Girls aren’t always looking to a male voice to tell them what’s right. Seeing female coaches makes them think, “I can do that.” And seeing female umpires and scorers helps them see a full pathwayLaura de Silva Girls Cricket Coach
This Feels Different
We are experiencing women's cricket like never before: bigger, bolder and better than ever. With more eyes on the game now, anything feels possible. This team. This chance. This moment.
Transforming the future of women’s and girls’ cricket together
As the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) first-ever Champion of Women’s and Girls’ Cricket, we’re committed to driving lasting growth in the women’s game. From supporting grassroots cricket to launching the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund, our partnership is focused on helping more women and girls get into the game and stay in it.
This Feels Different takes that commitment further — shining a bigger spotlight on the England women’s team to help close the visibility gap. It’s what we’ve been building towards: championing women’s and girls’ cricket on the biggest stage and inspiring the next generation to follow.
Our impact so far
400 newly trained coaches
Developed via ECB Core Coach programmes, which are subsidised by the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund.
32% increase in girls' cricket teams
Since the launch of the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund in 2024, which invests in coaches and volunteers.
500+ images in a free-to-use library
Created with Getty to help clubs promote women’s and girls’ cricket in their communities.
Putting our commitment into action
Seeing is Believing: Increasing the visibility of women's and girls' cricket
68% of women and girls say visual representation encourages them to try a new sport.*
To help inspire the next generation of female cricketers, Metro Bank and the ECB have created a high-quality image library of women’s and girls’ cricket, in partnership with Getty Images. The images are free for local clubs to use via the ECB Resource Hub, supporting recruitment and team growth and are publicly available to licence through Getty Images.
The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund: Championing the Future
Co‑created and co‑funded with the ECB, the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund aims to triple the number of girls’ cricket teams by breaking down barriers and helping clubs create more inclusive, welcoming environments for girls to play and stay in the game.
The Fund supports volunteers and coaches at every stage of their journey in girls’ cricket – whether you’re new to cricket, looking to give back to your club, or developing and progressing your coaching skills.
*The Metro Bank research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 UK Females Aged 7+ (Nationally Representative).
Awards
UK Sponsorship Awards
Best Sponsorship of the Year, 2025
Best Women’s Sport Sponsorship, 2025
Best Social Purpose Sponsorship Community Focus., 2025
Use of Sponsorship to encourage Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, 2026
Sports Business Awards
Best Supporter of Women’s Sport, 2025
Excellence in Grassroots Sports Development, 2025