Stokes hopes state school cricket competition will smash stereotypes

Sportsbeat Fri, 27 March 2026 at 3:47 pm UTC·4 min read By Phil Campbell, Sportsbeat Ben Stokes knows all about smashing sixes, but England’s Test captain hopes a new state school cricket competition will smash stereotypes surrounding the game and boost inclusivity. This year marks the inaugural edition of the Barclay’s Knight-Stokes Cup, a national hardball competition which will pit non-fee-paying schools across the UK against one another as they bid to compete in the final at Lord’s.Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stokes, who attended Cockermouth School, a state secondary school in Cumbria, is fully aware that many people currently see cricket as a sport traditionally played by...