The ECA executive is committed to providing more opportunities for girls and women to play competitive cricket. This week we took the long-overdue step of removing the word "Boys" from the name of each of the ECA junior grades. Girls have competed in the ECA junior program for many years, and will play in the competition into the future.
We believe this formal acknowledgement of the reality of our junior competition sends a strong message to girls that they are welcome and they and their families are an equally important part of our Association.
The pathway continues to improve for girls and women this season in the ECA and it is pleasing the standalone Eastern Girls and Women's competitions are growing. This season there are 43 teams in our Girls competition and 11 teams in the social section and five in the A grade of the Womens competition.
We encourage our clubs to follow the ECA's lead and make a change to the name of their respective junior teams that currently include the word "Boys" and this would support and make girls continue to feel more welcome to play in our Junior competition.
Neil Dalrymple
President, Eastern Cricket Association
