Big playing increase beyond the Test world

	The numbers playing the game continues to rise ... as, in this instance, in Hong Kong © Getty Images

The number of people actively participating in cricket outside the Test-playing countries increased 17% in 2007, according to the ICC.

The research, carried out by the ICC's development program, was collated from 33 Associate and 58 Affiliate members. It showed that there were 338,051 male and female players in those countries in 2007, an increase of 49,158 on the previous year. Since 2002, when there were 144,047 participants, there has been a 135% rise.

The ICC said that there were also marked increases in the number of grounds (up 5% year-on-year and 45% since 2002), qualified coaches (5% and 143% respectively) and qualified umpires (7% and 141%). There was also an increase in the number of full or part-time staff employed in Associate and Affiliate countries to 387, a rise of 31%.

"These are impressive figures and confirm that the ICC Development Program is heading in the right direction," said ICC global development manager Matthew Kennedy. "These figures are also evidence of the dedication and commitment of cricket-lovers around the world. It is a tribute to the local workers who have shown enormous devotion - in many instances unpaid - to the development of cricket within Associate and Affiliate member countries.

"Together with our members we will now look to build upon these results to ensure that the growth and improvement of cricket outside of the ICC's Test-playing nations in sustained in the long term."

Scotland was heralded as an area which typified the increasing participation. There were 25,476 participants in 2007 compared to 9,649 in 2002. Figures from 2007 included 4,035 playing senior cricket and 21,441 involved at junior level.

Andy Tenant, Cricket Scotland's Head of Cricket, said: "Cricket Scotland is delighted that our significant investment in grass roots participation continues to bear fruit. In 2007 we had over 2,500 more boys and girls involved in our national introductory program which totalled over 16,000 participants, aged 7-9 in our schools. The number of primary schools with links to clubs also increased by 100 to 398. This also benefited our junior club membership which increased by 15% to nearly 4,500."

One of ICC's newer Affiliates, Suriname, in the Americas Region, recorded total participants of 12,750 in 2007 compared to 630 in 2006. In addition, 200 new coaches were educated at an introductory level.

ICC Americas Regional Development Manager Martin Vieira said: "Through an initiative between the Suriname Cricket Board and their National Education Ministry, some 200 teachers from 100 schools went through an ICC supported Introduction to Cricket training course last year. From this, 12,000 children have now been introduced to the game for the first time which is an outstanding achievement."

In the East-Asia Pacific region, Indonesia registered 6161 participants in 2007, a 34% increase from 2006 figures. Much of this increase can be attributed to a new development partnership with Tetra Pak, EcoBali and Ultrajaya Milk that saw the number of teams competing at junior level almost double last year.