The development of grassroots cricket is set to receive a £37.8m funding boost as part of a new four-year programme drawn up by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Sport England.

Projects that seek to increase participation and improve opportunities for women, girls and disabled players will be among those to benefit from the Sport England grant, as well as schemes to create new pathways for excellence from the playground to Test cricket. ECB chief executive David Collier said: "Sport England will also be bringing forward further lottery funding opportunities based on potential priority policy themes such as increasing participation by women and girls, improving school-club links and building sustainable community sports clubs.

"Cricket has a major contribution to make in this area and we will be working with Sport England to secure further funding for projects that not only increase participation in cricket but address wider policy objectives such as improving health and building social inclusion." Funding as part of the Whole Sport Plan for 2009-13 will also be directed towards the Cricket Foundation's Chance to shine initiative, with more than 300,000 young people in schools across the country set to benefit.