Cricket Wales Celebrates Double Shortlisting at ECB’s Impact of Cricket Awards 2026

Cricket Wales is proud to announce that we have been shortlisted in two prestigious categories at the England and Wales Cricket (ECB) Board’s inaugural Impact of Cricket Awards 2026.

The ECB today revealed the shortlist for these groundbreaking awards, which shine a spotlight on the incredible impact of recreational cricket, celebrating the outstanding contributions of colleagues across the game who make a real difference in their communities. The winners will be unveiled at an awards evening on Wednesday 28 January 2026.

Victoria Jones – RISING STAR Nominee

We are immensely proud that Victoria Jones, our Facilities Lead, has been nominated in the Rising Star category, recognising a member of the executive team who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to deliver outstanding outcomes for their organisation, partners, and people.

Victoria embodies everything we stand for at Cricket Wales. Her work reflects our core values of Together, Lead, and Care in every decision she makes and every project she delivers. Since joining the team, Victoria has been instrumental in driving our vision to make Cricket A Sport For All across Wales.

Between 2023 and 2025, Victoria has led one of the most ambitious periods of development in Cricket Wales’ history, playing a pivotal role in delivering an unprecedented £6.25 million investment, a fivefold increase on previous years. This transformative investment has reshaped cricket infrastructure across Wales, creating facilities that welcome everyone into our game.

Her leadership has delivered:

13 new or refurbished outdoor practice facilities

10 non-turf pitches, making cricket more accessible year-round

17 climate resilience projects, future-proofing our clubs

Flagship developments including the inclusive pavilion at Gwersyllt Park, the £750,000 Torfaen facility, and the £11 million Swansea redevelopment

Victoria’s approach perfectly demonstrates our value of Together. She has forged strategic partnerships that maximise impact for clubs and communities, including a groundbreaking collaboration with the University of South Wales. Recognising that delivering change requires building capability, she has grown her own team by appointing two Club Development Partners, empowering others to lead alongside her.

Her commitment to Care shines through in her dedication to sustainability and inclusivity. Victoria has championed £600,000 in renewable energy projects and introduced innovative Pitch Power digital audits to help clubs understand and reduce their environmental impact.

Victoria’s ability to Lead is evident in everything she does. Combining technical expertise, strategic vision, and authentic leadership, she delivers results of remarkable scale and significance.

Her work directly advances our vision that cricket should be accessible to all, regardless of background, gender, or ability. Every facility she develops, every partnership she forges, and every policy she influences brings us closer to making that vision a reality.

Cricket Wales – INNOVATION Nominee

Cricket Wales has also been nominated in the Innovation category, which recognises those who think differently and celebrate new ways of delivering outcomes that create meaningful organisational or community impact.

The Cricket Wales Pilot Sustainability Project

Our nomination celebrates the Cricket Wales Pilot Sustainability Project, a pioneering initiative that demonstrates how clear planning and expert support can drive real change at grassroots level.

Community cricket clubs are the heartbeat of our game, but rising energy costs and climate concerns threaten their sustainability. We knew we needed an innovative approach to support clubs in reducing both their carbon footprint and their overheads.

Working Together with four pilot clubs in Torfaen, we provided each with a comprehensive on-site energy audit covering heating, lighting, insulation, and overall efficiency. We reviewed 12 months of energy bills to calculate accurate carbon footprints, establishing a baseline of 62.95 tonnes of CO₂e annually across the four clubs.

But we didn’t stop at data. We cared enough to provide bespoke action plans and supported clubs with targeted improvements and investment to make meaningful change achievable.

The results have been transformational:

22-tonne annual reduction in CO₂e emissions

£25,102 per year in energy cost savings, a game-changing financial benefit for community cricket clubs.

The success of this pilot has inspired wider action. We have commissioned 15 additional energy audits for clubs with the largest memberships, with similar savings expected. Our ambition is clear: by 2027, every Cricket Wales club with a building will have completed an energy audit and be working toward net zero.

Through our Leadership, we’ve established collaboration with the Welsh Government Decarbonisation Team, ensuring clubs can access resources, sign the Green Pledge, and receive ongoing guidance on their sustainability journey.

This project proves that meaningful climate action is possible at grassroots level. It didn’t just deliver data, it delivered a blueprint for lasting change that reduces emissions, lowers costs, and creates a sustainable future for cricket in Wales.

Barry Cawte, Cricket Wales CEO, expresses his pride in Victoria and the wider Cricket Wales team: “This is a well-deserved nomination for Victoria. She goes above and beyond, and her knowledge and expertise are a real asset to everyone involved in cricket in Wales. We are extremely proud of this nomination and the Innovation Award nomination for our Sustainability project.

“These nominations showcase how our values of Together, Lead, and Care drive everything we do at Cricket Wales.

“Both nominations advance our mission to make Cricket A Sport For All, creating accessible, sustainable, welcoming facilities and environments where everyone can enjoy our wonderful game. We now look forward to the awards evening on Wednesday 28 January 2026, where winners will be celebrated for their exceptional contributions to recreational cricket.

“Regardless of the outcome, we are incredibly proud of Victoria Jones and everyone involved in our sustainability project. These nominations validate our approach, our values, and our unwavering commitment to making cricket truly accessible and sustainable for all communities across Wales.”

Llongyfarchiadau!

Ends