Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2025 to question 60227 on Cricket: Women, what further progress her Department has made on increasing participation in cricket by women and girls in the last 12 months.

The Government is committed to ensuring that as many women and girls as possible have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities, including cricket.

Through Sport England, our Arm’s Length Body for grassroots sport, we provide investment of £13.4 million to the England and Wales Cricket Board between 2022-2029 to support grassroots participation, including for both women and girls.

In addition, in 2026/27, the Government has committed £3 million delivered through the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for five multi-sport covered cricket domes in Birmingham, Bolton, Derby, Newcastle, and Nottingham. All five domes will place an emphasis on continuing the surge in female participation that has been seen in recent years, as well as improving access for other under-represented groups. This funding builds on £1.5 million provided to the ECB last year for two domes in Luton and Farington, Lancashire, the latter of which forms part of a North West Centre of Excellence for the women's game.

Last week, I was delighted to visit the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup launch, celebrating a key moment in the decade of women’s sport. England and Wales are hosting the tournament from 12 June - 5 July 2026. The tournament is taking place in iconic grounds across London (Lord’s, The Oval), Birmingham (Edgbaston), Manchester (Old Trafford), Leeds (Headingley), Bristol (Bristol County Ground), and Southampton (Hampshire Bowl). The Government is committed to making sure that women and girls have clear routes to see elite female athletes compete at the highest level. This is key to inspiring and engaging fans and players now and into the future.