ECB suffers Sport England funding cut

The ECB has had its Sport England funding cut by more than £300,000 after failing to meeting participation targets for adults.

Sport England said the reduction was made with the full agreement of the board after they hadn't achieved the growth numbers for the period 2009-2013 although it was confirmed that the ECB has met, or exceeded, all its other targets. The exact reduction in funding is £312,188.

"[This] announcement continues the consistent approach we have taken with all governing bodies that failure to achieve the agreed growth will lead to funding levels being reviewed," said Sport England's chief executive Jennie Price. "The challenge for the ECB is to increase participation across all forms of cricket, both formal and informal."

"We support the even greater priority now being given to the adult grassroots game by the ECB and the steps taken by its development team in recent months have given us confidence in the governing body's ability to get more people playing the game regularly over the next 12 months."

David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: "We feel that the outcome with Sport England is fair given current adult participation levels, the current state of the economy and the fact that cricket has invested more than £50 million in community facilities during the last few months. The ECB appreciates that Sport England does not have accountability for the expansion which is occurring at the junior level but the ECB believes that the 11-25 year age group is critical to the sustainability and health of sports in the medium term. "