PUBLIC money to grassroots cricket through the government-funded Sportsmatch scheme has reached a record level. Over the past 12 months, clubs and schools have received 82 awards, totalling about £280,000, with private sponsors contributing at least as much. The sums compare with 56 awards totalling £210,000 between September 2003 and August 2004.

Mike Reynolds, the director of Sportsmatch, said: “There has been a significant increase both in applications and in money awarded over three years and it has certainly been spurred on by the success of the England team at Test level, especially as a result of the Ashes series.”

Sportsmatch, which was founded 14 years ago under the Conservatives and maintained by Labour, is designed to encourage sponsors to invest in grassroots sport. It matches commercial sponsorship for development programmes that are designed to increase participation and improve skills, particularly for youngsters.