In September 2018, we embarked on a collaboratively funded project (Birmingham City University, Warwickshire County Cricket Club, and Essex County Cricket Club) to enhance our understanding of how ethnicity—specifically British South Asian (BSA)—influences talent identification, selection, and development in male cricket. These findings have been pivotal in informing policy and practice in cricket, such as supporting Azim Rafiq during his parliamentary hearing on racism in cricket, featuring on many news outlets and documentaries, informing the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report (and the England and Wales Cricket Board’s [ECB] response), and, importantly, impetus for the creation of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA).
SACA is a UK-based initiative aimed at increasing the representation of BSA cricketers in the professional game, and is playing a key role in the ECBs response to the ICEC report. Established in 2021 by Dr Thomas Brown, with the support of Professor Adam L. Kelly and Birmingham City University, SACA was founded in response to the aforementioned research highlighting the significant underrepresentation of BSA players in First-Class County professional cricket—despite high participation rates at both the recreational and academy levels. The purpose of SACA is to provide a structured pathway for talented South Asian cricketers who have been overlooked by traditional county academies. The programme offers high-performance coaching, competitive match opportunities, and access to sports science and conditioning support, helping players bridge the gap to professional contracts. It also works closely with county clubs to showcase players and advocate for a more inclusive talent identification process. Since its launch, one of SACA’s key achievements has been helping a remarkable 14 players secure professional county contracts, including Jafer Chohan who subsequently went on to represent England at international level—demonstrating that many South Asian cricketers possess the ability to compete at the highest levels when given the right opportunities.
SACA and Birmingham City University continue to break down barriers in cricket by partnering with the sport’s national governing body and a number of leading United Kingdom charities, in order to make the game more accessible for players from Black and Asian backgrounds. Having already demonstrated its commitment to inclusion in the game with its pioneering work with the SACA, Birmingham City University plans to expand its influence by launching a new research project backed by the ECB. As well as Birmingham City University, the ECB, and SACA, the project also involves Take Her Lead and the African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) programme—two charities who work to provide more opportunities in cricket for underrepresented groups across the United Kingdom. The aim of the initiative is to create more equal cricket talent systems that support young Black and Asian athletes across the United Kingdom, especially females.
The initiative, named the ‘BESTA Project’, is one of the driving projects for the Research Lab for Athlete and Youth Sport Development (RAYSD Lab) at BCU, which launched in January 2024. Chevy Green, Director of Programmes for ACE, said: “We want to create environments where young people can be themselves in a space that accepts them. It’s great to be part of this project to diversify talent pathways to include more South Asian and African Caribbean cricketers, as well as other unrepresented groups. The BESTA project builds on the work of Dr Thomas Brown, whose research led to the creation of the highly impactful SACA programme.
Project 1: Talent Identification and Development of British South Asian Women and Girls in Cricket
Led by Professor Adam L. Kelly and PhD student Hina Shafi, this project aims to deepen the understanding of the talent identification and development process in female elite youth cricket, with a particular focus on the recruitment and retention of BSA cricketers in England and Wales. The study seeks to uncover the factors contributing to the underrepresentation of BSA female players in elite cricket compared to recreational levels. Recent research by the ECB in the Talent Pathway Action Plan revealed a consistent decline in ethnic diversity as players advance through the girls’ pathway. This points to a critical need for interventions at transition points within the pathway to ensure better representation. This demographic imbalance is also reflected at the professional level, where BSA players make up only 3.1% of the overall professional player base. The goal of this project is to develop strategies and inform policy changes that will help BSA women achieve their full potential in cricket.
Project 2: How Do Recruiters Identify and Select Talented Cricket Players?
Led by Professor Adam L. Kelly and PhD student Omar Green, this project aims to enhance our understanding of the youth cricket talent pathway and support coaches in player identification and selection processes. The research will outline any existing issues within the pathway and propose solutions to create more equitable opportunities for all players. Additionally, the project seeks to develop tools for coaches to approach identification and selection with a holistic perspective. The study builds on the findings of the ICEC report, which highlighted that the current talent pathway is neither fair nor just. The report recommends a comprehensive overhaul of the structure to make it more meritocratic, inclusive, accountable, transparent, and consistent. Furthermore, this project aligns with the objectives of the Making Cricket a More Inclusive Report, aiming to develop and implement best practices for player recruitment processes across England and Wales. Through this project, the aim is to learn together to create a more equitable talent pathway structure and selection process, ensuring fair opportunities for all players to achieve their potential.
