State school cricket competition breaking down barriers

The inaugural Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, a new MCC-backed under-15 cricket competition for state school students named after England captains Ben Stokes and Heather Knight, has launched with Bishop's Stortford High School winning their opening two matches against Avanti Grange Secondary School and Birchwood School by 10 and six wickets respectively. The competition, open to Year 10 students, will conclude with a boys' and girls' final at Lord's on 10 September. Coach Benjy Furrer, 22, highlighted the tournament's positive impact in expanding cricket's reach into schools where the sport is not traditionally played.