MCC Coventry under 13s set to play at Lord's in showpiece final

Warwickshire Cricket Foundation oversees four hubs in the region, in partnership with MCC - and one of those sides have reached the MCC Foundation's national final.

Joe Chapman

2026-09-04T13:00+01:00

The county of Warwickshire will be represented at Lord’s on Saturday after MCC Coventry under 13s booked their place in the final of the MCC Foundation’s national competition.

In partnership with the MCC, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation runs four hubs in the region across two venues, providing free-to-access training and match play throughout the summer.

Coventry’s hub team have progressed through the rounds this summer; they beat Worcester and Stoke in the regional finals at the end of July to advance into the national finals this month.

Taking on sides from the south of the country, Coventry beat West Kent by 77 runs in the semi-final before they saw off Dulwich by 79 runs in the final - having posted 142 from their 20 overs, they then bowled out Dulwich for just 63.

Coventry will meet their counterparts MCC Sheffield in the final at the home of cricket on Saturday 5 September when they take to the Nursery Ground at Lord’s.

“They’re a really good group and they’ve had a really positive year and they’ve improved a lot over the winter. A range of the boys came through the county pathway last year and then progressed into the MCC Hubs,” coach Ben Chapman told BBC CWR.

“They’ve had a really good season, not only in the national competition but they’re also doing really well with their clubs and internal programmes.”

The aim of the hubs is to identify young talent, identified through mass participation activities, and help those promising individuals find clubs where they can continue to hone their skills, get up to speed with hardball cricket and move into talent pathway schemes.

There is also evidence of the beneficial impact that the cricket hubs across the region have had on young people beyond cricket; the hubs have shown to help participants feel more confident, happier, and better able to focus and perform at school.

“Last year, the county cricket club took on the development process,” Ben explained. “Rather than having an A or a B squad, they try to give the boys who are not making it into the A programme an opportunity to continue training throughout the winter and get access to some of the coaching ratios we’d have within a county age group programme.

“There is a real divide at the moment between the private schools with real cricket provision and the boys in state schools where, if they get any cricket training in the summer, it’s a surprise. I went through that myself.

“There are boys who are getting two games a week, one-to-one coaching provision on the side and this is a real opportunity to bridge the gap with the lads, who are state-schooled, through the MCC Foundation.”

Players Harry and James joined coach Ben in the BBC CWR studio before this weekend’s final.

“It’s every young cricketer’s dream to play at Lord’s,” opening batter Harry said. “It’s a great opportunity for the boys.”

Asked who their idols were, as promising young cricketers, Harry revealed: “Harry Brook. He’s a hard hitter of the ball, he sees it early and he hits it very far!”

“If we’re counting Ben Stokes, then I’d say him,” all-rounder James explained, “because I’m a left-handed batter and right-arm seam bowler, just like him.”

The teenagers both have aspirations to play at a decent level in the years to come, too.

Harry said: “One day I’d like to play at a really good standard and just have fun doing it.” James agreed, adding: “The same as Harry - I’d like to play at quite a high standard of cricket and enjoy it as well, playing with a few of my mates.”

You can listen to the full interview with Ben, Harry and James, which took place with host Phil Upton, via BBC CWR's Sounds page by clicking here. The interview begins at 2:13:00.