The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has officially apologized for not safeguarding young players in the past, after a comprehensive case review of former cricket coach Michael Strange was released. The review reviewed the offenses by Strange, who is serving a prison sentence for a string of sex offenses on boys in the 1990s and early 2000s. Michael Strange, 65, was found guilty in 2012 of 34 offences against ten victims. He abused them between 1993 and 2004 while serving as a county-level coach. In 2005, the ECB suspended him when allegations initially came to light and banned him from all forms of cricket for life the next year. The 47-page report published recently by the Cricket Regulator labeled Strange as "definitively, a sexual predator," and labeled him "a compelling, charismatic and persuasive orator." It went on to describe how Strange, being well-respected in the sport, exploited the aspirations of promising cricketers who believed in him to steer their cricketing careers. Also Read | Rohit Sharma Eyes Multiple Records in 2nd ODI vs Australia A Case That Emphasizes the Need to Protect The case has also been compared to that of Barry Bennell, the late former Crewe Alexandra coach and Manchester City scout, who was found guilty of a string of football child abuse offences before he died in 2023. The two cases expose the methods by which influential figures exploited their powers to control children who had dreams of becoming professional sports players. The ECB admitted that although it moved to ban Strange almost 20 years ago, its practices for protecting itself then were weaker than they are now. The board stated that there has "developed significantly" in policies in the last 20 years, in cricket and in society as a whole. ECB Chief Executive: "We Are Sorry This Happened" The ECB Chief Executive, Richard Gould, made a sincere apology to the victims of Strange's behavior. He said: “Everyone should be able to take part in cricket safely, and our first thoughts today are with the people who were harmed by Michael Strange. We are sorry this happened to you within our sport. “It is more than 20 years since Strange was suspended from cricket and while the review recognises that safeguarding understanding, policies and practices have developed significantly since then - within cricket and across society more widely - we will never be complacent. This review highlights the importance of everyone being able to recognise concerning behaviour, and to act upon it. “We are constantly developing and strengthening our safeguarding work as well as the education we deliver across the game, and the review's findings and recommendations will inform our continuing work. By learning from this appalling case, we can keep people safer today.” Also Read | Virat Kohli Eyes Massive ODI Record vs Australia After Perth Setback Cricket Regulator Vows Ongoing Action Director of the Cricket Regulator Chris Haward also weighed in, emphasizing the need for constant watchfulness and responsibility in cricket. He stated: “Michael Strange was a prolific offender, and the impact of his crimes on those he harmed cannot be underestimated. I am grateful to all those who contributed to this important review and for the recommendations made in the report. “One of our key responsibilities for the Cricket Regulator is to protect participants from harm, and our safeguarding work lies at the very heart of our strategy. The findings and recommendations from this review will continue to shape our ongoing work to keep people safe.” Strengthening Safeguarding for the Future The ECB and Cricket Regulator have committed to implementing all the review recommendations. The emphasis of theirs will continue to be education, awareness, and early identification of abusive behaviour. Both organizations have committed to making sure that all people connected with cricket, players, coaches, and volunteers, are able to engage in the sport without fear of abuse or injury. This case is a reminder of the role sporting bodies play in ensuring all participants play in a safe environment and also reminds everyone that such case shall never be repeated.