ECB apologise for safeguarding failures in historic sex-abuse case but insists that its policies have “developed significantly”.
Following the release of a case review into the crimes of Michael Strange, a cricket coach serving a jail sentence for a string of sex offences against underage boys in the 1990s and early 2000s, the ECB has expressed regret for previous safeguarding failures but maintains that its policies have “developed significantly” over the past 20 years.
Strange, 65, was found guilty of 34 different crimes between 1993 and 2004 involving ten different victims. He was first sentenced in 2012 and is still incarcerated.
When the accusations initially surfaced in 2005, the ECB suspended him from all cricket activities, and in April 2006, he was permanently barred from all cricket-related activities.
Strange was described as “definitively, a sexual predator” in a 47-page case review by the Cricket Regulator. He was also described as “a compelling, charismatic and persuasive orator” who was able to persuade both adults and children that he could help them achieve their goals in the sport because he was a county-level coach.
The case is similar to that of Barry Bennell, a former Manchester City scout and football coach for Crewe Alexandra, who passed away in 2023 while incarcerated on 50 counts of historical child sexual assault in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. He also exerted pressure on his victims who want to pursue a career in their sport by using his influence.
Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, said: “Everyone should be able to take part in cricket safely, and our first thoughts today are with the people who were harmed by Michael Strange. We are sorry this happened to you within our sport.
“It is more than 20 years since Strange was suspended from cricket and while the review recognises that safeguarding understanding, policies and practices have developed significantly since then – within cricket and across society more widely – we will never be complacent. This review highlights the importance of everyone being able to recognise concerning behaviour, and to act upon it.
“We are constantly developing and strengthening our safeguarding work as well as the education we deliver across the game, and the review’s findings and recommendations will inform our continuing work. By learning from this appalling case, we can keep people safer today.”