English cricket prepares for release of ICEC report

English cricket is bracing for the publication of an extensive report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) on Tuesday, the day before England Men's second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's.

The commission was instigated more than two-and-a-half years ago in response to the murder of George Floyd in police custody and the Black Lives Matter movement, which prompted numerous claims of institutional racism within English cricket.

Cindy Butts, the ICEC's chair, said last October that the commission had "captured the lived experiences" of more than 4000 people involved in cricket, met with "over 70 individuals and organisations" and collected "over 550 documents from cricketing bodies and experts".

Butts added: "As a commission we have been humbled by the level of courage demonstrated by so many who want to help the game to be equitable, diverse and inclusive."

The report's publication takes place on the same day as Yorkshire's sanctions hearing at the International Arbitration Centre, after the club admitted four breaches of ECB Directive 3.3 - which relates to bringing "the game of cricket… into disrepute".

Ollie Pope, England's vice-captain, said that the team were conscious of trying to make the game as inclusive as possible. "The next guys, doing what we're doing now in 20 years, we want to have the whole country to choose from, not just a certain group of people," Pope said. "That's something we talk about as a team and are aware of.

"I think it is [an inclusive sport] but I think there is a lot more we can keep doing as players as well. As an England team, we're in a great position where we have got all eyes on us. It is definitely something we're aware of and definitely something we can keep driving forward especially.

"We have seen that over the last year or so. Hopefully as a team we can keep doing what we can over the next year or two to keep promoting that, because it is a sport for everyone and I think it definitely, 100 percent, should be."

The report will be published in full on the ICEC's website on Tuesday.