The money provided to the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will be invested in grassroots and community cricket.
Roger Draper, chief executive of Sport England, said that the award recognised the substantial progress made by the ECB in modernising its management and governance structures and its ambitious vision for grassroots development.
“Cricket is currently on a huge high following last summer’s Ashes successes and has a fantastic opportunity to capitalise and build on unprecedented levels of public popularity," said Draper.
ECB chief executive David Collier said: “This funding is an important start in an increased involvement and commitment from Government and the National Lottery, which cricket needs to provide facilities to sustain the long-term expansion of the game.”
A further £4.75 million over the next two years has already been committed by Sport England into the Community Club Development Programme (CCDP), which invests in local cricket club improvement and development projects.
The investment follows Sport England’s recent support for the Cricket Foundation’s 'Chance to shine' campaign, which will receive £2million up to March 2007 to help reinvigorate cricket in state schools.
Meanwhile, athlete Ashia Hansen and former England rugby union coach Jack Rowell, now a director at Premiership club Bath, have been appointed to the board of Sport England for three-year terms.
