MCC Foundation - Edgbaston Foundation

Nationwide Cricket Hubs

In partnership with the MCC Foundation, we run four cricket hubs across two venues, providing free-to-access training and match play.

The hubs focus on talent, helping promising youngsters identified through mass participation activities or non-traditional formats join cricket clubs, develop their hardball skills, and access formal talent pathways.

Beyond cricket, the hubs have a transformational impact off the pitch, helping participants feel more confident, happier, and better able to focus and perform at school.

Phoebe is thoroughly enjoying all she is learning and cricket experience she is gaining. The coaches, facilities and organisation of everything is excellent.

Kevin, Parent of a Child

Alexis has really enjoyed the sessions and has noticed a big improvement in her confidence in all aspects of cricket.

Phil, Parent of a Child

Liv really enjoyed the hub programmes and got loads from it last year. The way girls cricket is supported is fantastic not only at club level but all the way through to this initiative.

Tom, Parent of a Child

National Hub Competition

During the summer, we invite Hubs to compete in a series of knockout matches against other MCC Foundation Hubs. Finalists earn the chance to play in the final on the Main Ground at Lord’s in London.

For the first time in 2024, an U18 Girls XI played hardball cricket on the Main Ground, marking the first time U18 Girls had played any form of cricket on the square.

The Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup

The Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup is an exciting hard-ball cricket competition exclusively for state schools across the UK, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. The tournament culminates in a prestigious final played on the Main Ground at Lord’s.

All state schools are invited to enter under-15 boys’ and girls’ teams. The competition begins with local county-organised matches, with winners progressing to regional and then national knockout stages, leading up to the grand final at the Home of Cricket.

To find out more, visit: lords.org/knightstokescup.

Which schools can compete in the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup?

All non-fee-paying State Secondary Schools and Grammar Schools in the UK and the Republic of Ireland are eligible to enter the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup. A State Secondary School or Grammar School is defined as a “Government-funded school.

Who can take part in the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup?

All children who attend a state secondary school across the UK and the Republic of Ireland within the below age groups are eligible to take part in the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup. There will be flexibility on age with specific competition rules to be confirmed following consultation with County Cricket Boards (CCBs) and Foundations and other stakeholders. The initial target audience is U15 (school year 10 in England/Wales or equivalent in Scotland/Ireland).

When does the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup start?

Applications to enter the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup opened on Thursday 26 June and will close in February 2026. The competitions will commence in Spring 2026, with the first finals staged at Lord’s in September 2026.

What is the structure of the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup?

It is the aim of the competition to engage with all counties to run a county competition at U15 age groups for boys and girls to produce a county winner by the end of June 2026. Each county winner will then progress to national knockout rounds (including regional finals, quarter finals and semi-finals) before the school holidays commence in late July. The finals day date is to be confirmed but will likely be held in September 2026.

How much will it cost for my school to enter the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup?

There will be no entry cost for schools into this competition. Schools may be required to pay an entry fee into their local county competition. There will be a small fund available to support schools to apply to if entering local county competitions as part of the Knight-Stokes Cup would be a barrier.