Former England all‑rounder Chris Woakes has publicly thrown his support behind two fresh initiatives launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that aim to embed cricket more deeply within the state education system. The projects – dubbed "Cricket For Teachers" and "Secondary Countdown Cricket" – are designed to reach more than 3,500 teachers and over 1,700 state‑run secondary schools across England and Wales, with the long‑term goal of having cricket present in at least half of all state secondary schools by the close of 2028. The Cricket For Teachers scheme is a completely free professional development programme targeted at physical‑education teachers. Its purpose is to equip them with the confidence, practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to run high‑quality cricket sessions that cater to pupils of any ability level.
Schools that sign up will receive a package that includes face‑to‑face or virtual training workshops, a library of teaching resources, a set of basic cricket equipment and ongoing mentorship from experienced coaches. The overarching ambition is to create a sustainable cricket culture within each participating school, so that the sport becomes a regular part of the curriculum rather than an occasional after‑school activity. Alongside the teacher‑focused element, the ECB is rolling out Secondary Countdown Cricket, a nationwide soft‑ball competition aimed at students aged 11 to 16. This competition is built around mass participation, meaning that every school involved will have the chance to field teams, compete in regional fixtures and ultimately vie for national honours.
Funding allocated to the programme will cover the cost of training sessions for pupils, the provision of soft‑ball kits, score‑keeping tools and other essential resources, as well as the logistical support needed to organise fixtures and tournaments. By lowering the financial and organisational barriers, the ECB hopes to make cricket as easy to access as football or netball for young people in state schools. Woakes, who enjoyed a distinguished international career that included two World Cup triumphs and 217 caps across Test, One‑Day International and Twenty‑20 formats, reflected on the personal impact that school‑based cricket had on his own development. "I was fortunate enough to discover my love of cricket through opportunities at school and in my local community, and I know how important those experiences can be for young people," he said.
He went on to stress that many children still grow up without ever handling a bat or ball, and that programmes like these can change that reality. "These programmes will help introduce cricket to many more children who may never have picked up a bat and ball before. The more opportunities we can provide in state schools, the stronger and more inclusive the future of our game will be," Woakes added, noting that he retired from international duty in 2025 but remains passionately involved in the sport's grassroots growth.
ECB chair Richard Thompson echoed the sentiment, linking the initiatives to the broader State School Action Plan that the board unveiled last year. "When we launched the State School Action Plan, we made a commitment to create more opportunities for young people from every background to experience cricket. This launch is an important step in delivering that commitment," Thompson explained. He highlighted the demographic reality that state schools educate the vast majority of young people in England and Wales, and argued that if cricket is to become the most inclusive team sport in the country, it must be firmly rooted in those institutions.
"Cricket For Teachers and Secondary Countdown Cricket will help remove barriers, build confidence among teachers and give hundreds of thousands more young people the opportunity to enjoy everything our sport has to offer," he concluded. The strategic intent behind both programmes is clear: to nurture a pipeline of talent and enthusiasm that starts in the classroom and extends onto the playing field. By providing teachers with the tools to teach cricket effectively, the ECB hopes to spark interest among pupils who might otherwise never consider the sport. The competition element, meanwhile, offers a tangible goal for students to work towards, fostering teamwork, discipline and a sense of achievement.
In practical terms, participating schools will receive a starter kit that typically includes a set of soft‑ball cricket bats, a supply of soft balls, basic protective gear, cones and markers for drills, and a digital resource hub containing lesson plans, video tutorials and assessment rubrics. Teachers will be invited to attend regional training days led by qualified cricket coaches, where they can practice coaching techniques, learn how to adapt activities for different skill levels, and discuss ways to integrate cricket into broader physical‑education outcomes such as fitness, coordination and strategic thinking. For pupils, the Secondary Countdown Cricket competition is structured as a series of age‑appropriate leagues that culminate in regional finals and a national championship.
Schools are encouraged to form mixed‑ability teams, ensuring that the experience is inclusive and that every child gets a chance to contribute. The competition also incorporates educational components, such as scoring literacy and statistical analysis, which align with the national curriculum's emphasis on numeracy. Early pilot trials of the Cricket For Teachers programme have already shown promising results, with teachers reporting increased confidence in delivering cricket sessions and pupils expressing heightened enthusiasm for the sport. Feedback indicates that the combination of hands‑on equipment, clear instructional guidance and ongoing support helps overcome the common perception that cricket is a complex or elite‑only game.
Looking ahead, the ECB plans to monitor participation rates, assess the impact on student engagement and adjust the programme based on feedback from schools. The ultimate vision is a cricket‑friendly environment in which every state secondary school can offer regular, high‑quality cricket experiences, thereby widening the base of the sport and ensuring that future generations have the chance to fall in love with the game, just as Chris Woakes did during his own school years.