Newcastle is to get one of five new all-weather cricket domes so that enthusiasts will be able to play the sport throughout the year, with a special focus on female participation.
The new facilities were announced by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to mark the start of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The Department is providing £3mn, with match funding by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The other places to benefit will be in Birmingham, Bolton, Derby and Nottingham.
Cricket fever
The DCMS said: “Cricket fever is set to sweep the nation this summer, with England hosting a major global tournament for the first time since the men’s side famously won the World Cup ‘by the barest of all margins’ in 2019. Just as famously, though, poor weather often stops people enjoying the game and all its physical and social benefits year-round. To tackle the problem, five state-of-the-art domes will be built in areas lacking high-class all-weather facilities.
“All five domes will place an emphasis on continuing the surge in female participation that has seen more than 2,000 new women’s and girls’ teams launch across the country since the start of 2024.
It’s part of a government drive to make the most of cricket’s diverse reach and open up the sport to people of all backgrounds by bringing quality facilities to their doorsteps.”
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Facilities to be proud of
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Cricket has such a brilliant ability to bring people from different backgrounds together. We want people all over the country to be able to enjoy our great summer sport – and not just when the sun is shining. We’re putting facilities people can be proud of at the heart of their communities and helping to ensure this summer’s Women’s T20 World Cup leaves a lasting impact across the country.”
Falling in love with the game
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt said: “World Cups have the power to inspire people to give cricket a go, and having the right facilities in place is crucial to keeping that momentum going. It’s fantastic to see investment being made in communities so that people can play all year round, whatever the weather. With more and more women and girls getting involved in cricket, opportunities like this can make a real difference in helping them develop their skills and fall in love with the game.”
The five new domes are expected to open throughout the 2027 cricket season, giving communities a place to come together, keep fit and play sport recreationally, said the DCMS. They would also remove a major barrier on the pathway from grassroots level to the elite for girls and boys inspired by the tournament’s ‘Catch The Spirit’ ethos as they watch the world’s best players this summer.
While the domes would be cricket-led, said the Department, all five sites would support a range of sports and activities, helping more local people get active year-round.
Huge opportunity
ECB chair Richard Thompson said: “Hosting this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is a huge opportunity to turbocharge the growth of women’s and girls’ cricket, and access to top quality facilities is an important part of that. We’ve seen from the three all-weather cricket domes which are already open how they can be a game-changer as we strive to make cricket the most inclusive team sport. I’m pleased that with this government support another five communities will now benefit and hope that by working together in the years ahead we will be able to open many more.”
*This report is based on a press release from the DCMS
