The Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket report has called for "a direct apology" for "historic failures in relation to women’s and girls’ cricket and its failure to adequately support black cricket in England and Wales."

Thompson gave the ECB response in an video statement.

"We must never again include anyone on the basis of their ethnicity, gender or social background," Thompson pledged.

"Cricket should be a game for everyone and this has not always been the case and we are truly sorry,"

The report was commissioned two years ago by the ECB.

ICEC Investigators heard evidence from more than 4,000 people who responded to a call for evidence.

Among those to do so were Azeem Rafiq, whose evidence of the discrimination he faced at Yorkshire County Cricket Club was a catalyst for the investigation.

"Our findings are unequivocal, racism, class-based discrimination, elitism and sexism are widespread and deep rooted," ICEC Chair Cindy Butts said.

"The game must face up to the fact that it’s not banter or just a few bad apples, discrimination is both overt and baked into the structures and processes within cricket, the stark reality is that it is not a game for everyone."

The report found that 87 per cent of respondents with Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, 82 per cent of Indian and 75 per cent of black respondents gave evidence that they had experienced discrimination.

"We must never again exclude anyone on the basis of their ethnicity, gender or social background," Thompson said in response.

The report also highlighted discrimination in women’s cricket.

"Women continue to be treated as second-class citizens with unequal access, pay and treatment," Butts said.

The England women’s team are yet to play a Test Match at Lord’s, the home of cricket.

Women did not play a one day international at Lord's until 1976 .

Only 16 further one day internationals and a handful of other matches have been since played on the main ground although a greater women's number of matches have take place on the club's Nursery Ground.

Women were excluded from membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club which owns Lord's until 1998.

The first female members were admitted the following year.

"The ECB will use this moment to reset our sport going further than previous efforts, this report makes clear that historical structures and systems have failed to prevent discrimination," Thompson promised.

"Cricket has made mistakes and let people down now is the time for the sport to come together to stamp out discrimination and to make cricket the most inclusive sport in England and Wales."

The 317 page report has made 44 recommendations.

These include a new independent regulatory body to "increase trust and confidence in the regulatory process and address concerns around conflicts of interest as the ECB is both a promoter and regulator of cricket," 

A new grievance procedure is also recommended.

Additionally, the report calls on the ECB to offer financial support and "develop an active plan to revive black cricket." 

It also advocates reform of the "talent pathway" by 2025 to make it "more meritocratic, inclusive, accountable and free of direct costs."

In the women's game, it suggests that a "fundamental overhaul" of professional women players’ pay is needed.

There is also a call for equal representation with the men's game in ECB governance bodies.

The ECB have promised to respond to the report within three months.

"Some reforms can be implemented swiftly, others will take longer but are achievable under our current framework," Thompson said.

"Some reforms we recognise will require longer term changes of the game and its funding model."