Peter Tervet, Chair of Oxfordshire Cricket, displays on how charitable standing and grassroots development are shaping the way forward for the sport within the county.
We’re getting into an essential new section for cricket in Oxfordshire.
As we proceed our transition to charitable standing, 2026 will mark some extent the place the work being finished at grassroots stage is more and more mirrored in how the sport is supported, ruled and grown throughout the county.
At its coronary heart, cricket depends upon volunteers.
Defending
Golf equipment, junior programmes and competitions solely perform due to the time, power and dedication folks give domestically, typically quietly and with out recognition. Defending and supporting that volunteer base is prime to the long-term well being of the sport.
Grassroots cricket underpins all the pieces. It feeds participation, efficiency and enthusiasm at each stage, from native golf equipment via to the nationwide sport.
Occasions just like the Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales assist shine a light-weight on that connection, however the true influence is felt week in, week out, in communities.
Oxfordshire has a robust repute for giving alternatives to younger folks and for constantly punching above its weight.
We’re already seeing vital development at junior stage in comparison with many different counties, which is encouraging and displays the work being finished throughout golf equipment and programmes.
We’re notably pleased with initiatives similar to our Future Leaders Academy and the partnership with the University of Oxford.
Programmes like these assist instil a tradition of volunteering and management from an early age, supporting not simply particular person golf equipment however the wider sport.
There’s actual scope to construct on this momentum as we glance forward.
GRASSROOTS CRICKET: Essential for the foundations of the game
Technique
Having a progressive Managing Director in Nick Pinhol brings power and openness to how we take into consideration the longer term, and partnerships with establishments just like the College of Oxford display the worth of collaboration past conventional boundaries.
I’m wanting ahead to the launch of our 2026–28 technique on 12 January.
In the end, technique solely issues whether it is delivered, and Oxfordshire Cricket advantages from a dedicated, motivated community of employees, volunteers and companions.
Participation continues to develop throughout our introductory programmes, together with All Stars and Dynamos, and it’s important that cricket stays inclusive and accessible in any respect ranges.
This yr alone, a document 4,605 younger gamers took half in Oxfordshire Cricket competitions, which is a robust indicator that younger persons are engaged and wish to keep concerned within the sport.
That mixture of participation, volunteer dedication and clearer organisational foundations provides us confidence that cricket in Oxfordshire is in an amazing place as we glance in direction of 2026 and past.
