The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is facing mounting criticism over its transgender policy in grassroots cricket, following revelations it organised training by a controversial trans activist group.
The ECB, which banned transgender women from professional cricket last October, continues to allow them to compete in women's amateur matches.
Weeks after introducing the policy, The Telegraph have reported that the governing body arranged training sessions by Gendered Intelligence, a group that has opposed government restrictions on puberty blockers for under-18s.
Female players, parents and cricket officials across the country have voiced concerns about safety and fairness in the women's game.
There are currently no rules to stop trans players from competing at grassroots level in cricket
PA
The organisation receives millions in public funding, including a portion of its £300 million annual revenue from Sport England.
In a December 4 online seminar titled "Trans & Non-Binary Inclusion in Recreational Cricket," the ECB advised coaches to avoid terms like "boys" and "ladies," suggesting alternatives such as "players" and "folks."
The training, delivered by Gendered Intelligence, included guidance stating that participants should be allowed to choose facilities that are "the best fit for them."
The group's subsequent document claimed it was a "myth" that trans women are "disproportionately tall, heavy and strong, and dangerous to play with or against."
The guidance further asserted that "neither safety nor fairness are absolute, and both are contextual."
Gendered Intelligence advised against using testosterone levels as eligibility criteria, stating that "significant physical diversity is inherently part of grassroots sport."
The group did not respond to questions about their involvement.
A young female cricketer has described her experience facing a 6ft 4in trans player, Maxine Blythin, in a women's match.
The 5ft 5in player, who requested anonymity, said: "This person was very imposing. During the warm-ups, you start seeing them bowling and then hitting in the nets, then you see this is a biological man and the difference in power."
"It's very demoralising to see girls who want to end up in the England women's squad losing opportunities," she added.
A mother of a 13-year-old girl reported her daughter may quit cricket over the policy.
"My concern is that it's always the boys who are identifying into the girls game and women have fought very hard over the years for single-sex sport," the mother said.
The ECB has defended its grassroots policy through a "Disparity Policy" introduced in 2023, meant to address safety concerns in matches with significant differences between players.
READ MORE: F1 salaries revealed including Lewis Hamilton's dizzying Ferrari contract
Parents are concerned over the policies and have admitted their children might have to quit cricket as a result
PA
The policy suggests officials should take steps such as "requesting that a stronger player exercise caution" or requiring protective equipment.
However, cricket officials have branded these guidelines unworkable in practice.
A county cricket board member employed by the ECB, speaking anonymously, called it "totally unrealistic" to expect volunteer umpires to enforce these rules.
"If you turn up to see that the opposition has got what looks like a man on the team, it is very difficult, particularly in today's climate," she said.
Those raising concerns say the ECB has refused to consider policy revisions.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
The ECB have come under fire for allowing controversial trans group Gender Intelligence conduct seminars
PA
Questions have also emerged about the extent of the ECB's consultation process, with campaign group SEEN in Sport saying details were not provided despite requests.
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has called for government intervention if the ECB continues to ignore demands to extend its trans ban to grassroots cricket.
"It's so disappointing that the ECB won't listen to women and girls who are telling them there is a serious problem here," Davies said.
She added: "I hear from distraught parents worried about their girls facing male fast bowlers and powerful batting. It's just not fair and sometimes it's not safe."
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters, criticised the ECB's approach to trans inclusion.
"Why is a sporting body listening to an activist organisation that recommends letting men access women's changing rooms and play in women's teams?" she said.
"The message to women and girls from the ECB is that the feelings of men who identify as women come first," McAnena added.
