The MCC and MCC Foundation launched the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup for Summer 2026, a new hardball cricket competition for state secondary schools across the UK at Under 15’s. (up to school year 10 age group – with flexibility for the girls’ competition to allow two U16 players per match – this will be confirmed in the competition rules).
Named after two state educated cricketing greats (Heather Knight and Ben Stokes) and backed by former England Captain, Michael Vaughan and The Black Heart Foundation, this ground-breaking initiative is designed to provide more opportunities for state-educated young cricketers to showcase their talent.
There will be a boys’ and girls’ competition launching in 2026 and both competitions will be run at county level, with progression to national rounds. Both the boys’ and girls’ finals are to be played at Lords in September 2026.
The Knight-Stokes Cup aims to inspire young cricketers across the UK and the Republic of Ireland and will seek to grow the game by running a national hardball competition for state schools, for the first time ever.