With around 150 representatives from across all facets of the game, World Cricket Connects 2025 opened with discussion surrounding the opportunities and challenges in further growing the game.
After the MCC President, Lord King, had encouraged free thinking and innovation in his introductory speech, the Boston Consulting Group presented their review of the financial health and composition of the game. After which, the World Cricketers' Association (WCA), presented highlights from their recent report on the structure of world cricket.
London Spirit investor, Satyan Gajwani (Times of India/CricBuzz, Willow TV and MLC), focused on how cricket can captivate younger fans in all its territories through digital media and AI. Mallika Petkar (JioStar) was joined by Adam Collins and Andrew Leonard (broadcasters) to further discuss the theme “Is Cricket Cool?”. Petkar then interacted with Harry Griffith to explain to the audience how JioStar had dramatically increased ratings through fan engagement initiatives over the past decade.On Sunday, alongside the Chair of Cricket for Climate, Natalie Davey, the Australia captain, Pat Cummins, spoke about his interest in, and care for, the environment. Cummins conveyed his passion and clarity of thought around sustainability and the opportunity the game has in setting new standards.
The growth of Women's Cricket and how to maximise the fast moving opportunities, was the key subject for the rest of the morning. Mel Jones led a panel conversation with Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Sana Mir and Alistair Dobson. Jones stayed on the stage to discuss the variation of cricket balls in the women’s game and calling for a review of their impact. This was followed by a presentation on the cricket bat industry from MCC Director of Cricket, Rob Lynch, supported by industry experts including willow producer JS Wright & Sons and leading bat manufacturer Kookaburra.MCC President Designate, Ed Smith gave a thought provoking keynote speech on Franchise Cricket, which fuelled the afternoon’s discussion. A wide variety of faces and voices in the room added to Smith’s imaginative and inspirational take on modern cricket’s ability to often amaze through its freedom of spirit.
Throughout the two days, technology was used to gather live feedback and data, so as to better inform decisions and outputs for the Connects Advisory Board to take forward.
Further meetings were held around the conference, not least the lunch gathering on Friday that engaged the CEOs of six major cricket leagues - SA20, CPL, ILT20, MLC, Big Bash and The Hundred. This was the first meeting of its kind.
Earlier today, the Advisory Board discussed outputs from the sessions as well as next steps. Cricket’s potential for growth was undoubtedly the most prominent talking point. In summary, the range of content from the meeting at the weekend has provided the Advisory Board with much to consider. The board will meet again in the coming weeks and draw conclusions which will be shared with ICC and cricket’s national governing bodies, many of whom were represented at the event. The aim of Connects is not to be a decision-maker but rather a facilitator with a view to assisting ICC’s ongoing work for the good of the game.
Speaking after World Cricket Connects, MCC Chair Mark Nicholas, said: “Cricket has seen massive growth and innovation over the last decade, and there is an overwhelming desire for this to continue. We are at an inflection point in the next phase of trajectory with new business models; the fast evolving advance of the women’s game and technological innovation all providing opportunities that we must embrace. From a uniquely neutral position in global cricket, MCC is able to host all the key stakeholders at Lord’s to consider the key issues of the moment and take suggestions forward to the ICC. The game must surely benefit from this.”
Former India captain, President of BCCI and Chair of ICC Cricket Committee, Sourav Ganguly, said: “It was a lovely event, with a lot of quality people in the room and a lot of quality discussions coming from many important stakeholders and from many parts of the world. MCC has done a great job in bringing us the new World Cricket Connects Advisory Board which will be able to draw conclusions from the meeting over the next few weeks and then, hopefully, take them forward to ICC.”
Chair of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board, Kumar Sangakkara, said: “It was a wonderful event bringing together diverse thought from stakeholders, not just in cricket but across sport, contributing new ideas and new thinking for the growth of the game.”
Former Australian player and broadcaster, Mel Jones said: “Focusing on the growth of the women’s game is huge – especially in the non-traditional cricketing countries – in fact, its amongst sport’s biggest growth opportunities as a whole. It is so important to bring people together, to have the debate, and hear the diversity of opinion. The women’s game still feels like a relatively blank canvas and we have a unique moment to shape it and avoid some of the issues the men’s game currently faces.”