The Independent Commission For Equity In Cricket

[king of the road]

Matty Potts had to leave Venerable Bede and go to Robert of Newminster just to play cricket. To this point, most of his cricket was at Philadelphia CC.

Read the report. Class based discrimination is covered.

I’m not sure that’s correct. He went to St Robert’s for 6th form only, think he was at a private school before that for a year or two. Cricket at Phila till 14 ish then Washington for a couple of years before the Academy.

Report authors Michelle Moore, Sir Brendan Barber, Cindy Butts (Chair), Dr Michael Collins and Zafar Ansari.

Michelle is an equality activist, so she will see discrimination everywhere, her resume excels at this. Sir Brendan barber is a Trade Union official, a former General Secretary of the TUC.

Cindy Butts is another advocate for inclusion and equity, with experience for EDI in police and Justice and Government. Dr Collins is Political thought and political science with a bias towards equity and would suggest a left-wing acolyte. Zafar (a former cricketer) is also a specialist in immigration, housing and social issues. This bunch of people seem to have a specific agenda.

But of course, it fits into the narrative of EDI. That is the god that must be obeyed at all costs.

You really couldn't make up today's world. Pick a jury that is loaded against you. I don't expect a whitewash, but pick people with an agenda, there is only one outcome.

As for private schools dominating the pathways, would we really change this? Cricket is an expensive sport to maintain, it's not cheap to maintain a pristine outfield and pitches alongside all of the equipment. It is a minority interest and can only be played in specific conditions certain times of the year. If your local school suddenly received a big increase in its budget, would you really want it to spend a big chunk of it on a cricket programme?? That would surely be way, way down the list of priorities.

Proper cap doffer here. Virtually all of the England side playing tomorrow are public school educated and you think that’s ok? Imagine the team we could have if we widened the net?

 

[Hulkster]

I dunno but it’s an entirely class driven sport, which is what the commission found and it’s recommended ways round to solve that

Whether you think cricket matters at all and should be made available to state kids is a different argument but it’s extremely class driven

It's just reality. There are some things that are expensive and therefore you need a lot of money to do them, or at least to do them seriously, and that includes some sports.

I can't afford private school for my kids, but it doesn't mean I think others should be stopped from doing it or that state schools should start laying on elite development programs for whatever sport they might want to do at the expense of the taxpayer.

Because why should it stop at cricket? What if they want to do golf, tennis, archery, sailing, polo, equestrian? It's just unrealistic for state schools to offer these things, so they are always going to be class driven to different extents because you need the money to pay for them - either directly or in £20k p.a. per child school fees.

Some of them, state schools could offer on an occasional basis - we did a few weeks of cricket at my comp and it was mostly used by the sadistic kids as a great excuse to hurl a cricket ball at someone without fear of punishment. But if you want the school provision to challenge the private school dominance at the elite level then it's going to take similar programs - specialist coaches, high quality well-maintained facilities and several hours per week devoted to it. Just completely unrealistic for state schools.

Proper cap doffer here. Virtually all of the England side playing tomorrow are public school educated and you think that’s ok? Imagine the team we could have if we widened the net?

How do you suggest that should change? Do you want to pay for state schools to run elite cricket programs? Wouldn't they have better things to spend their money on? And what about elite equestrian programs? The British equestrian team is also utterly dominated by the privately educated.

 

[king of the road]

It's just reality. There are some things that are expensive and therefore you need a lot of money to do them, or at least to do them seriously, and that includes some sports.

I can't afford private school for my kids, but it doesn't mean I think others should be stopped from doing it or that state schools should start laying on elite development programs for whatever sport they might want to do at the expense of the taxpayer.

Because why should it stop at cricket? What if they want to do golf, tennis, archery, sailing, polo, equestrian? It's just unrealistic for state schools to offer these things, so they are always going to be class driven to different extents because you need the money to pay for them - either directly or in £20k p.a. per child school fees.

Some of them, state schools could offer on an occasional basis - we did a few weeks of cricket at my comp and it was mostly used by the sadistic kids as a great excuse to hurl a cricket ball at someone without fear of punishment. But if you want the school provision to challenge the private school dominance at the elite level then it's going to take similar programs - specialist coaches, high quality well-maintained facilities and several hours per week devoted to it. Just completely unrealistic for state schools.

How do you suggest that should change? Do you want to pay for state schools to run elite cricket programs? Wouldn't they have better things to spend their money on? And what about elite equestrian programs? The British equestrian team is also utterly dominated by the privately educated.

Scrapping private schools in the medium term. Making them pay VAT and ending charitable status in the near term. Cricket is a microcosm of our wider society but magnified as it is an expensive sport. Who said anything about elite cricket programs? There’s currently zero cricket at schools as they can’t afford any kit. Keep doffing that cap though.

 

[smoker]

I’m not sure that’s correct. He went to St Robert’s for 6th form only, think he was at a private school before that for a year or two.

I may have misremembered but my oregano was one of his family members.

 

[sonson]

Is that all English sports?

No Football has escaped it pretty much and look how consistently better they have been than their counterparts

 

[Ivor Biggun]

It's just reality. There are some things that are expensive and therefore you need a lot of money to do them, or at least to do them seriously, and that includes some sports.

I can't afford private school for my kids, but it doesn't mean I think others should be stopped from doing it or that state schools should start laying on elite development programs for whatever sport they might want to do at the expense of the taxpayer.

Because why should it stop at cricket? What if they want to do golf, tennis, archery, sailing, polo, equestrian? It's just unrealistic for state schools to offer these things, so they are always going to be class driven to different extents because you need the money to pay for them - either directly or in £20k p.a. per child school fees.

Some of them, state schools could offer on an occasional basis - we did a few weeks of cricket at my comp and it was mostly used by the sadistic kids as a great excuse to hurl a cricket ball at someone without fear of punishment. But if you want the school provision to challenge the private school dominance at the elite level then it's going to take similar programs - specialist coaches, high quality well-maintained facilities and several hours per week devoted to it. Just completely unrealistic for state schools.

How do you suggest that should change? Do you want to pay for state schools to run elite cricket programs? Wouldn't they have better things to spend their money on? And what about elite equestrian programs? The British equestrian team is also utterly dominated by the privately educated.

Comparing cricket to equestrian events is ludicrous. Cricket is hardly a niche sport, it's the second most watched in the country and still has a fair size participation rate. The report didn't even say that schools need to be producing elite standard schemes, just getting people interested and as the first steps onto the ladder.

 

[MustardAndOnions]

I am cricket nut and listen to all sorts of podcasts on cricket

they are all privately educated, well the majority are, in the media, its not just the players.

The best for me is the Wisden podcast, there is no doubt they know their cricket inside out, so I am not knocking them

2 youn lads Yas and Ben, both posh as out...then half way through last year another young lad came on..Cameron Poncenby or someit. I was just thinking...jesus wept...doesnt get posher than this bloke.

 

[smoker]

Cameron Poncenby

Christopher Martin-Jenkins was the ultimate poshboy cricket journo.

 

[MustardAndOnions]

Christopher Martin-Jenkins was the ultimate poshboy cricket journo.

haha aye really was, TMS dominated by it, all cricket media is. I used to interact with a few in my old job occasionally, all top lads, but nobody with an accent

only Rory Dollard from the PA, from Carlisle, a top lad.

 

[Hulkster]

Scrapping private schools in the medium term. Making them pay VAT and ending charitable status in the near term. Cricket is a microcosm of our wider society but magnified as it is an expensive sport. Who said anything about elite cricket programs? There’s currently zero cricket at schools as they can’t afford any kit. Keep doffing that cap though.

Where to start?

Firstly, how is banning the only type of school currently able to produce elite cricketers going to make anyone better at cricket?

This solution seems to be to drag everyone down to the bottom in the name of equality. And why should people be forbidden from paying for a better education for their children? You going to start snooping on people's home's to make sure no one is being taught maths inside?

And of course this is about elite programs - the problem is supposedly that the England team is dominated by people who went to private schools. So a term or two of doing cricket across 5 years of comp, delivered by a generic PE teacher isn't going to make any difference to that. You'd need specialist coaches and hours of weekly practice - an elite program.

 

[MustardAndOnions]

Where to start?

Firstly, how is banning the only type of school currently able to produce elite cricketers going to make anyone better at cricket?

This solution seems to be to drag everyone down to the bottom in the name of equality. And why should people be forbidden from paying for a better education for their children? You going to start snooping on people's home's to make sure no one is being taught maths inside?

And of course this is about elite programs - the problem is supposedly that the England team is dominated by people who went to private schools. So a term or two of doing cricket across 5 years of comp, delivered by a generic PE teacher isn't going to make any difference to that. You'd need specialist coaches and hours of weekly practice - an elite program.

I dont agree with private schools in general, am sick of it, worked in London for years, so much talk about what "school you went to". foot in the door in every industry

2 of our recent PMs were in the same bloody class at school. ridiculous man.

 

[Exapno Mapcase]

Just seen this on BBC news. Led by a black woman claiming racism and that black people don't play the game.... The very next story on BBC breakfast... Rehan Ahmed is in the England squad. As the wife shouted at the TV just now "a crock of shit". I guess if you look hard and deepen enough you will always find issues to suit a narrative. I've seen it old and young, men and women, black and white all at this game down in Leicester so far this week. Very much a game for all in my opinion.

Led by a black woman means it's biased but if it was old bloke with a blazer and a ridculous tie that would be independent?

We can all have our own individual experiences which don't agree with a report like this but that doesn't mean the report is wrong, it's just taken evidence from a wide range of people and have come to conslusions based on that.

I actually think cricket has become more elitist, more specialised than 30 or 40 years ago. It's also true that our childhoods of football in the winter and cricket in the summer aren't being replicated. The time commitment for cricket makes it difficult for state schools to give the same opportunities as public schools.

 

[smoker]

I dont agree with private schools in general, am sick of it, worked in London for years, so much talk about what "school you went to". foot in the door in every industry

2 of our recent PMs were in the same bloody class at school. ridiculous man.

I went to private school and sent my kids to one. We all have NE accents and are ordinary people. The problem isn't the schools, it's a certain group of unremarkable people, from inherited wealth, who meet at these schools and form self-help networks to perpetuate their privilege. Rest assured, regular kids at these schools aren't invited into these circles.

 

[chunkyshanhawk53]

One club, one issue which needs dealing with. Dig hard enough you will find racism everywhere. I'm watching a game here, and they have school kids in of different races/ethnicity, old people here, young people here, men and women here. Ridiculous to tarnish the whole game in this way. Would like to know who they have conducted this research with as well. I've not seen anyone conducting research at games or via membership communication. As the wife said "crock of shit"

Hmmm. Just because you don’t see it, it doesn’t make it a crock of shit.

I very much doubt it’s just Yorkshire.

 

[MustardAndOnions]

I went to private school and sent my kids to one. We all have NE accents and are ordinary people. The problem isn't the schools, it's a certain group of unremarkable people, from inherited wealth, who meet at these schools and form self-help networks to perpetuate their privilege. Rest assured, regular kids at these schools aren't invited into these circles.

fair enough yeah, certainly levels to private schools like, cant compare Eton to some in north east thats for sure. I dont doubt you.

Working in London with an accent, I had never thought about it still I started mixing with these people, how much I stood out and how much people treat you slightly differently.

 

[NorthCountryBoy]

Where to start?

Firstly, how is banning the only type of school currently able to produce elite cricketers going to make anyone better at cricket?

This solution seems to be to drag everyone down to the bottom in the name of equality. And why should people be forbidden from paying for a better education for their children? You going to start snooping on people's home's to make sure no one is being taught maths inside?

And of course this is about elite programs - the problem is supposedly that the England team is dominated by people who went to private schools. So a term or two of doing cricket across 5 years of comp, delivered by a generic PE teacher isn't going to make any difference to that. You'd need specialist coaches and hours of weekly practice - an elite program.

I agree that dragging private schools down in terms of cricket provision isn’t the answer - they’re superb. But offering even a taste of cricket in state schools would be a huge help.

Look at the demographic in South London and what it produces football-wise. If some of those young (mainly black) lads had a go at bowling there might be some real natural talent. Have a go at school then link them to a club.

"My wife says there's no sexism in cricket and she's a woman"?

You would say that, because you've got skin in the game. I've seen it.

I don’t dismiss your example mate, I was sorry to read it.

But on the same level I visit probably a dozen clubs each summer and have a lot of my own experience to draw on. Almost without exception the clubs we go to are welcoming etc. And overwhelmingly ‘normal’ backgrounds…

 

[MustardAndOnions]

I agree that dragging private schools down in terms of cricket provision isn’t the answer - they’re superb. But offering even a taste of cricket in state schools would be a huge help.

Look at the demographic in South London and what it produces football-wise. If some of those young (mainly black) lads had a go at bowling there might be some real natural talent. Have a go at school then link them to a club.

Aye spot on that, all those players from very similar social and economic backgrounds too. With the natural athleticism of these guys are born with, could easily produce some first class cricketers there.

I guess he is saying cricket isnt that important so why would schools do it. Cricket for a long time was the 2nd sport in this country, so it has been interwoven in the country's fabric, too easy to dismiss that

 

[NorthCountryBoy]

Also, aren’t the private school figures slightly false? Eg my understanding is that the likes of Root and Brook are state school kids who got scholarships at 13/14 once their cricketing talent was obvious?

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[MustardAndOnions]

Also, aren’t the private school figures slightly false? Eg my understanding is that the likes of Root and Brook are state school kids who got scholarships at 13/14 once their cricketing talent was obvious?

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Yeah Root defs was, think he was even older at 14.

anything above 50% is way out of proportion still tho.

 

[mackem1989]

I could not believe that Lords relented and allowed that fuckin Eton v Harrow yearly game again

sums it all up for me

££££ and some golden handshakes