Sir Andrew Strauss appointed Chair of ECB’s Cricket Committee
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on September 12th that Sir Andrew Strauss has been appointed Chair of its Cricket Committee.
He will lead the Committee in helping to ensure there is a thriving professional game at the heart of the sport. This includes monitoring and developing the delivery of Men’s Professional Cricket, Women’s Professional Cricket, Disability Cricket, National Counties, Clubs & Universities Cricket and the Talent Pathway.
In August, ECB’s Board unanimously voted for Sir Andrew to take on this role after he was recommended by the Nominations Committee.
Sir Andrew starts this role following a highly successful cricket career both on and off the field. As ECB’s Director of England Cricket for three and a half years, he oversaw the creation of the England men’s team performance strategy and laid the foundations that led to this year’s victory in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup – an ambition he set early in the job. This followed an outstanding playing career which saw him captain England during their 2010/11 Ashes win in Australia and play in 100 Test matches.
He stepped down from his role as ECB’s Director of England Cricket in October 2018 to support his family during his wife Ruth’s battle with cancer which, devastatingly, she lost in December last year. He showed typical class and courage in setting up The Ruth Strauss Foundation in her memory to raise money and awareness for rare forms of cancer.
He takes over from Peter Wright who stepped down as Chair of the Cricket Committee after nine years in the role.
Commenting on the announcement, ECB’s Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison said:
“Sir Andrew has and always will be a massive part of the cricket family and I am thrilled that he is returning to ECB in a role he is perfectly placed to take on.
“He excels at everything he sets his mind to – from winning the Ashes as captain of England and shaping the culture of a World Cup-winning team as our Director of England Cricket, to supporting his family under unimaginable circumstances and launching The Ruth Strauss Foundation which recently raised £500,000 at the Lord’s Ashes Test.
Also commenting, the new Chair of ECB’s Cricket Committee, Sir Andrew Strauss said:
“It is a real pleasure to return to ECB in this new capacity. ECB and the whole cricket family have been a vital source of support over an extremely difficult year and it’s really great to be back at Lord’s, a place that has become a second home to me.
“I’m extremely passionate about developing and growing cricket in England and Wales and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Cricket Committee to continually drive all aspects of the professional game, including women’s, men’s and disability cricket.
“I’ve seen first-hand how this summer of cricket has inspired more people to fall in love with the sport and I can’t wait to help build on its success and support the roll-out of ECB’s strategy to grow the game, Inspiring Generations.”
Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive UK Sports Association said “I wish Sir Andrew the very best in his new role and congratulate him on the appointment. The ECB has taken great strides forward in cricket for players with intellectual impairment and we are delighted to be working with them.
“There is a strong men’s team who this year have their sights firmly set on the Inas sanctioned tournament in Australia in October. I hope that Sir Andrew can begin to explore expanding the pathway further, including developing the women’s game and creating a pathway for talented women with intellectual impairment to international success.”
The ECB Board delegates authority to Committees which are responsible for specific aspects of ECB governance. Like the other Board Committees, the Cricket Committee is made up of ECB Board Members and Executives, representatives from the cricket network and independent experts.
For more information on classification for cricket players contact the UK Sports Association.
For more information on specific disability cricket programmes and the 2019 Team to the Inas Cricket Championships in Australia contact the ECB.
(Photos courtesy of ECB)