The growth in the traditional format of the game is a significant indicator of its rising popularity. The number of hardball cricketers has jumped by 32% in the last two years, the number has surpassed 41,500 players across the continent. 

This shows the growing appetite for competitive cricket, displayed by Italy securing their first senior World Cup berth by qualifying for the T20 World Cup in 2026. 

The number of junior hardball players has seen a 42% growth since 2022, with more than 10,000 young players now involved in the sport. 

Even more impressively, there has been a 75% increase in females playing competitive cricket, bringing the total to over 9,000 players. 

This boom in the women's game is a testament to the success of dedicated development programs and the increasing visibility of female cricketers. The Netherlands and Scotland displayed strong performances in the ICC Emerging Nations trophy finishing third and fourth respectively. 

Senior ICC figures have emphasised the importance of investing into women’s cricket as the recent ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 held in India and Sri Lanka broke revenue and viewership records.

The growth in the number of players is being supported by a significant investment in infrastructure and personnel. 

There are now over 600 permanent outdoor cricket grounds in European Associate Member territories, providing a crucial foundation for the sport's continued growth. Furthermore, a workforce of over 7,000 coaches, umpires, and paid staff are facilitating cricket across Europe, ensuring that the growing demand is met with quality support and organization.

The combination of a growing player base and the infrastructure to support it paints a bright future for cricket in Europe, indicating a new era of growth and development for the sport on the continent.