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State schools finally get their big day: ‘All of a sudden, playing at Lord’s becomes cool’

The Guardian UK Friday 11 September 2026, 07:00 UTC By Billy Munday and Tom Jenkins at Lord's 1 min read
Key Points

The inaugural Knight-Stokes Cup was a special occasion not just for the teenagers playing on Lord’s hallowed turf, but for the English game as a wholeState-school cricket has had its day at Lord’s, at last. On a ground that has this summer hosted men’s and women’s international Tests, the Women’s T20 World Cup final and the Hundred finals, on Thursday four school teams played in front of the Pavilion and Father Time for the Knight-Stokes Cup, named after two state-educated cricketers who...

The inaugural Knight-Stokes Cup was a special occasion not just for the teenagers playing on Lord’s hallowed turf, but for the English game as a whole

State-school cricket has had its day at Lord’s, at last. On a ground that has this summer hosted men’s and women’s international Tests, the Women’s T20 World Cup final and the Hundred finals, on Thursday four school teams played in front of the Pavilion and Father Time for the Knight-Stokes Cup, named after two state-educated cricketers who have captained England’s Test teams.

Heather Knight and Ben Stokes recorded video messages for pupils from Altrincham Grammar School, John Hampden Grammar School, Penistone Grammar School and Chelmsford County High School before they competed in the boys’ and girls’ finals. The privileges did not stop there – full use of the Pavilion dressing rooms, lunch and media duties made this a day to remember and inspire.

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Knight-Stokes Cup (ORG) English (ORG) the Women’s T20 World Cup (ORG) England (LOCATION) Heather Knight (PERSON) Ben Stokes (PERSON) Altrincham Grammar School (ORG) John Hampden (PERSON) School (ORG) Penistone Grammar School (ORG) Chelmsford County High School (ORG) Pavilion (LOCATION)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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State schools finally get their big day: ‘All of a sudden, playing at Lord’s becomes cool’

The inaugural Knight-Stokes Cup was a special occasion not just for the teenagers playing on Lord’s hallowed turf, but for the English game as a wholeState-school cricket has had its day at Lord’s, at last. On a ground that has this summer hosted men’s and women’s international Tests, the Women’s T20 World Cup final and the Hundred finals, on Thursday four school teams played in front of the Pavilion and Father Time for the Knight-Stokes Cup, named after two state-educated cricketers who...

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