Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup: New School Cricket Competition Launches at Lord’s in 2026

The Marylebone Cricket club (MCC) is teaming up with Barclays to launch the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, a national cricket competition designed exclusively for state school students. Starting in 2026,the boys’ and girls’ finals will be an annual event held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Expanding Access to Cricket for State School Pupils

The Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup is a new under-15 cricket tournament for state schools, with the finals taking place at lord’s Cricket Ground beginning in 2026. This initiative seeks to broaden cricket access for state-educated students across the UK, aligning with broader efforts to boost participation outside the independent school system. the program intends to level the playing field, giving more young athletes the chance to excel in cricket.

Did You Know? In 2023, only 10% of England’s centrally contracted male cricketers came through the state school system, highlighting the need for initiatives like the knight-Stokes Cup.

Honoring Cricket Legends

The competition is named after England captains Heather Knight and Ben Stokes, both state school graduates. Developed in partnership with Barclays, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the MCC Foundation, the tournament will feature county-level knockout rounds, progressing through regional stages to a national final. Each year, both a girls’ and a boys’ final will be hosted at Lord’s.

The MCC Foundation will manage the competition, working with county boards and local cricket organizations. This builds on the MCC Foundation’s existing efforts to improve cricket access through its national hub network, which has supported over 30,000 young people with free coaching and competition. The foundation also runs various programs aimed at promoting youth cricket and providing opportunities for underprivileged children ^[1].

supporting the ECB’s State School Action Plan

The Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup is designed to support the ECB’s State School Action Plan and will seek collaboration with independent schools to share facilities.Barclays and the Black Heart Foundation will provide financial support. This collaboration aims to create a more inclusive surroundings for young cricketers, irrespective of their school background.

Pro Tip: Schools interested in participating should contact their local county cricket board for more details on registration and qualifying rounds.

Addressing Disparities in cricket Participation

The competition joins recent efforts to address the disparity in cricket participation between state and independent schools. A 2023 report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket highlighted structural barriers to talent growth, noting that fewer than 10% of England’s centrally contracted male cricketers came through the state system. This initiative aims to break down these barriers and provide more opportunities for state school students to pursue their cricketing dreams.

To mark the launch, events took place at Lord’s, involving 150 children from London schools, with support from current and former players including Knight, Michael Vaughan, and Saj Mahmood. These events aimed to inspire young cricketers and raise awareness of the new competition.

Upcoming Cricket Events

While the Knight-stokes Cup gears up for its 2026 launch,other school cricket events are already underway. School Sport Australia is hosting the 15 Years and Under Championship,with the girls’ tournament scheduled for September 21-26,2025 ^[1]. NSW School Sport also has state-wide competitions with specific rules and notification dates ^[2].

What impact do you think this competition will have on state school cricket? How else can access to cricket be improved for young people?