A ‘number of items’ used in grassroots youth cricket have been recalled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) due to containing phthalate plastics in excess of regulations.
The ECB sent an email to all participants in the All Stars Cricket and Dynamos Cricket programmes, two of its national grassroots children’s cricket programmes, following independent testing of its equipment.
Although the items in question – chiefly cricket balls, batting tee and PVC banners according to the ECB’s email – have been withdrawn due to containing excessive levels of phthalates, the cricket governing body has asserted that the levels were not high enough to be considered dangerous.
The ECB stated that due to potential concerns around ‘the safety of participants, volunteers and staff’ and ‘out of an abundance of caution’, it advises that the cricket balls should no longer be used.
“We are advising clubs and centres providing the programmes that the Dynamos Cricket batting tee and the National Programme PVC banners should no longer be used”, the ECB added.
In addition, after finding the overly high phthalate levels in balls, batting tees and PVC banners, the ECB decided to conduct further testing of bats and stumps, finding that these had phthalate levels in line with regulation and so are safe for continued use.
As a result of the recall recommendation the ECB has made the decision not to provide equipment packs to All Stars participants for the 2024 season, but to compensate for this has reduced the recommended retail price (RRP) for the season from £40 to £30.
