Two new indoor cricket domes will be constructed in Luton and Lancashire in a bid to increase participation in the sport.
The government announced £1.5million in funding for the projects, and it comes ahead of the Women’s World Cup being hosted in England next year.
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It is expected that the Luton dome will open in early 2026 and will provide underrepresented groups with a route into cricket, while also providing a venue for other sports such as hockey and tennis.
The second dome, at Farington near Preston, will have a key focus on women and girls’ cricket and is set to open next summer.
A pathway will exist from entry-level through to the Lancashire women’s side, who will be permanently based at the site.
ECB chair said 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.
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“They are an important part of our plans to break down barriers and make cricket the most inclusive team sport.
“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 Sophie 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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