By Shaun Murphy-
The England and Wales Cricket Board is setting up an internally-led review into a former Durham coach, who has admitted sexually assaulting a teenage player after being convicted of similar offences against young cricketers on four previous occasions.
On Wednesday, Michael Strange, 63, appeared via a video link from prison for a 10-minute hearing at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court and admitted a single indecent assault charge on a 14-year-old in the Tyne and Wear area in the late 1990s.
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Strange has now admitted or been convicted on five separate occasions of abusing young players he was coaching at two clubs in the north east, and was most recently sentenced in January 2022.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Strange, now overweight, was held in high regard by young players for his cricketing prowess, but abused their trust and, in this case, would invite his victim to his home to watch pornographic films, or to remote locations, where he would abuse him.
The ECB’s internal review will be done by the organization’s safeguarding team. In December 2022, the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit, who audit national governing bodies annually, concluded the ECB is meeting the unit’s safeguarding standards.
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An ECB spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with all victims of Michael Strange and we applaud their bravery in coming forwards.
“The ECB suspended Michael Strange from all cricket activity in May 2005, as soon as he was arrested and we were informed of the allegations, and he was permanently disqualified from all cricket activity in April 2006.
“We have been working with statutory partners in the area over recent months to discuss how the ECB can gain a full understanding of Strange’s offending behaviour.
“Through this co-operation, the ECB has been able to obtain some limited information about the offences. While victims retain their lifetime right to anonymity, the police have extended an offer to all victims to speak to the ECB should they wish to contact us.
“While statutory partners do not believe a complex case practice review is warranted, the ECB is now scoping an internally-led review to establish further information about the environment in which Strange committed his offences within cricket, and how this informs ECB safeguarding strategy.”
On Wednesday, Michael Strange, 63, appeared via a video link from prison for a 10-minute hearing at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court and admitted a single indecent assault charge on a 14-year-old in the Tyne and Wear area in the late 1990s.
Strange has now admitted or been convicted on five separate occasions of abusing young players he was coaching at two clubs in the north east, and was most recently sentenced in January 2022.
We have been working with statutory partners in the area over recent months to discuss how the ECB can gain a full understanding of Strange’s offending behaviour”
The sport is facing a crisis following scandal after scandal. In March, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was criticized after it decided not to publish a report into a former Essex coach who secretly filmed female players in changing rooms.
Police found more than 3,500 images and videos of child abuse after raiding Hyam’s home in Stansted Mountfitchet.
Matthew Hyam was sent to prison for two years and four months in September 2021 after admitting charges of making and taking indecent images of children. The ECB commissioned an independent review into Hyam.
It said it decided not to publish it in case it identified his victims.
Hyam oversaw the women’s and girls’ set-up at Essex County Cricket Club until his arrest in 2020.
Only last month, a landmark report stated that English Cricket suffers from “widespread and deep-rooted” racism, sexism, elitism and class-based discrimination at all levels of the game and urgently needs reform, a landmark report has found.
The 317-page report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (Icec), which drew on evidence from more than 4,000 players, coaches, administrators and fans, also urges the sport to also face up to the fact “that it’s not banter or just a few bad apples” causing the problems.
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