Birmingham Phoenix launches Tape Ballers League

Birmingham Phoenix has today unveiled the Tape Ballers League, an exciting new initiative designed to inspire young people across the city to get active through a fast-paced, accessible form of cricket, backed by global football star and Phoenix investor Jude Bellingham.

2026-06-03T00:00+01:00

The programme marks Bellingham’s first major community initiative since investing in the franchise and reflects his commitment to giving back to Birmingham by creating more opportunities for young people to engage with sport. Using his profile and connection to the city, the initiative aims to bring cricket closer to communities who have traditionally faced barriers to participation.

Bellingham is not the only star name involved in Tape Ballers League, as each team will be supported by a high-profile manager with strong connections to the sport and the region. Birmingham Phoenix Men’s captain Jacob Bethell, Phoenix Women rising star Davina Perrin, Beard Before Wicket host Nubaid Haroon and community cricket voice Faraaz Noor will lead one team each through the competition.

Tape Ballers has been created to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing youth sport today. A large proportion of children drop out of organised sport by the age of 13, while limited green space and financial barriers mean many young people lack access to facilities and equipment.

Tape ball cricket is a dynamic, street-style version of the game played with a tennis ball wrapped in tape, requiring minimal equipment and space and allowing it to be played anywhere, from playgrounds to car parks.

At the heart of the competition, schools across Birmingham have been invited to apply, with four selected to take part in the inaugural league. Each squad will comprise ten children of which at least four must be female, with a team of eight playing in each match.

Successful schools will receive two coaching sessions delivered by the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation, as well as surprise visits or messages from their team managers and Jude Bellingham himself.

The programme will culminate in a one-day, high-energy tournament, with the winning team celebrated on stage at a Birmingham Phoenix match during The Hundred.

Speaking about the launch, Jude Bellingham said: “I’m excited to be launching the Tape Ballers League. Think Ballers League, but cricket, and on the streets of Birmingham. It’s such a cool idea and I’m really excited to be part of it.

“I think it's so important to get our kids in the city out there playing sports. I think it's crucial and the opportunity of me being a part of Birmingham Phoenix is to try and help people realise there's different avenues.”

The initiative forms a key part of Birmingham Phoenix’s ambition to grow participation among young and diverse communities, making cricket more relevant and inclusive. By combining grassroots access with the influence of athletes, creators and digital storytelling, Tape Ballers is set to engage a new generation of players and fans across the city.

Building on the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation’s extensive work with tens of thousands of children, the programme will help expand access to the game while supporting a more inclusive pathway into cricket for young people across Birmingham.

Tape Ballers League represents the start of a longer-term vision, with ambitions to expand the concept in future years, incorporating more teams and taking the format to other cities involved in The Hundred.

About Birmingham Phoenix

Birmingham Phoenix is one of eight franchises which comprise The Hundred, with both Men’s and Women’s teams playing their home matches at Edgbaston Stadium.

Representing the vibrant and diverse city of Birmingham and the wider Midlands region, the Phoenix has a bold identity and a passionate supporter base which aims to embody the energy and ambition of the communities it proudly represents.

The 2026 season will herald a new era for The Hundred as, after five seasons of the fast-paced, innovative 100-ball format, the eight franchises enter a new era under private ownership.

After being centrally-owned by the ECB for the first five iterations of the competition, Birmingham Phoenix is now owned by Warwickshire County Cricket Club (50.4%), affiliates of Knighthead Capital Management, LLC (48.4%), and Jude Bellingham (1.2%) combining the cricketing history of the club with the commercial nous and global sports experience of the New York based private investment firm.

Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond is the Men’s Head Coach, while Ali Maiden is Head Coach of Phoenix Women.

About Tape Ballers League

Tape Ballers League is a fast, street-style form of cricket played with a tennis ball wrapped in tape. It’s easy to pick up and play anywhere, requiring minimal equipment and space.

The league will comprise four teams, selected from entries submitted by local schools around Birmingham, and each team will be managed by one of the four Team Managers; Jacob Bethell, Davina Perrin, Nubaid Haroon and Faraaz Noor.

Each team will receive two weeks of coaching from the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation ahead of the Tape Ballers League Final in early July.

The Final will see all four teams play in a round-robin style tournament with the top two progressing to the final, with each game consisting of 80 balls – 40 balls per side – bowled in sets of five, with every one of the eight players from a squad of ten on each team bowling one set.