Cricket clubs would be nothing without their volunteers. From rolling the wicket to coaching the juniors to making the sandwiches, over the years the recreational game has benefited massively from the actions of those who give up their free time to contribute to keeping cricket clubs running.

With another season behind us and a long winter ahead, clubs will already be casting an eye to 2027. Many take things one season at a time, hoping that players and volunteers alike will return again come April, ready to commit another summer to the game they love.

To help clubs successfully transition from this season to the next, the ECB is offering a range of resources as part of their Close of Play campaign to help clubs successfully wrap up their summer and prepare for next year. Clubs are encouraged to focus on four pillars: Playing Offer, People, Places, and Practices, and evaluate what worked, what didn’t and what they have learned.

Volunteers fall under the People pillar, and should be celebrated and rewarded for the contributions they make to their clubs. The Close of Play resources outline how clubs can do this, from why it’s important to celebrate volunteers, to factors that need to be considered, and how and when it is best to show this appreciation. There is also an action planner available, designed to take club committees and/or project teams through the key actions in showing appreciation to their volunteers in a meaningful way.

A number of brilliant individuals from across the country have been highlighted by the Close of Play campaign for the time and effort they have put into their local cricketing communities over the course of the 2026 season.

One is Debayan Day, an aspiring umpire from the Cheshire Association of Cricket Officials. With support from the Cheshire ACO and The Hundred Rising programme (an ECB talent initiative), he had the opportunity to attend a Hundred match at Headingley earlier this year. There he was able to spend time alongside on-field umpires, the TV umpire, fourth umpire and match referee, which provided a unique insight into elite-level officiating, discussing match preparation, decision-making, communication, teamwork and the technology supporting modern officiating.

“From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this wasn't simply about watching cricket; it was about understanding what it really takes to officiate at the highest level,” Day said of his trip to Headingley. “One of the highlights of the day was spending time with Rob, the TV umpire, who explained how television decisions are reviewed, how communication works between the on-field umpires and the TV umpire, and the importance of staying calm and accurate under pressure. It was a fascinating glimpse into an area of officiating that most people never get to experience.

“We also had the privilege of meeting Hassan, the fourth umpire, and Phil, the match referee, who talked us through their esponsibilities before and during the match. Walking onto the field before play, observing the pitch and wicket inspections, discussing match-day preparations and even learning about the technology behind the LED bails that illuminate when the wicket is put down made the whole experience feel incredibly special.”

The experience proved a great inspiration for Day, who left even more excited to continue his umpiring journey.

“Having completed my M4 observation this season, this experience has given me even greater motivation to continue progressing through the ECB umpiring pathway. My goal is to keep learning, continue developing and, step by step, work towards the next levels of officiating.

“This season has genuinely been one of the highlights of my cricketing journey. The excellent CPD sessions delivered by Inge, the encouragement and support from Barrie, the leadership of Martin, the guidance from Ian Greensmith, Ian Goldstone, AJ and the welcoming nature of the wider Cheshire ACO community have all played a significant role in my development. As someone relatively new to umpiring, I've always felt encouraged, supported and inspired to keep improving.”

Someone else who deserves recognition is Isaac Kavanagh. He started Hampshire Cricket Board's Hampshire Champions young leaders programme and is also a valued member of the Fareham Super 1s hub, where he supports, coaches and helps newer or less confident participants feel welcome. Outside of Super 1s, he regularly scores for Hayling Island’s men’s team and has recently been named captain of the under-15 team at Portchester Cricket Club where he also helps lead the Dynamos sessions for eight-11-year-olds.

Another is Amanda Bevan from Locks Heath Cricket Club in Portsmouth. She’s dedicated a lot of time behind the scenes, including focusing her time on identifying and applying for grant funding to support the club’s women’s and girls’ section. To date, she has successfully secured £14,000 in funding from a range of sources, including the ECB, Tesco Blue Tokens and HIWCF. This funding has helped the club resurface its outdoor nets and purchase essential new equipment for the under-11 girls’ and W10 teams, including training stumps, bats, balls, catching nets and kit bags, enabling the club to provide free indoor training sessions for women and girls during the winter as a result.

The first big opportunity for clubs to encourage volunteering next season is the annual Get Set Weekend, powered by Toyota, that will take place across Saturday April 3 and Sunday April 4, providing clubs with an opportunity to bring volunteers, players and supporters back together ahead of the new season.

All of the Close of Play resources can be found and downloaded via the Cricket Collective website at www.cricketcollective.zendesk.com.