Cricket

The Institute of Sports Humanities has launched its first programme, an MA Leadership in Sport, in association with the University of Buckingham.

The course, written by former England cricketer and current chief selector Ed Smith, is aimed at the next generation of leaders in sport: players, captains, coaches, administrators and entrepreneurs.

The London-based MA will explore sport’s cultural importance and how it became the world’s third largest industry.

As the days get longer, English cricket edges closer to the start of what will be a huge summer, including both an Ashes series and a home ICC Cricket World Cup. It comes as the game embarks on a process of significant reform and innovation designed to keep pace with a changing fan and media landscape. In this exclusive piece for Sport Industry Group, Neil Hopkins, Global Head of Strategy, M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, assesses the state of play and looks ahead to what could be a pivotal summer for the sport.

Cricket charity Chance to Shine, which this week celebrated reaching two million girls through its work since 2005, has announced funding from Natwest and the Sage foundation for a major new girls’ cricket programme in UK secondary schools.

The initiative, revealed on International Women’s Day, will receive further support from a number of the charity’s donors, seeking to reach more than 14,000 girls through 120 schools.

The First-Class Counties of England and Wales have agreed to a 100-ball format for domestic cricket’s New Competition, the ECB has confirmed.

The white-ball format, due to be introduced from 2020, will now officially be known as ‘The Hundred.’

Key elements include 100-ball innings with a change of ends after every 10 balls and a 25-ball ‘powerplay’ in which only two opposing fielders are allowed in the outfield.

Organisers of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup marked 100 days to go to the start of the 2019 tournament by taking over Trafalgar Square with an event attended by a host of celebrities from inside and outside the game.

The centrepiece was the transformation of Nelson’s Column into a giant cricket wicket -  a sight witnessed by the likes of Minister for Sport Mims Davies and cricketers Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Graeme Swann.

Celebrity fans including musician Harry Judd, swimmer Rebecca Adlington and Love Island’s Chris Hughes also took part in festivities.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed BT’s Tony Singh as its new Chief Commercial Officer.

Currently Content and Business Development Director at BT, Singh will take up his role with the ECB’s senior management team at Lord’s in April.

In his new position, Singh will be responsible for overseeing all revenue generation and its key commercial relationships as well as customer-facing activities.

Exisiting Chief Commercial Officer Sanjay Patel will remain with the organisation, focussing solely on his role as Managing Director – New Competition.

Cricket's Minor Counties are set to rebrand as the National Counties Cricket Association after 124 years.

The name change, which will come into effect next year, was among a series of changes to the second tier of the county game approved by the ECB Board.

The decision will now need to be rubber-stamped at the Minor Counties’ next meeting.

Global athletic footwear and apparel brand New Balance introduced baseball star and brand ambassador Francisco Lindor to the home of cricket at Lord’s with ex-England and Kent cricket player Rob Key. The sportsmen exchanged insight and technique before taking to the nets alongside Glamorgan cricketer Billy Root.

More than 6,000 people have been interviewed for volunteer roles at this summer’s ICC Cricket World Cup, following a record response to an international cricket recruitment drive.

Event workforce platform Rosterfy has been used to help deliver the 4,000 volunteers needed to support the event, which begins at The Kia Oval in May.

Surrey County Cricket Club Commercial Director Charlie Hodgson has been unveiled as the new Managing Director of The Oval.

Hodgson has held the role of Commercial Director at the 2018 County Championship winners for the past seven years.

His connection with the club now spans over 25 years, first as a player in the Surrey age group system before joining the commercial department in 2005.