ECB: The England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is the governing body for cricket in England and Wales, formed in 1997. This guide covers its structure, responsibilities and its role in the global cricket landscape.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is the governing body for cricket in England and Wales, formed in 1997 when the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB), the National Cricket Association (NCA) and the Cricket Council merged into a single governing body. The ECB administers all levels of cricket from grassroots to the England national teams — men's, women's and age-group — and oversees the 18 first-class counties, the domestic competition calendar, player contracts and development pathways. It is one of the three most commercially significant cricket boards alongside the BCCI and Cricket Australia.
ECB's Commercial Structure
The ECB's primary commercial revenues come from England's television rights — broadcast deals with Sky Sports (pay-TV) and Channel 4 (free-to-air) for Test cricket. The introduction of The Hundred in 2021 added a new commercial asset, with Disney+ acquiring streaming rights for The Hundred alongside terrestrial coverage. The ECB distributes revenues to county cricket through a complex formula that balances central income (from international cricket) with county-specific revenues (from domestic competitions and their own commercial activities). The ECB's revenue model has been criticised for over-reliance on Sky's pay-TV subscription model for Test cricket.
ECB's Role in the ICC
The ECB, alongside the BCCI and Cricket Australia, is one of the 'Big Three' boards that collectively contribute a disproportionate share of ICC revenues and have historically exercised significant influence over ICC governance. England's position as the game's historical home (the MCC writes and maintains the Laws of Cricket) and the ECB's role as a founding member of the Imperial Cricket Conference (now ICC) gives it cultural authority in the game. The ECB has co-hosted multiple World Cups and has been a key advocate for the spread of women's cricket and grassroots cricket development.
Frequently asked questions
When was the ECB formed?
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was formed in January 1997, merging the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB), the National Cricket Association (NCA) and the Cricket Council into a single unified governing body. Before 1997, English cricket was administered by multiple separate bodies with different remits.
What competitions does the ECB organise?
The ECB organises England's international cricket, the County Championship, the T20 Blast, the One-Day Cup (50-over domestic competition), The Hundred, the Women's Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (domestic 50-over), the Women's T20 Cup, and various regional and age-group competitions. It also administers grassroots cricket development through its County Cricket Boards.
How does the ECB support county cricket?
The ECB distributes central revenues (from broadcast rights and ICC distributions) to the 18 first-class counties and also to minor counties and grassroots bodies. Counties also earn their own revenues from ticket sales, sponsorship and domestic competition participation. The financial relationship between the ECB and counties has been a source of tension, particularly over The Hundred's revenue model.