Funding boost for female coaches
SIX months on from the launch of its South Asian Action Plan, the ECB today announced it had received funding of £1.2m from Sport England to train 2,000 female coaches across seven cities for the game at grassroots level.
The development of more female coaches was one of 11 key measures in the ECB’s South Asian Action Plan, which has also seen Leyton Cricket Club in East London picked as the first pilot venue for the new Urban Cricket Centres – purpose-built sites specifically designed to provide cricket in urban areas. 64 non-turf pitches and 14 giving other people headaches with that. I’m training hard, hitting the ball nicely in the nets and I’d like to think people know that in the background I’ll be pushing as hard as possible to be playing this week.” So good has Foakes been with the gloves – he has taken five catches and two brilliant stumpings over the two Tests – there is little doubt he is a superior keeper to Bairstow, who despite improving vastly is nowhere near as naturally talented as the man who has taken his place.
England coach Trevor Bayliss lavished praise on Foakes after the Kandy Test, saying he looked “like he has played 30 or 40 Tests” and, injury permitting, he looks set to be England’s wicketkeeper for the foreseeable future.
That is no doubt harsh on Bairstow, who has an excellent record since tak- turf pitches in 2018 have been installed this year, too.
The announcement was celebrated in Leicester today at an event attended by Isa Guha, the former England women’s bowler, and Graeme Swann, the former England spinner, alongside his Strictly Come Dancing partner Oti Mabuse.
“I’m pleased to say that in a relatively short space of time, progress has been made in a range of different areas including identifying our first Urban Cricket Centre and commissioning and installing 64 non-turf pitches,” said Lord Patel, an ECB non-executive director.
“Today’s announcement of funding from Sport England shows that we are in a great position to deliver on another element of our plan.”
Involved in training will be Saba Nasim, who has coached more than 1,000 women and girls in East London in recent years, through a two-hour Chance To Shine street project on a Wednesday evening in Redbridge and lunchtime school visits. Hers is the longest-running Chance To Shine street project for females.
“I am seeing an increase in the number of women and girls in recent years and it’s really helped by having female coaches,” she told Standard Sport. “I have seen lots of great work at grassroots level.”