Two major new state-of-the-art cricket domes get big cash boost

Two new state-of-the-art indoor cricket domes will be built to get more people into the sport, it has been announced.

The Government is ploughing £1.5million to help the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) build the facilities in Luton and Lancashire. It means the game can be played all year round.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “Cricket has a remarkable power to inspire and unite communities all over the world and today we are making sure that more people of all backgrounds have the chance to experience the game.

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"These domes will be places where cricket-lovers and newcomers alike can come together to play, get active, make real-life connections and chase sporting dreams.” The Luton dome is expected to open next year.

Backers say it will give underrepresented groups such as state schools access to the sport. And the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the other dome at Farington, near Preston, will be a focal point for women and girls’ cricket.

Ms Nandy announced the funding during a visit to Leyland Cricket Club in Lancashire, where she was joined by England internationals Phil Salt and Sophie Ecclestone.

ECB chairman Richard Thompson said: “These state-of-the-art all-weather cricket domes will be transformative for the communities they serve, opening up cricket to more people year-round and providing top-class facilities for elite players too."

And he added: “As we look ahead to hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026, building on that success by rolling out more domes in communities across England and Wales will be key to creating a genuine and lasting legacy from the tournament.”

England and Lancashire spinner Ms Ecclestone said: “It’s fantastic that more people will get the chance to play cricket thanks to these brilliant domes.

“Facilities like these can make a massive difference in local communities and open cricket up to so many more people, and it will be brilliant to see them in action next year.”

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