The England & Wales Cricket Board have suffered a blow in their efforts to widen the reach of the game among children and families, with the news that Matt Dwyer, their highly rated director of growth and participation, is leaving to take up a new role in tennis administration in his native Australia.
Dwyer, who joined the ECB in 2015 from a similar role with Cricket Australia, was the prime mover behind All Stars Cricket, an initiative which was rolled out last summer in a bid to attract more five- to eight-year-olds to get involved with the game.
Approximately 37,000 children were enrolled in the scheme last year, with a further 20,000 so far signed up for 2018, following this year’s launch which took place at Edgbaston earlier this week.
Dwyer was a key influence at the ECB as they look to reframe the sport in England and Wales ahead of the launch of the new-team T20 in 2020. During his time at Cricket Australia, he championed the Big Bash as a means to growth spectator interest and participation levels, and was also involved in setting up the MILO kids cricket scheme, the template that was adapted for All Stars Cricket.
He is now set to return to his home city of Melbourne in July to become Chief Tennis Officer at Tennis Australia.
“It’s sad news for the ECB but it’s a great role for Matt,” an ECB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s a great opportunity for him to work in tennis from grassroots to elite levels, and also to move back home with his family.
“All the work that he’s done to this point, from All Stars Cricket through the regional and county boards, leave us in a position to go from strength to strength, and he leaves with our very best wishes.”
“We are delighted to welcome Matt to tennis and believe his impeccable sporting credentials and sound business experience will help us continue to grow the sport at all levels,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said.
“We welcome Matt’s proven leadership skills in both sport and business to this new executive role which will oversee the two major pillars of our sport, participation and performance.”
Source: ESPN Crickinfo