As the season approaches its finishing point the pathway team wanted to share a recent update with regards to the future of girls' regional cricket.

Currently all four regions (Cricket Wales North, South, East & West) operate U11, U13 & U15 teams thanks to the continued growth of the girls game at recreational level. From the 2024/25 winter the regional programme and beyond the current age groups will be adjusted to U12, U14 & U16.

This means that those girls currently in U15 cricket have another year left yet.

Whilst the change doesn’t materially impact winter programming it has been made to align with what we believe the direction of travel is likely to be around County Age Group girls cricket in the near future. The ECB have not confirmed this change as of yet and are not quite in a position to do so but given the exciting developments in the professional game – when Glamorgan will have a women’s team from 2027 – we want to ensure we are giving ourselves the best chance to be suitably prepared.

With that in mind, whilst we can’t mandate this change in your respective areas we would strongly encourage and recommend a similar adjustment is followed both at club and junior league level to ensure as much alignment across Wales as possible.

Of course if you have any queries initially about this, you are welcome to contact Head of Talent Pathway Matt Dando-Thompson at Cricket Wales.