Cricket

Ebony Rainford-Brent, the driving force behind the ACE Programme, expresses renewed optimism about English cricket's commitment to addressing the challenges faced by Black communities, a year after the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report highlighted the sport's structural inequalities.Unveiling the 'Road to Representation' strategy, which aims to nurture ten cricketers through the ACE Programme and into the professional ranks by 2030, Rainford-Brent emphasized the significant shift in the discourse surrounding race in cricket since ACE's inception four years ago."Five years ago, I felt hopeless about the recognition of inclusivity issues within the game," Rainford-Brent said. "Now, I'm hopeful. We've acknowledged the problem and are implementing initiatives in response to the ICEC report. However, it will take a decade of sustained effort to truly transform the game."Launched at The Oval in 2020, ACE has expanded to five additional hubs across the UK, engaging over 26,000 young players, with 200 identified as having 'elite potential.' Its impact was recognized with a £14 million government investment, alongside Chance to Shine and Lord's Taverners, to enhance cricket accessibility in state schools.ACE's Rookie Contracts, fully-funded opportunities for two young players to develop their careers at first-class counties, will be announced later this summer. With 21% of ACE Academy players now progressing to county pathways, Rainford-Brent believes the target of ten professional players by 2030 is achievable."It's an ambitious challenge, but that's what ACE has been about for the past five years," she said. "We're seeing one in five of our talented youngsters make it to the talent pathway, and some had minimal cricket experience before. If we maintain this pace, we can see that talent emerge."The new strategy also prioritizes female participation, aiming for a 50-50 split by 2030. The 'Blaze Her Trail' scheme targets girls with elite-level success in other sports, particularly athletics, to convert them into fast bowlers.Rainford-Brent cited her encounter with Olympic heptathlete Denise Lewis as inspiration for the initiative. "Denise had never played cricket, but her javelin background gave her the ability to get into position," she said. "We're exploring this theory, and if successful, we'll have another conversion pipeline in the coming years."