Former England bowler Chris Woakes has given his backing to new ECB initiatives that plan to take cricket to more than 3,500 teachers and over 1,700 state secondary schools.\n\nThe new 'Cricket For Teachers' programme and 'Secondary Countdown Cricket' competition support the ECB's ambition to reach more than half of all state secondary schools by the end of 2028. Cricket For Teachers is a free teacher training programme designed to give PE teachers the confidence, skills and knowledge to deliver quality cricket sessions for students of all abilities.\n\nWoakes, a two-time World Cup winner with England, capped 217 across all formats, said: "I was fortunate enough to discover my love of cricket through opportunities at school and in my local community, and I know how important those experiences can be for young people." Woakes, who retired from international cricket in 2025, added: "These programmes will help introduce cricket to many more children who may never have picked up a bat and ball before."\n\nAlongside the ECB's new training programme, Secondary Countdown Cricket is a new mass-participation soft ball competition for students aged 11 to 16. Richard Thompson, ECB chair, said: "State schools educate the vast majority of young people in England and Wales, so if we are serious about making cricket the most inclusive team sport in the country, we must ensure those schools have the support they need."
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing