Cricket Scotland is again under scrutiny after a new report highlighted serious concerns about the governing body’s culture and attitudes towards women.
It follows a damning review, published in 2022, that found the organization was institutionally racist.
The latest assessment, carried out by McKinney HR and commissioned by Cricket Scotland, has dealt another blow to the governing body.
It concluded that women have been “treated differently than their male counterparts” and that “women’s specific needs are often ignored or not taken into account.” This, she said, pointed to a “sustained inequality across cricket in Scotland”.
It also found that sexism was “very evident” within the sport in Scotland, stating that “outdated attitudes and behaviors towards women in the game are still prevalent, particularly at club level.”
Trudy Lindblade, recently appointed chief executive of Cricket Scotland (pictured), was scathing about what was discovered. She issued a statement which read, in part: “It is clear that Cricket Scotland allowed disrespectful, degrading and deeply worrying behavior to occur, and that it was allowed to continue for a significant period.”
Additionally, there was a “high degree of prejudice and discrimination towards staff and players, with “many examples of disrespect in the use of inappropriate language and behavior directed at women.”
Trudy Lindblade, recently appointed chief executive of Cricket Scotland, was scathing about what was discovered.
“This report is a damning indictment of the treatment of players and staff within our organization,” she said in a statement. ‘It is clear that Cricket Scotland allowed disrespectful, degrading and deeply worrying behavior to occur, and that it was allowed to continue for a significant period.
‘This is completely unacceptable and I sincerely apologize to everyone who was affected and let down by the governing body.
‘This report also highlights the enormous amount of work we need to do across cricket in Scotland to improve the position of women and girls in our sport.
“We are committed to making the governing body and our sport welcoming and safe for all women and girls, and together with our regional associations and clubs we will work collectively to ensure that there is no place for misogyny, sexism or discrimination of any kind.” type within our sport. Our new strategy, due to be published shortly, will put the health and growth of women’s and girls’ cricket at the forefront.
‘A number of the McKinney Report’s recommendations are already underway, but there is still a lot of work to be done by Cricket Scotland, our regions and our clubs to achieve the change that is needed.
‘Cricket Scotland now has a robust disciplinary and complaints process in place, and I strongly urge anyone who has been affected by the findings of the report and who feels they need to make a complaint to use this process. “These newly established processes demonstrate that Cricket Scotland is capable of handling matters in a transparent and considered manner.”
The 35-page report looked at behaviours, cultures and practices within Cricket Scotland, both before the publication of the Changing the Boundaries report in 2022 and in the two years since. It covered culture and inclusion, leadership, general behaviours, working practices and wellbeing, psychological safety and sexism and misogyny.
Forty-five people were contacted to participate, and 24 took up the offer to provide feedback. This included current Cricket Scotland staff and players, as well as former employees. When asked about behaviors that existed before 2022, one respondent described the culture as “toxic,” while another indicated that “the damage from that era is significant and long-lasting.” The respondent added: “I get excited just thinking about it.”
The latest evaluation concluded that women have been “treated differently than their male counterparts” and that “women’s specific needs are often ignored or not taken into account.” This, she said, pointed to a “sustained inequality across cricket in Scotland” (file photo)
Mail Sport highlighted these issues in an exclusive 2022 report, having spoken to several whistleblowers.
One former employee told us that her experience at the organization had been so damaging that it had led her to contemplate suicide. Another told Mail Sport that working at Cricket Scotland had been “the worst experience of her life” and revealed she had felt “constantly undermined” and “worn down” while living in a culture of fear.
The McKinney report acknowledged that there was a period before the Changing the Boundaries report when people in senior leadership positions were openly discriminatory towards women and displayed bullying characteristics.
However, the most important thing is that the current climate does not escape criticism.
Some have noted a “lack of staff and overworked people,” while most respondents rated the culture as “poor or unsatisfactory.” A lack of diversity, specifically around gender, at leadership level was also highlighted, as was investment and sponsorship in men’s football, which has led to a “feeling of inequality among female players”.
Nine recommendations have been developed from the report, with an emphasis on general behaviours, sexism and misogyny.