Navigation
Accessibility Buy tickets Search
Buy tickets

Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup National Rounds begin

Posted: 28 June 2026

Just 128 teams remain from more than 1,100 boys’ and girls’ teams that began the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup in April as the National Rounds (the last 64) of both competitions begin today.

All match days from this point on in the competition have been organised by the MCC Foundation, after earlier rounds were co-ordinated by local county associations. Today’s events span the country, with matches in Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, Northumberland, Oxfordshire and Somerset.

Over 40 counties are represented with the winner of their regional competition, while other areas in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Wight and Isle of Man also have a representative. In some counties, sides who were runners-up have also qualified for the National Rounds, on the basis of increased participation in those counties. 

The first match in the competition to be held at the home of a first-class county took place at The County Ground, Hove, where Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) were crowned winners of the Sussex Finals Day, defeating Midhurst Rother College in the Boys’ Final. BACA’s girls’ team has also reached the National Round, alongside Downlands School. The MCC Foundation would like to record its gratitude to Sussex Cricket for their support.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, co-founder of the competition, was in attendance at the Cheshire Finals Day, where Altrincham Grammar School were victorious.

Sets of four teams will now play in straight knockout matches on the same day at the same venue this week. These comprise the last 64 and last 32 rounds with a similar format taking place the following week for the winners who reach the last 16 and quarter-final rounds. A small number of County Finals will also take place early this week in advance of the relevant National Round following postponements due to the recent extreme heat.

A full list of all qualified teams in the sets of four for both the boys’ and girls’ competition, as well as the venues where the last 64 and last 32 matches will be held, can be found HERE.

National Rounds

Michael Vaughan said: “It was really special to be at Alderley Cricket Club to watch the Cheshire Finals last week. This competition seems to have captured the imagination of so many schoolkids who all looked like they were having a lot of fun – as they should. There was some serious talent on display too. Based on what I saw from Altrincham Grammar, I reckon whoever makes the finals at Lord’s in September will be properly competitive.”

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Head of the Sussex Cricket Foundation, said: “I am very proud of the work we do at Sussex to support state-school cricket in the area. When the opportunity came up to get involved with the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, we jumped at it and we were delighted that the students could experience a day on the outfield at the County Ground, Hove.

“This leads perfectly onto the launch of our Breaking Boundaries initiative, which will offer funding to state schools for facilities, equipment and kit, as well as and training for teachers in those schools.”