Cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled an ambitious plan to reinvigorate cricket participation in state-sector education, aiming to train secondary-school teachers as cricket coaches. This initiative is part of the ECB's Inspiring Generations strategy, which seeks to address the disparity in cricket participation between private and state-educated pupils.The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report highlighted that privately educated pupils are 13 times more likely to play professional cricket than their state-educated counterparts. To address this, the ECB plans to support cricket provision in 500 state secondary schools by 2030, with up to £26 million earmarked for improving facilities in 16 towns and cities.The ECB also aims to provide free cricket for 3.5 million primary-school pupils over the next six years, reinforcing the link between primary and secondary education. Additionally, the talent pathway will be restructured to improve the flow of state-school players into county age-group programs.The ECB has pledged to support 70 players per year at the South Asian Cricket Academy and 21,000 young people over the next three years at the African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) program. These initiatives aim to increase diversity and inclusion in cricket.The strategy document covers planning up to the end of 2028, including the ECB's hosting of the Women's World Cup in 2026, men's and women's home Ashes series in 2027, and the return of cricket to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould emphasized the importance of the strategy, stating that it is the roadmap for the future of cricket. Deputy Chair Clare Connor highlighted that the aim of becoming the most inclusive sport in the country has been in train even before the ICEC report.The ECB has accelerated many of its measures in response to the ICEC report's criticisms of racism, classism, and sexism in English cricket. However, the board has pushed back on the ICEC's recommendation to equalize domestic pay across the sexes by 2029 and 2030 at international level.The ECB's plans could face a snag if they do not receive the £35 million investment into grassroots cricket promised by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The board remains hopeful that the prospect of the Women's World Cup will encourage the government to carry through with this investment.

The introduction of sign language commentary in TV broadcasts has revolutionized the cricket-viewing experience for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. During the T20 World Cup final, the thrilling narration of Suryakumar Yadav's spectacular catch and the enthusiastic shouts of "long-off, long-off...!" brought joy to millions of Indian viewers, including those who had previously been excluded from the full experience.Disney+ Hotstar, the official streaming platform, collaborated with Indian Sign Language to provide real-time updates through a translator on the live stream. This allowed deaf and hard of hearing viewers to follow the action and immerse themselves in the excitement. Additionally, the audio descriptive feed was enhanced with voice-over technology, converting text and images into speech output for visually impaired users.For deaf cricket players like Needa Shaikh, the captain of Mumbai's deaf cricket team, the sign language commentary was a game-changer. "Seeing Team India lift the trophy was an unforgettable moment, and the ISL feed made it even more special for us," she said. "We felt truly included in the celebration and enjoyed every match played by our team."Nikhil Chanchlani, another deaf cricket player, believes that the commentary has enhanced his skills on the field. "I have played in state level tournaments and deaf cricket championships, but our matches normally don't have any commentary," he said. "I feel like after knowing the technical details of international cricket, it has improved my understanding of professional cricket as a batsman."For fans like Yadnesh Maladkar, the sign language commentary brought the excitement of the final to life. "During the final, the famous catch from Surya Kumar Yadav, I could see the entire crowd making noise and the commentators' excitement only due to the interpretation and that doubled my excitement," he said.Mansi Shah, one of the interpreters, emphasized the importance of proper interpretation for the deaf community. "It was liberating to watch independently, without relying on someone to explain the action," said Mahesh, Mansi's father and a passionate deaf cricket enthusiast. "This step not only deepened my connection to the game but also gave me a sense of belonging and equality."The inclusion of sign language commentary in TV broadcasts has opened up a new world of cricket for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It has allowed them to fully experience the excitement, drama, and technical nuances of the game, fostering a sense of inclusion and equality.