new ‘Cricket For Teachers’ programme and ‘Secondary Countdown Cricket’ competition support the ECB’s ambition to reach more than half of all state secondary schools by the end of 2028
Cricket For Teachers is a free teacher training programme designed to give PE teachers the confidence, skills and knowledge to deliver quality cricket sessions for students of all abilities.
Participating schools will receive training, resources, equipment and ongoing support to help establish a sustainable cricket culture at the school.
Chris Woakes celebrates after England’s 50-over World Cup win in 2019
Woakes, a two-time World Cup winner with England, capped 217 across all formats, said: “I was fortunate enough to discover my love of cricket through opportunities at school and in my local community, and I know how important those experiences can be for young people.”
Woakes, who retired from international cricket in 2025, added: “These programmes will help introduce cricket to many more children who may never have picked up a bat and ball before. The more opportunities we can provide in state schools, the stronger and more inclusive the future of our game will be.”
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Alongside the ECB’s new training programme, Secondary Countdown Cricket is a new mass-participation soft ball competition for students aged 11 to 16.
Funding will provide schools with training, equipment, resources and competitive playing opportunities designed to make cricket more accessible than ever before.
The ECB have launched two new initiatives in schooles, ‘Cricket For Teachers’ and ‘Secondary Countdown Cricket’
Richard Thompson, ECB chair, said: “When we launched the State School Action Plan, we made a commitment to create more opportunities for young people from every background to experience cricket. Today’s launch is an important step in delivering that commitment.
“State schools educate the vast majority of young people in England and Wales, so if we are serious about making cricket the most inclusive team sport in the country, we must ensure those schools have the support they need.
“Cricket For Teachers and Secondary Countdown Cricket will help remove barriers, build confidence among teachers and give hundreds of thousands more young people the opportunity to enjoy everything our sport has to offer.”