Junior County Cricket All Set for BIG Change 

28 May 2025   |   By Ed McCabe

Junior County Cricket is Changing! 
The ECB will be introducing a new process for identifying and developing talented younger cricketers from this November. 
Traditional County sides at Under 10s, 11s and 12s will be replaced by what is being called ‘The Early Engagement Programme (EEP)’ from this November (2025). County teams, as we all know them, will start at Under 13s and ECB will continue to run National Competitions at U14s, 16s and 18s for boys and 15s and 18s for girls.

The ECB has given Counties a framework for the EEP along with some guiding principles about how to run it. 

• The EEP is a coaching, training and match play programme for U10s to 12s for winter and summer 
• Matches will not be against other Counties, so will be intra-squad fixtures and will mostly be run by Coaches
• To deliver sessions that allow for more players, more opportunity, and more fluidity.
• Integrate more beginners with athletic potential into the programme and diversify entry routes
• Work to enhance access at all times by keeping it affordable, local, and on a level playing field bearing in mind different maturity levels and exposure to cricket coaching and education.
• Try and seriously increase the numbers of children – potentially doubling numbers.
• 1: 8 coach to player ratio 

 
The ECB is giving all Counties some extra funding to accommodate more coaching for more players. This  money will go towards booking sports halls and venues, paying coaches, creating a bursary scheme and some central costs. 

We have all obviously been looking at how best to discover and nurture talent at these age groups and the process of change has been accelerated by the findings and recommendations of the ICEC Report and the ECB’s aspiration to become the Nation’s ‘Most Inclusive Team Sport’. 
 
Herefordshire is now tasked with writing a delivery plan. If you have any thoughts or ideas to help shape the programme please feel free to contact Ed, edmccabe@herefordshirecricketltd.co.uk This is really important to get right and could lead to exciting cricket development in Herefordshire! 
The next Emily Arlott could come from anywhere in the County!