Cricket Australia Census - background information

Since 1998 Cricket Australia has conducted a national cricket census. The methodology of the census has seen state and territory associations collecting basic information which has then been presented in limited form.

It has been agreed that in many cases the information was estimated and few checks and balances were in place to validate the accuracy of the information. Definitions of `participation' also varied greatly from region to region and therefore meaningful analysis was difficult, if not impossible.

After a review of the census process, which also included an examination of methods of measuring participation adopted by other sports, Cricket Australia management engaged Street Ryan and Associates in March 2003 to implement, manage and report on participation in cricket nationally.

The methodology for the census was developed in collaboration with each state and territory association. The census was designed to collect the most useful information in a practical manner.

Issues which were resolved in the design of the census included;

Street Ryan and Associates then liaised with state and territory associations for a period of three months to assist the completion and collection of census forms.