England’s first indoor dome opened two years ago at the Park Avenue ground in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
The government recently pledged £1.5m towards building two more domes – a second one for Lancashire in Farington and the other in Luton, Bedfordshire – which are expected to open next year.
Thompson said: “This is a game-changer for state school cricket in the North West.”
He said the Darwen Dome was a “powerful step towards levelling the playing field” and would “become a real community asset”.
Jen Barden, executive director of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said the facility was fantastic news for state schools in the local area.
She said it would provide “vital year-round access to keep young cricketers – including those taking their first steps into the game – engaged for the full year, rather than just during the summer months”.