The ACT has recorded a whopping 24% increase in junior cricket registrations since 2020/2021 the Australian Cricket Census revealed this week, bucking the national trend that has seen only a 2.5% increase over the same period.
In addition, Cricket ACT (CACT) has overseen a 68% increase in female participation compared to pre-COVID 2019/2020 numbers, a long way ahead of next best, South Australia, with 35%.
CACT Community Cricket Lead Adrian Brunker said the results were a wonderful result for all the hard work that has gone into welcoming people back into cricket in the first uninterrupted season post-COVID.
“It’s great to see so many kids and adults – and especially women and girls – flooding to cricket. The work we are putting into delivering sustainable cricket activities and programs to the community via schools and clubs is paying off in the best possible way,” Brunker said.
CACT CEO Olivia Thornton is similarly pleased to see the ACT continuing to punch well above its weight when it comes to cricket participation in Australia.
“The Australian Cricket Census is yet more proof that cricket is a huge part of life in the ACT and surrounding regions.
“These tremendous participation figures underline the popularity of the game locally, while also strengthening our case to push further with our national elite cricket ambitions,” Thornton said.
Woolworths Cricket Blast and junior cricket registrations are already enjoying big increases on the back of The Ashes Series in England, and kids and parents can find a local program or their local club via the Play Cricket website.
Key Australian Cricket Census figures for the ACT:
- Junior registrations up 24% since 2020/2021 (nationally +2.5% for the same period).
- South Asian participation is up 49% for 5-12-year-old boys and a massive 121% for
5-12-year-old girls. - Among nearly 13,000 total registered participants, junior club participation is up 17%
since 2021/2022, and social cricket (e.g., Sunday and other comps run by external
providers) is up 89% since 2021/2022.