9th July
The end of the school cricket season has finally arrived. My email inbox is filling with entries from schools for the 2026 Wisden, and the last two weeks has been occupied with school fixtures against Southern Hemisphere opponents and post-season festivals against opponents from far-flung corners of the land.
Except for the first Saturday in June, we have been blessed with fine weather, and only one game out of the 213 ties in the National Schools U18 T20 was rain affected. Bizarrely, that was one that I was at! A full list of all the results in the T20 can be found below.
Many independent schools have reported that, as a consequence of the government’s imposition of VAT on school fees, fixture lists are likely to be trimmed in 2026, with long away trips to opponents likely to be a thing of the past and local fixtures the norm.
In addition, there is also anecdotal evidence that capital investment by schools’ governing bodies in cricket facilities such as nets, hybrid pitches, and new ground equipment is likely to be scaled back in future years as the impact of the rise in school fees bites.
Another impact could be the scaling back of sports scholarships as schools look to concentrate of their core values. A prominent Headmaster at a prestigious independent school in the Midlands with a fine reputation for cricket, recently told me that he could foresee a time when the extra-curricular offering of schools like this largely disappears.
This could, in time, have an impact on the national team, when it is dominated by independently educated cricketers, many of whom were the recipients of scholarships to develop their cricket under the watchful eyes of professional coaches. Though this would largely benefit English cricket in the long run, it shouldn’t go unnoticed that other sports have increasingly large proportions of their national teams who have been educated privately.
At a time when state school and college cricket is on the agenda, I have to report that South Gloucestershire and Stroud College recently won the Association of Colleges (AOC) national competition, the competition for 6th form and FE Colleges. This arguably giving them a claim to be country’s top U18 state college team. And yet the victory is also bittersweet as the college is closing the programme at the end of this academic year due to financial reasons.
The programme has run for well over a decade and helped produce professional players including James Bracey, Chris Dent, Craig Miles, George Drissell, Natasha Wraith and Izzy Patel.
At a time when state school cricket appears to be very much back on the agenda from a national perspective it seems a particularly disappointing that the only 16-18 state school programme in the South Gloucestershire/Bristol area is disappearing (and little/no interest has been shown from the county club in trying to save it).
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College have been worthy opponents for many schools in the National Schools T20 over the years, and it will be a shame to see them close down their programme. My thanks goes to the current programme leader, Luke Sellers, for all he has done for state sector cricket in an area where little is played.
May I ask again that schools continue to send in their Wisden averages and reports, but I make an impassioned plea to read the instructions carefully as it saves everyone time in the long run.
Repton won the girls’ Smile Travel Under 17 T20 at Arundel, beating Bradfield in the final and this year’s school of the year Rugby in the semi-final, while Scarborough beat Bradfield to win the Schools Sport Magazine Girls Under 18 T20.
In the Boys ESCA Under 15 40 over competition, Merchant Taylors’ Northwood beat Trent College at Oakham. Having run that particular side in the mid to late 90’s, this has been a long time coming and is richly deserved.
With September finals still to play in the ESCA Inspiresport T20 and the Cricket Paper boys U17 T20, the season is not yet over. However, this will be the final blog of the term and I wish everyone an enjoyable summer.
Boys Resuts
ESCA Under 15 40 Over Cup
Final:
Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 217-8, Trent 176
Other results
Tuesday 1st July (50 overs unless otherwise specified )
Bristol GS 174-2 (20 ), Wycliffe 149-7
Bedford 181 (30 ), Newington (AUS) 112
Felsted 232, St Kevin’s (AUS) 233-7
King’s , Canterbury 102 (40), Trinity , Croydon 103-3
UCS 169-9, Birkenhead 125
Edinburgh Academy 104 (30 ), King’s , Macclesfield 106-4
Wirral GS for Boys 241-5 (40 ), Bolton 205
St Paul’s 170 , Monkton Combe 93
Bristol GS 174-2 (20), Wycliffe 149-7
Wednesday 2nd July (50 overs unless otherwise specified )
Bishop Vesey’s GS 122-9 (20 ), Queen Mary’s GS 113-7
Aylesbury GS 179-0 (20 ), John Hampden GS 159-9
Bryanston 223-9 (35 ), Newington (AUS) 218-9
Emanuel 214-7 dec., Culford 215-2
Judd 105-7 (20), Simon Langton GS 109-4 – Kent County Cup Final
Barnard Castle 217-7 (30 ), King’s , Macclesfield 191-8
Leys 137 (35), St Paul’s 141-3
Oundle 162-6 (20), St John’s , Learhead 137
Rossall 172 (28 ), Edinburgh Academy 173-6
Brighton GS (AUS) 91-9, Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 92-7
Thursday 3rd July (50 overs unless otherwise specified )
Solihull 251-8, Monmouth 151
Wallington County GS 74 (40 ), Wilson’s 75-2
Trinity , Croydon 266, Reed’s 261
Prince Alfred (AUS) 239 (40), Bristol GS 167
Friday 4th July (20 overs unless otherwise specified)
George Abbot 166, Dunottar 122-8
De La Salle 106-5 (20 ), Victoria 107-3
Sir Thomas Rich’s 117, Prince Alfred 121-3
Monday 7th July(40 overs unless otherwise specified )
Sir Thomas Rich’s 235-9, Brighton GS 236-8
Knox GS 320-5, Felsted 186
Four Corner Festival
Blundell’s 178-4 (20 ), Reigate GS 150-6
Haberdashers’ Elstree 193-3 (20 ), Pocklington 127
Haberdashers’ Elstree 139-6 (20 ), Blundell’s 142-3 (14 )
Blundell’s 199-2 (20), Pocklington 137-8
SPREB Festival (50 Overs – Held at Repton)
Bradfield 150, Repton 152-5
St Peter’s 190, Epsom 192-4
Epsom 291, Repton 271
Bradfield 212, St Peter’s 216-2 (A Jenkins 120*)
(20 overs)
St Peter’s 171-4, Repton 159-8
Bradfield 90, Epsom 91-6
Epsom win Festival
RGS Festival (Held at Lancaster -50 Overs )
Monday
RGS Guildford 271-7, RGS Colchester 148
RGS Newcastle 156, Lancaster RGS 138
RGS High Wycombe 138, RGS Worcester 91
Tuesday
Lancaster Royal GS 172-8 (50 ), RGS Worcester 176-4 (37 )
RGS High Wycombe 228-6, RGS Colchester 106
RFS Guildford 197-9, RGS Newcastle 162-6 – RGS Newcastle win on DLS
Wednesday
RGS Guildford 58, Lancaster RGS 59-0
RGS Newcastle 159, RGS High Wycombe 148
RGS Colchester 136, RGS Worcester 83
Thursday
RGS High Wycombe 248, RGS Guildford 80
Lancaster RGS 197-7, RGS Colchester 99
RGS Worcester 58, RGS Newcastle 62-3
Friday
RGS Guildford 188-9 (40), RGS Worcester 97-1 -Abandoned
Lancaster RGS 94, RGS High Wycombe 36-4 -Abandoned
RGS Newcastle v RGS Colchester -not played
RGS Newcastle win festival
Adrian Gale Festival (Held at Oundle 40 Overs unless otherwise stated )
Monday
Abingdon 204-5, Oundle 158
Brentwood 192-7, St John’s 159
Tuesday
Abingdon 95 , St John’s 98-7
Brentwood 190 Oundle 191-5
Wednesday
Oundle 162-6 (20), St John’s 137
Abingdon 96 (20), Brentwood 102-4
Castles Festival
Sunday
New Hall 185-8, Monmouth 146-1 -Monmouth win on DLS
Monday
Haberdashers’ Monmouth 255 (50 ), Victoria 210
Kimbolton 159, New Hall 163-4
Tuesday
New Hall 125, Victoria 126-8
Girls
School Sport Magazine Under 18 T20 Finals Day (Thursday July 3rd held at King Edward VI , Southampton)
Semi Finals: Scarborough 171-3, Ipswich 154-5
Bradfield 131-8, Epsom 132-5
Third Place Play Off: Ipswich 169-9, Bradfield 171-2 (Sproul 100*)
Final: Scarborough 174-4, Epsom 138-7
Smile National Girls Under 17 T20 Final (Held at Arundel)
Final Bradfield 131-4, Repton 133-1
Other results (all 20 Overs)
Tuesday 1st July
St John’s , Leatherhead 160-4, Brentwood 109
Brentwood 140-7, Oundle 142-5
St Lawrence 145-6, King’s , Canterbury 147-5
Wednesday 2nd July
Bedford Modern 160-6, Bedford Girls’ 76
Oundle 130-0, St John’s, Leatherhead 122
Saturday 6th July
Hereford Cathedral 162-4, King’s, Gloucester 117-4
National Schools Boys Under 18 T20 – Full Results
South London Preliminary Rnd
Halliford 63, Kingston GS* 67-3
Rnd 1
Alleyn’s 33, Eltham 37-0
Emanuel 100-9, Caterham 104-9
Dunottar 91-7, Reigate GS 93-0
Wilson’s 237-2, Kingston Grammar School 127 (16)
Rnd 2
Reigate GS 179-6, St George’s 172-5
Reed’s 136-4, Caterham 91-9
Trinity 151-3, Wilson’s 154-5
Langley Park 88-6, Eltham 89-0 (12.3)
Rnd 3
Whitgift 138-5, Reigate GS 92-8
Dulwich 157-4, Trinity 125-7
KCS Wimbledon 212-1 (A Fox 133*), Eltham 85-7
Epsom 257-1 (A Haxton 163*) Reed’s 124-9
Semi-Fonal
Epsom 153-7, KCS Wimbledon 149-8
Dulwich 113-8, Whitgift 118-7
Final
Whitgift 129-9, Epsom 131-3 (17.3)
South East
Rnd 1
Seaford * 244-1 (S. Suddahazai 121*), St Oscar Romero Catholic 58-5
Ashford 113-8, Canterbury Academy 114-1
Simon Langton 249-5 (S. Camp 105), King’s Canterbury 82
King Edward’s Witley 134-9, Gordon’s 127-8
George Abbott 115-5, St John’s Leatherhead
Williamson’s 144-7, Maidstone GS 146-6
Ardingly 120-7, Brighton 123-2
Lingfield College 100-8, Skinners’ School 102-1 (10.5)
Rnd 2
Seaford 99, Bede’s* 101-5
Canterbury Academy 133, Simon Langton 134-3 (16.5)
Eastbourne College 172-7, BACA 173-4 (18.5)
Sevenoaks 153-6, Maidstone GS 108-8
Skinners’ 111-7, Tonbridge 112-5 (18)
George Abbot 127-8, RGS Guildford 81
Hurstpierpoint 141-7, Brighton 140-6
Rnd 3
Bede’s 177-6, BACA 142-8
Hurstpierpoint 150-5, Simon Langton 151-2 (11.3)
Tonbridge 242-0 (R Brown 127*, L Selvey-Clinton 107*), Sevenoaks 86-8
Cranleigh 139-8, George Abbot 135-4
Semi-finals
Tonbridge 138-6, Simon Langton 141-2
Bede’s 109, Cranleigh 112-4 (19.1)
Final
Cranleigh 123, Simon Langton 129-2 (12.4)
South West Rnd 1
Richard Huish 143-9, Plymouth* 104-9
Truro and Penwith 151-8, Mount Kelly* 111-7
Sherborne 128-6, Wellington 98-9
Bryanston w/o Monkton Combe – withdrew
Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital 157-5, Clifton High 98-7
Exeter 111-9, Launceston 80 all out
Collegiate 146-6, King’s, Bruton 147-3
Clayesmore 100-5, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College 101-2 (10.2)
King’s Gloucester 92-9, Bristol GS 94-3 (16.2)
Sir Thomas Richs 192-7, Warminster 170-6
Blundell’s197-4 ( S. Linnitt 124*), Kingswood 148-8
Rnd 2
Queen’s Taunton 72-8, King’s Bruton 76-3
Wells Cathedral 166-6, Sir Thomas Rich’s GS 169-6 (20)
Richard Huish 152 -6, Blundell’s 157- 4 (18)
Truro and Penwith 213-4 (20 Overs), QEH 199-5
Exeter 152, Bristol GS 97(17.3)
Sherborne143-9, SGS College108
Rnd 3
Exeter 133-8, Blundells 117-9
Truro and Penwith 181-3, Sir Thomas Rich’s GS 133-9
Sherborne 180-5, Bryanston 135-8
Quarter-finals
King’s Bruton 114-6, Millfield 116-4 (12.1)
Exeter 153-5, King’s Taunton 157 – 7
Truro and Penwith 96-8, Taunton 97-2 (10.5)
Sherborne 82, Clifton 86-3 (11.5)
Semi-finals
King’s Taunton 130-7, Millfield 131-4 (16.2)
Clifton 189-6, Taunton 154-9
Final
Millfield 133-7, Clifton 137-7
South Central
Rnd 1
Embley 139-8, Ryde with Upper Chine 140-5 (18.1)
Rnd 2
Marlborough 241-3 (L. Corbett 109), Shiplake 130-8
Lord Wandsworth 152, Elizabeth, Guernsey 155-4
Reading Blue Coat 160-8, Dauntsey’s 155-5
Abingdon 240-2, St Bartholomew’s 75-9
Barton Peveril 146-7, Churcher’s 147-5 (19.2)
MCS 247-5 (J. Laird 125), Radley 113
Canford School 192-3 (20 Overs), Ryde School with Upper Chine 85
Rnd 3
Reading Blue Coat 94, Marlborough 95-6 (17)
Canford 127-7, Churcher’s 97-6
Oratory w/o Elizabeth College
Abingdon 154-4, MCS 155-3 (17.4)
Quarter Finals
Winchester 141-7, St Edward’s 135-7 (reduced to 18 overs each)
Bradfield 137-7, Canford 107 (19)
Oratory 160-3 Marlborough 161-6 (20)
MCS 169-8, Wellington College 171-9 (19.5)
Semi-finals
Bradfield 119-9, Wellington 120-6 (17)
Marlborough 149-9, Winchester 153-7 (19.2)
Final (at Oratory School)
Winchester 190-5, Wellington 191-2
East Midlands and East Anglia
Rnd 1
Stamford w/o Wisbech GS (withdrew)
Norwich 117-8, Wymondham 88-6
Easton 117-8, Langley 119-4
Trent w/o Priory Ruskin Academy
Leicester GS 150-5, Oakham 109
Moulton College 114-8, Stowe 115-0
New Hall 170-4, Gosfield 130-6
Felsted 146-8, Bishop Stortford High School 144-9
Royal Hospital School 71-9, Ipswich 73-0 (11.2)
Oundle 168-6, Uppingham 162-6
Stephen Perse 103 -9, The Perse 104-2 (11)
Bedford 153-6, Bedford Modern 104-9
St Joseph’s 157-3, Framlingham 158-4
Repton 233-3, Loughborough GS 122-8
The Leys 144-3, Culford 90 (19.3)
Rnd 2
Stamford154-5, The Perse 87
Stowe School 133-7 (20 Overs), Bedford School 135-8 (19 Overs)
Repton 157-9, Trent 161-7 (19.1)
Felsted 141 -5, The Leys 137-8
Norwich 158-5, Gresham’s 140-8
Framlingham w/o Langley
Leicester GS 10, Oundle 102-3 (11.5)
New Hall 161-3 (T Robinson 100*), Ipswich 159-7
Quarter-Finals
Stamford 154-7, Framlingham 66 (14.5)
Bedford 114-8, Trent 119-1 (11.2)
New Hall 148-4, Felsted 86
Oundle 173-6, Norwich 144-7
Semi-finals
New Hall 116-6, Stamford 121-4 (12.5)
Oundle 119-9, Trent 123-1 (14.3)
Final
Trent 185-8, Stamford 156
Yorkshire and North East
Preliminary Rnd
Huddersfield New College 134-9 , Grammar School at Leeds 113-7
Hill House 189-3, Birkdale 188-4
Rnd 1
Bradford GS 127-6, Woodhouse Grove 131-4
Barnard Castle 177-9, Loretto 114-5
Harrogate GS 143-5, Ashville 148-2
QEGS, Wakefield 184-4, Ampleforth 132-9
St Aidan’s School 152-7, Ripon Grammar School 149-7
Newcastle Boys 199-8, Yarm 177-5
Pocklington 149 – 5, Hymers 150 – 7(19.3)
Queen Ethelburga’s 117 (19.3), Park View Academy of Sport 109-8
Huddersfield New College186-5, Hill House 109-5
Rnd 2
Woodhouse Grove School 205-6 (20 Overs), Ashville Harrogate 122
Hymers College 86-9 (20 Overs), QEGS Wakefield 87-3
Queen Ethelburga’s 181-4, Barnard Castle 110 (16.5)
Huddersfield New College 183-3, QEGS Wakefield 135-1
Rnd 3
Queen Ethelburga’s w/o Woodhouse Grove
Newcastle School for Boys 46, Scarborough 50-1 (5.3)
Yorkshire Cricket College 161, Durham114-6
St Peter’s 137-9, Huddersfield New College 76
Semi-finals
Scarborough College 125-6, Yorkshire Cricket College 104-8
St Peters 154-7, Queen Ethelburga’s 76 (15.3)
Final
Scarborough College 127, St. Peter’s York 129-4
North London
Group 1 held at Haileybury
Hitchin 92-6, St Benedict’s 98-4
Haileybury v UCS – Haileybury walkover.
Final
Haileybury 199-7, St Benedict’s 125-8
Winner: Haileybury
Group 3 held at Forest
Forest 214-2 (A Rashid 138*), Shenfield HS 209-8
Chigwell 113-8, Brentwood 118-2
Final
Forest 212-4 (A Rashid 111*), Brentwood 201-7
Winner: Forest
Group 4 held at Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted 231-6 ( F Webster 101*), William Perkin 100-8
RGS High Wycombe 171-4 (M Evans 102*), John Hampden GS 115
Final
RGS High Wycombe 181-8, Berkhamsted 153-9
Winner: Royal Grammar High Wycombe
Group 5 held at Haberdashers
Haberdashers 118, Highgate 119-2
Parmiter’s 137-5, QE Barnet 91
Final
Parmiter’s 146-7, Highgate 149-3
Winner: Highgate
Group 2 – held at St Albans
Bolder Academy w/o Mill Hill (withdrew)
St. Alban’s w/o Dame Alice Owen (withdrew)
Final
Bolder Academy 90, St. Alban’s 81-7 (18.4)
Winner: St. Albans
Quarter finals
Forest 169-7, RGS High Wycombe 112
Brentwood 149-3, Merchant Taylors’ 151-7 (19.5)
Berkhamsted 151-4, Haileybury 152-4 (18.2)
St. Albans 145-6, Highgate 149-2 (19.3)
Semi-final
Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 122-5, Highgate 84-8
Forest 89-9, Haileybury 90-1 (14.1)
Final
Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 102-8, Haileybury 104-4 (12.2)
London Play off
Epsom 186-3, Haileybury 149-8
West Midlands and Wales
Rnd 1
Shirelands Collegiate 33, Wolverhampton GS 36-0
Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr 86-6, Monmouth 90-0
Queen Mary’s GS 91-7, Painsley Catholic College 92-3 (13.1)
Princethorpe 153-2, KE VI Stratford 142-4
Christ, Brecon 126 for 6, Greenhill, Tenby 123 for 6
Denstone 236-4 (R Vallabhaneni 103, Blythe Bridge 152-8
Bablake/King Henry VIII 147-4, Warwick 148-0 (11.1)
Prince Henry’s 171 – 3 (L. Rolllinson 108*), Wycliffe 140 – 7
Ellesmere 116-8, Oswestry 103-8
Newcastle Under Lyme w/o Alleyn’s Academy
Rnd 2
Solihull 232-2 (R Chahal 100*), Wolverhampton GS 93 (16.2)
Rugby 207-2 (J. Strydom 126*), Warwick 115-7
RGS Worcester 248-3 (G Heywood 113), Old Swinford Hospital 125 (18.5)
Monmouth 224-4, Christ College Brecon 154-2
Princethorpe w/o Prince Henry’s
Ellesmere 70, Denstone 71-0 (6)
Abbotsholme 182-4, Newcastle Under Lyme 178-7
Wrekin College w/o Painsley High School
Rnd 3
Wrekin 156-9, Solihull 159-1 (11.2)
Denstone 168-4, Abbotsholme 111 (17.4)
RGS Worcester 182-6, Princethorpe 117-8
Rugby w/o Monmouth
Quarter Finals
Solihull 104-8, Rugby 105-3 (14.3)
Malvern 171-9, King’s Worcester 127 (17.2)
RGS Worcester 172-3, Shrewsbury 173-6
Bromsgrove 130-7, Denstone 129-8
Semi finals
Shrewsbury 169-6, Bromsgrove 124 (20)
Malvern 161, Rugby 165-4
Final
Shrewsbury 154-8, Rugby 155-5
North West
Group 1 – held at King’s Chester
Sandbach 148-6, King’s Chester 149-5
Bolton w/o Cardinal Langley HS (withdrew)
Final
Bolton 138-7, King’s Chester 124-8
Bolton win the Group
Group 2- Held at AKS Lytham
AKS Lytham 140-5, Clitheroe RGS 126-9
Rossall 144-6 (20) , Kirkham GS 145-5 (19.1)
Final
AKS Lytham 80, Kirkham GS 81-2 (11.0)
Kirkham GS win the group
Group 3 – held at Birkenhead School
Merchant Taylors’ Crosby 161-6, Wirral GS 147-7
The Grange 50, Birkenhead School 51-3
Final:
Merchant Taylors’ Crosby 128-7,Birkenhead 116-9
MTS win the group
Group 4 – Held at King’s Macclesfield
Stonyhurst 123/9, Cheadle Hulme 124/1
Kings Macc 129/1 Stockport 125/4
Final
Cheadle Hulme 143/5, King’s Macclesfield 121/9
Cheadle Hulme win the Group
Quarter finals
Cheadle Hulme 100, Kirkham GS 97-9
Bolton 124-7, Lancaster RGS 107-8
MGS 144-7, Myerscough 148-3 (14.0)
MTS 129-5, Sedbergh 127-4 (18.4) RSP
Sedbergh win on DLS
Semi-Finals
Cheadle Hulme 103-6, Myerscough 97-7
Bolton 127-7, Sedbergh 127-9
Bolton win by virtue of losing fewer wickets
Final
Cheadle Hulme 116-8, Bolton 117-4
National Quarter Finals
Bolton 101, St Peter’s York 102-7
Clifton 164-8, Wellington 134
Epsom 133, Simon Langton GS 77
Rugby 180-4, Trent 66
National Semi-Final
Clifton 144, Epsom 122-5
St. Peter’s 160-5, Rugby 161-3
National Final (at Lord’s 1st July)
Clifton 132-9, Rugby 134-2