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.
Independent schools have offered to provide facilities and the MCC has helped with discounts on the kit and equipment that is so often a hurdle. Bins around Lord’s were filled with donations for Mahmood’s new venture, Reeqip, a sort of Vinted for cricket kit that aims to make it more affordable and sustainable. Players on Thursday wore special kits with their names and chosen numbers.
All participating schools were invited to finals day. Of the participating teams, more than 350 were girls’ sides. Finals day also brought the opportunity for talent spotting.
But the pathway for that talent is still not the clearest. Nine of the 11 England men’s players also playing on Thursday, in the Edgbaston Test against Pakistan, were in private education at some point. It was seven out of 11 for the women’s team that played against Ireland last Sunday.
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