ECB apologise for protecting failures in sex-abuse case

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has issued a public apology following the release of a damaging case review into the crimes of former cricket coach Michael Strange, who was convicted of multiple sexual offences against underage boys.

Accepting past failures of safeguarding, the ECB stressed that its policies and understanding of player protection have changed significantly over the past two decades. The apology comes following the governing body facing immense criticism over how such cases were handled in the past and what reforms have been put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Strange is serving a lengthy prison sentence for 34 sexual offences committed between 1993 and 2004, involving ten victims. The ECB first suspended him in 2005 when allegations surfaced and permanently banned him from all cricketing activities in 2006. The recently published 47-page review by the Cricket Regulator described Strange as a sexual predator who used his charisma and authority as a county-level coach to exploit children and win the trust of adults. Notably, his actions bear a disturbing resemblance to the case of Barry Bennell, the former football coach convicted of child abuse.

"Everyone should be able to take part in cricket safely, and our first thoughts today are with the people who were harmed by Michael Strange. We are sorry this happened to you within our sport. It is more than 20 years since Strange was suspended from cricket and while the review recognises that safeguarding understanding, policies and practices have developed significantly since then - within cricket and across society more widely - we will never be complacent. This review highlights the importance of everyone being able to recognise concerning behaviour, and to act upon it. We are constantly developing and strengthening our safeguarding work as well as the education we deliver across the game, and the review's findings and recommendations will inform our continuing work. By learning from this appalling case, we can keep people safer today," the ECB’s Chief Executive, Richard Gould, said in a statement.

Director of the Cricket Regulator, Chris Haward, described Strange as a prolific offender, accepting the devastating impact of his crimes. He also thanked those who contributed to the review and reiterated that safeguarding remains at the heart of the Regulator’s work. The report included several recommendations pointed at improving education, awareness, and reporting mechanisms in grassroots and professional cricket.

The ECB has been working to strengthen its safeguarding framework, introducing mandatory training modules, anonymous reporting tools, and regular audits of local clubs. The board has insisted on these measures as part of a changing effort to create a culture where safety and accountability take priority over reputation management.