Former England bowler Chris Woakes has announced his support for a new England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) project designed to increase the presence of cricket within the state education system. The initiative focuses on upskilling educators, with plans to provide training to more than 3,500 teachers across the country.

By targeting over 1,700 state secondary schools, the ECB aims to broaden the reach of the sport beyond traditional private school settings. The program is part of a wider effort to make cricket more accessible to students who may not have previously had regular exposure to the game. While the ECB has framed this as a significant step toward inclusivity in the sport, the announcement primarily highlights the logistical goal of teacher training as the primary vehicle for this expansion.

Chris Woakes, who has represented England in all three formats of the game, expressed his backing for the project, noting the importance of providing more opportunities for young people to engage with cricket. The ECB has not yet released specific details regarding the curriculum or the timeline for when these teachers will begin their training, nor have they specified how the program will be funded long-term. The initiative is expected to roll out over the coming academic year as part of the board's ongoing efforts to diversify the sport's grassroots foundation.