Square One Falmer cricket centre opens near Brighton aiming for inclusivity and innovation
The Square One Falmer cricket centre near Brighton recently opened in a repurposed tennis hall and is being touted as a prototype as well as the world’s second-largest cricket hall after Melbourne. Founders Rob Ferley, James Wallis, and Rod Aldridge lead the project with the ambition to make cricket more inclusive. Ferley has declared the centre aims to be the most inclusive cricket centre in the world.
The centre features color-coded nets and a microchipped ball that tracks speed and trajectory. It also employs a nonverbal, common language designed to remove jargon and barriers, making the game more accessible. Intended for public use and school programmes, the facility involves local schools such as Brighton Aldridge Community Academy and plans to roll out about 150 similar centres nationwide.
While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has shown interest in Square One, no formal partnerships have been established. The project seeks collaboration rather than a single-solution approach. It responds to long-standing critiques of cricket as being racist, sexist, and elitist. The initiative argues for changes in coaching and talent pathways to widen access across different regions.
The approach emphasizes a rethink in coaching beyond technical drills, prioritizing the development of people and long-term pathways. It also discusses how Bazball’s autonomy in England's cricket can coexist with innovative pedagogy, seeking to modernize the sport while embracing diverse participation.
