To the sponsors, partners and suppliers of major UK cricket grounds (as listed at the bottom of this petition),                   

We, the undersigned, believe that you have a vital role to play in the fight for gender equality in cricket. We are asking for you to require your partners to commit to tangible improvements, as part of future sponsorship/partnership agreements.

As it stands, major cricket grounds are not required to reach minimum targets in terms of gender equality and many are continuing to actively exclude women. Across the board, men receive vastly more playing days, formats, levels and fixtures than women. For instance, at Lord’s, the symbolic ‘Home of Cricket’, over 13 times more days were reserved for men's only matches (41 days) than for women only matches (3 days) in 2022. Concerningly, this seems to be the norm rather than the exception, with women also receiving far fewer playing opportunities than men, at other international grounds. 

Time and time again, the status quo has been permitted to stand, with little to no accountability. Women not only receive far fewer playing opportunities at international grounds but are also severely under-represented on Boards, committees and in membership bases. Many major grounds have not publicised vital gender equality statistics or goals; and requests for this information have largely gone unanswered. For those grounds with a publicly available Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Plan, the goals seem remarkably unambitious. 

Prior attempts (from equality campaigners) to engage with grounds such as Lord’s have been unfruitful. For instance, a public petition (sent to the MCC) signed by hundreds of people in 2021 received a 78 word email response which, in brief, noted that “we are not engaging with you in regard to your ‘actions’”. Formal complaints to the ECB have not resulted in concrete change; and politicians are yet to respond favourably to calls for an inquiry into Sexism in Cricket. 

With this in mind, we believe it is now time for sponsors, partners and suppliers to insist that major grounds raise the bar higher, by making future sponsorship/partnership agreements contingent on grounds achieving agreed upon gender equality targets. 

Suggested equality commitments are highlighted below:    

• Hosting a minimum number of gender equal (i.e. double-header) events;
• Ensuring that the % of matches allocated to women fixtures is, at minimum, equal to the participation rate of women cricketers;
• Committing to hosting an equal number of men’s and women’s fixtures;
• Ensuring that when a men’s amateur match is hosted, the equivalent women’s fixture is also scheduled;
• Hosting a mix of international, county, and amateur matches, comparable to the spread of men’s fixtures;
• Introducing a greater spread of formats for women’s matches, ensuring that women can play at least Hundred, T20, and One Day matches at major grounds;
• Improving gender representation within the workforce and all relevant committees;
• Appointing a Diversity and Inclusion representative who can assist with ensuring that the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Code is not violated; and handling any complaints that arise related to equity and diversity;  
• Reporting gender and other diversity related statistics in an easily accessible manner;
• Increasing the visibility of women’s cricket within the ground, for example, by introducing statues and/or artworks of female cricketers;
• Setting out a specific action plan/framework for developing women’s cricket.

In the absence of meaningful commitment and change, we do not feel that the conduct of major cricket grounds (e.g. Lord’s) are aligned to your brand. Thus, if the relevant ground/s do not agree to abide by agreed upon gender equality goals, we call on you to boycott your agreement for the 2023 cricket season. Should you choose to support a boycott, we ask that you redirect your funds to another organisation or activity that promotes greater inclusion in cricket.

Please see below for the list of grounds and sponsors/partners/suppliers we are referring to. While not listed as part of this petition, we hope that sponsors of comparable grounds in other countries (e.g. Sydney Cricket Ground, Melbourne Cricket Ground) will follow suit, in making their sponsorship contingent on grounds meeting minimum targets.      

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Major grounds: County Ground Bristol, County Ground Taunton, Edgbaston, Headingley, Lord’s, Old Trafford, The Oval, Trent Bridge, Riverside Ground, Rose Bowl, Sophia Gardens

Principal sponsors: Ageas, Bradfords Building Supplies, Clean Slate Studio, Cooper Associates, Emirates, John Pye Auctions, JP Morgan, Kia, Paul Money Partners, PKF Smith Cooper, Rotec Hydraulics, Scrivens, Talbots, Trade Nation, Vertu Motors, Welsh Government Major Events Unit (MEU), WPA

Other sponsors/partners/suppliers: Activating Digital Engagement, Adidas, Affixius Films, Albert Goodman, Allett, Almondsbury Garden Centre, Al Murad Tiles, Amber, APOGEE, Astar Consulting Ltd, Astra, Astrasec.com, Audley Villages, A Quality Service Ltd, AWP Exeter, Barcan + Kirby, Bath Ales, Bendac Group, Betway, Bidfood, Birmingham City University, Blackstar Solutions, BOLA, BPM Maintenance, Brecon Carreg, Bristol Fire, Brown Shipley, BS7 Gym, Calleva, Cardiff CAERDYDD, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Carlsberg Marston's, Castell Howell, Cayman Islands, C&C Healthcare, C&C Insurance, C G Fry & Son, CGI, Clarke Willmott, Class, Claims Management Partnership LLP, Clayton Hotels, Cooper Associates, Complete Cricket, County Championship, Cygnus, Databet, David Lloyd, Deeserve, Discover Leeks, DJ Hoobin Taxation Services, Domino's, Doubletree by Hilton Cheltenham, DKJ Constructions p/l, Dragon Signs, Drax, D R Squared, Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, Elm Tree Signs, English Tea Shop, Envirovent South West, Eversheds Sutherland, Fever Tree, Filbert's Fine Foods, FINXL IT Professional Services, Fleming Physiotherapy, FLR Group, Foot Anstey, Freedom Energy, Fusion Fostering, F Woodruff Funeral Services, Gabrielle Walsh Funeral Services, Gallo, G4S, Gallagher, Genius PR & Events, Gittins & Co. Wealth Management, Glamorgan Brewing Company, GM, Greene King, Grundon, Hambledon Vineyard, Hawes & Curtis, Healthspan, Heatforce, Heineken, Hendrick's Gin, Hendy, Her Game Too, Higos Insurance, Hill Dickinson Lawyers, Hills Waste Solutions, Hilton Garden Inn, Holidaycottages.co.uk, HR GO Recruitment, Hub Box, Hunter, Hybrid Residences, Interpolitan Money, Jellyfish Business Solutions, Jewson, JM Finn, Kagool, Konica Minolta, King Edward VI School, King's College Taunton, King's Schools Taunton, Kukri, Liquorice, Lloyd & Whyte, Lord Combustion Services, Lovitt Technologies, LSA Finance, LSA Partners, Lucky Saint, LVE Insurance, Macair Climate Solutions, Mainstream Print, Mansfield Sports Group, M.A.R Galadari, Masuri, Matrix IT, Matthew Clark, MCL Create, Michael Spiers, Middy's Data & Electrical, MiPost, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Mon Motors, MPA Financial Management, National Express, New Balance, Nic Group, Nuffield Health, NutritionX, Oakfield Recruitment, OKS Installations, Omni-Care, Orchard, Oris, Paris Smith, Pangea Insurance, Paul Thorpe Spinal Surgery, PCA, Peter Cooper Motor Group, PIB Insurance Brokers, Physique, PKF Francis Clark, Player Layer, Pro Athlete Supplementation, Professional Cricketer's Association, PTI, Pyramid Hygiene, Quintic, Radcliffe & Co, Radecarl Ltd, Reform, Renault Trucks, RGB Building Supplies, Richard Butler, RMH Garden Logistics, ROTEC, Route Media, Royal London Cup, Russell Scanlan, SA Group, Sandwell College, Scope Commercial Projects, Scott Gibbs Cars and Commercials, Seat Unique, Selco Builder's Warehouse, Sellfast, Showcase Cinema de Lux, Shrey, SJM Properties SW, Sodexo, Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Somersett County Gazette,  Somerset County Sports, South West Cleaning Equipment, Spark, SportsBreaks.com, Stack Cup, St Austell Brewery, Stephens & George Print Group, Stephens Scown, Stowford Press, Suave Owl Menswear, Sytner Nottingham, Sytner Oldbury, Tarnwalk (UK) Ltd, Taunton KIA, Teapot Creative, Thatchers, The Great Wine Co, The Park Hospital, T.H.E. Sparkie, The Ticket Factory, Titanic Distillers, Trafford Council, Trethowans, Tribute, Towergate, Uber Eats, Utilita, Vale Resort, Vertu Motors, Veuve Clicquot, Viessmann, Village Gym, Vine Wine, Visit Manchester, Vitality Blast, Vita Sports, Vounder Sport, Walker Logistics, Wattbike, Wave 105.2 FM, Westons Cider Makers, White & Company, Wild Water Group, Wise Plumbing and Air Conditioning, Wonky Sheep, Worksop College, Xbox, Yellow Brick Road Rosanna, 103.2 Capital FM, 40 Commando Royal Marines, 6 O'Clock Gin