'Rooted Sexism': ICEC Reports Lord's Fails To Welcome Women's Tests

The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) has raised a resounding alarm over the lack of representation for England Women's cricket at the prestigious Lord's Cricket Ground. 

In a comprehensive 317-page report released on Tuesday, the ICEC condemned the fact that England Women have never been granted the opportunity to play a Test match at the iconic venue, boldly asserting that the self-proclaimed "home of cricket" remains predominantly a domain for men.

The report sheds light on the significant public role played by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the private members' club that owns Lord's. The ICEC decries recent decisions made by MCC members, arguing that these choices have publicly signalled a particular set of values held by the club.

Central to the ICEC's recommendations is the discontinuation of the annual Eton-Harrow and Oxford-Cambridge fixtures at Lord's after 2023. The commission proposes that these events be replaced with a national Under-15 state school finals' day, encompassing both boys and girls, as well as a national university finals' day for men's and women's teams.

By doing so, the ICEC seeks to address the glaring inequality perpetuated by providing an exclusive opportunity to a select few privileged schoolboys while denying millions of children the chance to play at Lord's. 

The ICEC's report unabashedly challenges certain traditions that it believes have become incongruous with contemporary Britain. The Oxford and Cambridge match is specifically cited as an example of elitism that reinforces the privileged position of a handful of institutions, effectively barring the vast majority of school pupils from participation.

Startlingly, since winning the 2017 World Cup final at Lord's, the England Women's team has had the opportunity to play at the iconic ground on just one occasion in any format. However, they are set to return on July 8 for the third T20I of the ongoing Ashes series.

In stark contrast, England Men have played at least two Tests and one limited-overs international at Lord's every year since 2000, barring the pandemic-affected 2020 summer.

The ICEC brings attention to the successful challenge mounted by MCC members against the club's committee decision to relocate the "historic fixtures'' away from Lord's. The report suggests that while MCC is a private members' club, it also enjoys substantial financial support from the general public through ticket sales for major matches, along with the accompanying publicity and prestige. 

Consequently, the ICEC argues that those advocating for the continuation of these historic fixtures fail to comprehend the detrimental effect their stance has on the reputation of MCC and Lords in the eyes of the public. These decisions only reinforce the perception that MCC members are out of touch, elitist, and unrepresentative of the wider population and the cricketing community.

Moreover, the report highlights Lord's as the sole major venue in the country that prohibits the use of musical instruments, an example of the authorities' efforts to sanitise the atmosphere at the grounds. The ICEC contends that this ban disproportionately impacts ethnically diverse communities, particularly those from Caribbean backgrounds.

Ultimately, the ICEC's report serves as a powerful indictment of the status quo, revealing the persistent gender bias and elitism that continues to plague the heart of cricket. At a time when the sport is striving to become more inclusive, the decisions made at Lord's, the supposed "home of cricket," undermine progress and tarnish the reputation of both MCC and the venue itself. It is incumbent upon the cricketing community to acknowledge these failings and take decisive steps towards rectifying the inequality that prevails in the sport. 

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