Entries open for 2027 edition of Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup ahead of the competition's first Finals Day

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the MCC Foundation (MCCF) are welcoming entries from all state secondary schools in the UK to the second edition of the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup. The application window is open now until 31 October 2026 via lords.org/knightstokescup.

It is estimated that 15,744 students from over 1,100 boys’ and girls’ teams took part in the inaugural edition of the national hardball cricket competition for state schools. These teams came from 820 state secondary schools, constituting approximately one-fifth of all such schools in the UK. On the day that four schools walk onto the Main Ground at Lord’s for the inaugural Finals Day, MCC and MCCF, supported by sponsors Barclays and the Black Heart Foundation, are aiming to increase that number in 2027.

In a survey conducted among participating schools in the 2026 edition, it is evident that the competition has already benefited local organisations and strengthened cricket programmes through improved relationships with other local schools or cricket clubs. The Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup has clearly met an existing need in state schools to compete in hardball cricket, with over 80% of schools providing this as the reason for entering the competition. Feedback also demonstrated that schools particularly valued having a competition exclusively for state schools, enabling pupils to enjoy competitive and meaningful cricket while building confidence and aspiration.

The timings at Lord’s today are as follows:

11.00
Boys’ Final: Altrincham Grammar School (Cheshire) v. John Hampden Grammar School (Bucks)

15:00
Girls’ Final: Penistone Grammar School (Yorkshire) v. Chelmsford County High School (Essex)

The first winners of the competition will have their names etched onto a new Honours Board, installed in the Writing Room in the Lord’s Pavilion, which will be unveiled after the Girls’ Final. All players will receive a full Lord’s playing experience, including catering in the Players’ Dining Room and use of the Players’ Dressing Rooms. The competition’s most talented performers outside of the four finalists will also have the chance to play at Lord’s, with boys’ and girls’ exhibition matches between North v. South Select XIs taking place on the Nursery Ground.

There have been several standout moments from the first year of the competition. These include the victories of an Isle of Man XI over Lancashire and Cumbria schools to reach the last 32 of the boys’ competition; Charlie Rourke striking 210 runs in the national rounds for Altrincham Grammar School, being dismissed just once in five innings; The Ecclesbourne School holding on to win their quarter-final over John Taylor High School by three runs in the girls’ competition; Brighton Aldridge Community Academy striking 251 in the first match at a County ground, hosted by Sussex Cricket at Hove; and semi-finals at Headingley and Wormsley.
 

Angus Berry, CEO of MCCF, said: “I am very proud of what the MCC Foundation has been able to organise in the first year of this competition. We hope that this year’s success stands as an example of what is possible when the cricket community works together, and the powerful positive impact the game has on young people. I urge all students, parents and teachers to consider signing their school up for the competition in 2027, and I hope they are inspired by the opportunity to play at Lord’s next year.”

Heather Knight, former England captain, said: “It has been amazing to hear the stories coming through – the competition seems to have really struck a chord with young people out there. So many children who really want to get involved in cricket just need that inspiration to kick start things for them. I think the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup has been that inspiration for a lot of people. I hope the boys and girls playing at Lord’s today have a really fantastic time.”

Michael Vaughan, former England captain and co-founder of the competition, said: “Today will something we’ve never seen before at Lord’s, and it’s just the start. Why stop at 1,100? Let’s get 2,000; let’s get 3,000 teams all playing cricket at the start of the summer term. There are four groups of players at Lord’s today who, I’m sure, are very grateful their school entered the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup. I can’t wait to see the talent on display today and for many more years to come thanks to this competition.”

Tom Corbett, Managing Director of Sponsorship & Client Experience at Barclays, said: “At Barclays, we believe there is no sport without grassroots sport. Through our investment in community sport, we've helped more than 650,000 young people access opportunities through football, tennis and cricket, and supported over 4,000 community groups across the UK.

“The Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup is a fantastic example of that commitment in action. By creating a national competition exclusively for state schools, MCC and the MCC Foundation are helping open up cricket to thousands of young people, ensuring talent and potential are not defined by background. We're proud to support a programme that is helping make the game more accessible to the next generation."

To enter a school in the 2027 edition of the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, please visit lords.org/knightstokescup.

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