Liverpool is a city dominated by its love of football, because of this, other sports can often find themselves overlooked.
Cricket has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few years in Liverpool, and nationally too.
Research conducted by Statista Research Department shows that in 2023 there were approximately 340,000 individuals participating in cricket in 2023.
Although this was a decrease of 10,000 in the previous year, it is the second highest figure of the past five years.
Backing up these stats, Liverpool Cricket Club committee member, Jez Clein commented on the growth of the club in recent years.
He said: “Cricket has certainly increased in popularity since Covid, our junior section which numbered less than 100 currently has over 200 and has waiting lists at most age groups.
“Pre Covid, we had three Saturday adult sides and one Sunday side. We now have four Saturday sides, two Sunday sides and a midweek side.”
Clein put the success of Liverpool Cricket Club down to their great facilities.
He said: “We’ve spent £44,000 on completely upgrading our netting facility. Whereas most clubs spend on an overseas pro, we try to invest in our facilities.
“We offer mini cricket for three to four year olds, all star cricket for five to six year olds, softball for seven to nine year olds and then hardball for 10-18 year olds .
“We pay to put willing parents through coaching courses.”
There are many factors that influence participation levels in Liverpool, including cultural, social and economic factors. Another issue is the fact it’s hard for schools to provide cricket to children as it is a summer sport.
“Cricket in schools is difficult because it is a summer sport, and the summer term is often dominated by exams and the term finishes early July. The facilities are also fairly specialised and expensive,” said Clein.
This highlights the biggest issue affecting participation – the cost. Cricket is an expensive sport to play and for clubs to run.
Clein explained: “You need a full time groundsman to prepare the wicket, a heavy roller, an outfield mower, covers, sightscreens and a scorebox. Every home game costs us £70 for new balls, £70 for an umpire and £40 for a scorer, it’s such an expensive sport.”
Despite this Liverpool Cricket Club has “never been so popular” with a lot of praise being put on the South Asian community for this.
“Culturally we are seeing positive effects of the love of cricket from the South Asian community which we have fully embraced,” added Clein.
“We run taster sessions for Afghan asylum seekers. We now have approximately 20 Afghans involved in our cricket section and about a third of our juniors are of South Asian descent.”
Statista Research Department found that in 2022/23 only 7.5% of children participated in cricket, compared to 40.1% for football. A reason for this is that it is more difficult to play cricket casually.
Clein said: “There is a big drop off in kids playing cricket usually from the age of 15. Whether that is down to exams dominating their summer or the fact that you have to be good to play, I don’t know,
“If you are not good at football you can still play five-a-side, if you aren’t good at cricket, it is hard to participate.”
To dive further increase, Clein said: “More money needs to be available for clubs to cover the inability for schools to provide it.
“There is also limited availability for indoor facilities as lots of the halls want full year bookings, whereas cricket only need the facility from October to March.”
For the time being cricket is doing well participation wise relative to previous years, however Liverpool Cricket Club have said,
Clein explained: “I think long term cricket will become a niche sport as it is just too expensive to cater for.”
