Welcome to the 37th Issue of Beyond the Boundaries. In a sport that never stands still, the last 12 months have seen many landmark moments in the history of English cricket with the commencement of the tiered system in the women’s game and private owners investing in The Hundred.
As a sport, we should be excited for the next chapter of The Hundred with further opportunities for players. With increased resources, it is fair to say the tournament is the fastest growing franchise competition outside of the IPL.
In 2026 we will see the first player auction in a major sport in this country and a 45 and 100 per cent increase in salaries in the men’s and women’s competitions respectively. However, there is still progress that needs to be made, especially bridging the gender pay gap and increasing base salaries.
We are also set to welcome Yorkshire Women to Tier 1 next summer, making them the ninth team in the professional setup, the latest expansion since the introduction of professionalism in the women’s game in 2021. You can hear more from Lauren Winfield-Hill, Sterre Kalis and Maddie Ward about their experiences and expectations for next summer and beyond from page 50.
We are also currently in the midst of a very important international winter. I want to wish the England Men all the very best for the ongoing Ashes and the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Ahead of four career defining months, we chat with fast bowler Mark Wood who shares his frustrations of missing the summer through injury, his road to fitness and aims for the future in our cover story.
England Women’s winter has already ended after reaching the semi-final of the Cricket World Cup. Linsey Smith played a major role in the competition, and she discusses how she became a leading light in the team and how she found out about earning her first Central Contract from page 38.
In this feature-rich magazine, we also have the new Warwickshire all-rounder Jordan Thompson penning down a first-person blog covering his move from Yorkshire to the Bears, unearthing some of the realities that take place in the world of county transfers from page 22.
I wanted to also mention the Cricketers’ Trust and the impact it has had upon one of the game’s fiercest leaders. Former Warwickshire captain Dermot Reeve shares his story with addiction and how the players’ charity has provided him with a second chance. Enjoy Beyond The Boundaries.
Daryl Mitchell
PCA Chief Executive
