History made as more than 8,500 Hampshire children take part in UK's biggest ever schools cricket day
Howzat!
With just 50 days to go until the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, more than 8,500 children from 52 schools across the region today picked up a bat and ball as part of Schools Cricket Day - the largest single-day cricket participation event in UK history.
The landmark moment marks a major milestone on the road to this summer’s must-see tournament, which gets underway on 12th June at Edgbaston before the Hampshire Bowl hosts six fixtures starting from Saturday 13th June, kicking off with West Indies vs Sri Lanka.
From first-time batters and bowlers in playgrounds, to competitive matches on sports fields, girls and boys across the area came together to play, learn and be inspired, as schools across England and Wales truly catch the spirit of the game.
Hampshire has marked the occasion with over 8,500* children picking up a bat and ball across the county, including Hampshire Women’s captain Georgia Adams helping to deliver sessions at local school, Halterworth Primary. Alongside lessons and activities taking place across the county, Hampshire Cricket Board (HCB) filmed a separate training session designed to support teachers in the county to provide cricket lessons/sessions in their schools.
Big names from the world of cricket, including Heather Knight OBE, Lydia Greenway OBE and Alex Hartley, also joined school events in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup host counties, becoming powerful role models and inspiring girls to believe that cricket is a game for them. Activity across the country included:
England legend Heather Knight OBE taking part alongside over 200 children at a mass participation Schools Cricket Day event at Raynes Park, London
Former England star and 2009 World Cup winner, Lydia Greenway OBE joining over 400 children at host venue, Edgbaston, for cricket games and activities
2017 World Cup winner and Lancashire Women’s star Alex Hartley joining a cricket session with local schoolchildren at Old Trafford
Australian international and current player for Yorkshire Women, Jess Jonassen, helping with a cricket session at Morley Cricket Club
Schools Cricket Day is part of the ECB’s ambitions to harness the power of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales to build a legacy that inspires the next generation of girls to say cricket is a game for them. This year alone, through various initiatives and programmes, the ECB is aiming to see 500,000 women and girls playing cricket, 300 women taking up key leadership roles within the game’s administration, and 500 Champions of Change created as part of the Young Cricket Collective, which will empower young girls to volunteer and make change at their local cricket clubs.
The day also features bespoke resources and games created by the ICC’s global charity partner, UNICEF through its “Rights in Play” programme. The games, which were integrated into the day’s activities, focused on increasing understanding of child rights through play and participation in cricket. These sit alongside a range of cricket activity ideas on a dedicated schools’ resource hub.
Hampshire Women’s captain, Georgia Adams said “With just 50 days to go until the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Schools Cricket Day is a great initiative to help mark the occasion. Major tournaments are an opportunity to promote our game on the world stage while also having a lasting impact more locally and inspiring the next generation of Hampshire cricketers! The activities taking place across the region today allow the kids to get involved in cricket and I hope it encourages more girls and boys, across Hampshire and the entire country, to pick up a bat and ball and get down to their local clubs.”
Head of Operations and Programmes for Hampshire Cricket Board, Emily Munro added: “National Schools Cricket Day gives us a brilliant platform to showcase the work we do with schools all year round. We are proud to be working with schools across the county to give as many young people as possible the opportunity to take part in cricket. Having Georgia and Naomi visit Halterworth Primary today is incredibly powerful. They provide visible role models for young people and, for girls in particular, show what could be in their future if they take up the sport.
“Our sessions are designed to link schools directly with their local clubs, creating an accessible pathway for children to continue playing both in and out of school. The excitement of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup helps amplify our work and we hope to continue inspiring the next generation to pick up a bat, give cricket a go, and stay involved in the game for years to come.”
Gemma Barton, ECB Head of Strategic Growth, said “Moments like this show how the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is shaping the future of the game. Every girl and boy inspired to pick up a bat and ball today can see how inclusive, welcoming and fun cricket is. It’s not just about the summer ahead, it’s about what comes next: more girls playing, more teams growing, and more people feeling like they belong in the game.”
Catch the spirit of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 – buy your tickets now and be part of history: tickets.womens.t20worldcup.com/