MCC and The Cricketer announce 2026 Community Cricket Heroes

MCC has named a new cohort of Community Cricket Heroes after a nationwide search to uncover the unsung heroes of grassroots cricket, each of whom were invited to Lord's for a special day in hospitality at the recent England v Pakistan Test match. 

Launched in 2023, MCC's Community Cricket Heroes campaign, in partnership with The Cricketer magazine, celebrates the grassroots game and the thousands of people who dedicate their time to support cricket in their communities.

Now in its fourth year, 11 heroes have been selected from a strong field of nominations from across the UK. A judging panel, which included Ricky Reynolds (Head of Programmes, MCC), Arfan Akram (MCC Committee), Huw Turbervill (Editor, The Cricketer), Izzy Gurney (Programme Manager & Safeguarding Lead, MCC Foundation), Lizzy Ammon (Cricket News Reporter, The Times) and Mike Gatting (former England and Middlesex captain) set out to recognise and thank those who go the extra mile for community cricket, and to find individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the grassroots game and their local cricket community.

L-R: Ricky Reynolds (Head of Programmes, MCC and Chair of Community Cricket Heroes judging panel), Mohammed Qamar, Rob Lawson (MCC CEO), Zulejkha Elahi, James Watson and Huw Turbervill (The Cricketer Editor).

From inspiring others on and off the pitch, overcoming real adversity to stay involved in the sport, or giving years of quiet, dedicated service to a club, the panel aimed to recognise a range of people, representative of the diverse grassroots cricket community across the UK.

The three previous years of the campaign have seen 33 Community Cricket Heroes named and invited to be guests of former MCC Presidents Stephen Fry, Mark Nicholas and Lord King.

The 2026 MCC Community Cricket Heroes are as follows:

• Alexandra Grant (pictured below, left) – Grayshott CC (Hampshire)
• Andrew Gilleard (pictured below, right) – Crayke CC (North Yorkshire)
• Ayesha Rauf – Llandaff CC (Cardiff)
• Howard Smith – OD Cuaco CC and Kent Seniors (Kent)
• James Watson – Hampton Wick Royal CC and Heathfield School (Surrey)
• Kevin Simpson – Coal Aston CC (Derbyshire)
• Martin Pettit – Bold Dragoon CC (Northamptonshire)
• Mohammed Qamar – Cricket East (Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire)
• Richard Ellis Sr – Hethersett and Tass Valley CC (Norfolk)
• Sarah Pettiford – Manchester South Interleague (Greater Manchester)
• Zuleijkha Elahi – Lutonian CC (Bedfordshire)

Ed Smith, MCC President, said: “Cricket's true depth lies in these grassroots stories, and this year's heroes are a brilliant reminder of that. Their dedication, often given quietly and without recognition, is exactly what keeps the game alive in communities up and down the country.

“I hope their time at Lord’s watching the Test match was a fitting recognition of their commitment to our wonderful game.”

Huw Turbervill, Editor of The Cricketer, added: “Our XI 2026 MCC Community Cricket Heroes are a thoroughly deserving group. From all of us who play club cricket, thank you for being the glue of our local grassroots community, we know we wouldn’t be able to do it without you. You deserve to be heroes in the President’s Suite at Lord’s. 

“Congratulations from all of us at The Cricketer, and it has once again been fantastic to be a part of this brilliant initative with MCC.”