ECB’s Uncertainty on Establishing Equal Pay Targets for England’s Men and Women

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has hesitated in fully committing to equal pay targets for both male and female cricketers as outlined in a significant report on equality, diversity, and inclusion in cricket.

Mainul Islam

September 25, 2023

2.3 minutes

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Author:

Mainul Islam

Date:

September 25, 2023

34

ECB’s Uncertainty on Establishing Equal Pay Targets for England’s Men and Women

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has hesitated in fully committing to equal pay targets for both male and female cricketers as outlined in a significant report on equality, diversity, and inclusion in cricket.

Cricket News

The ICEC Report's Vision

Published in June, the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report emphasized that women in cricket were often treated as “second-class citizens.” The report recommended that the ECB strive for equal pay on average at the domestic level by 2029 and at the international level by 2030.

ICEC Report Findings

The ICEC report unveiled substantial wage disparities in international white-ball cricket, where women’s average salaries were just 20.6 percent of the average salaries for men in 2021. Furthermore, the report exposed a significant inequality in total spending on women’s salaries in The Hundred, standing at only 25 percent of what was allocated to men’s salaries.

ECB's Approach and Chief Executive's Statement

Although the ECB is determined to bridge the pay gap, it has not firmly committed to the timelines set forth in the report. ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould expressed the organization’s aspiration to achieve equal pay on average but acknowledged that accelerating the growth of the commercial aspect of women’s cricket is essential. The commercial element, driven by broadcast value, plays a crucial role in achieving pay equality. The ECB’s current major broadcast contract extends until the end of 2028, necessitating a focused effort to reach equality. Whether this can be achieved within a single broadcast cycle remains uncertain, but the ECB is committed to making every possible effort.

ECB Deputy Chief Executive Clare Connor mentioned a “live conversation” regarding the prospect of England Women playing a Test match at Lord’s, responding to the ICEC report’s observation that such a match has not yet been played at this iconic venue.

ECB's Formal Response and Commitments

The ECB unveiled its formal response, which includes a series of commitments to address the issues raised in the ICEC report:

  1. Investing £25 million annually above the revenue generated from the women’s game into expanding women’s and girls’ cricket across all levels.
  2. Eliminating financial barriers in the talent pathway by 2025.
  3. Developing action plans to tackle specific hurdles faced by state schools and black children.
  4. Establishing an independent Cricket Regulator separate from the ECB, tasked with prosecuting disciplinary cases, by the 2024 season. Annual assurance checks will ensure the Regulator’s independence.
  5. Enhancing EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) standards for counties, setting more ambitious targets for gender and ethnic diversity.
  6. Assessing counties’ performance against minimum EDI standards and having the authority to relocate matches from venues if non-compliance is detected.

Gould reinforced the ECB’s unwavering commitment to making cricket the most inclusive sport in England and Wales, urging collective efforts to achieve this goal. The response signifies a comprehensive set of actions aimed at intensifying and accelerating the work to make cricket a game accessible to all.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) will issue a separate response regarding the ICEC recommendation to replace Eton v Harrow and Oxford v Cambridge matches at Lord’s with state school’s finals days.

Last Updated: Sep 25, 2023
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