Cricket is coming to more state secondary schools – here's where Sutton teenagers can keep playing

The ECB has launched free cricket training for PE teachers and a new soft-ball competition for 11 to 16-year-olds. If your child catches the cricket bug at school this year, our winter sessions in Sutton are the natural next step.

Cricket is about to feature on many more state secondary school timetables. On 5 October the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) launched two new schemes, following a pilot in the 2025/26 school year.

The first, Cricket For Teachers, is free training for PE teachers, backed by resources, equipment and ongoing support, so schools can run cricket sessions that include every pupil. The second, Secondary Countdown Cricket, is a new soft-ball competition for 11 to 16-year-olds that can be played indoors or outdoors – so a school doesn't need a grass pitch to take part.

The ECB says it is investing around £1.5 million, aiming to reach more than 1,700 state secondary schools and train over 3,500 teachers by the end of 2028. It is working alongside the charities already active in schools – Chance to Shine, the Lord's Taverners and the MCC Foundation – with a particular focus on schools for pupils with special educational needs. The full details are in the ECB's announcement.

The ECB hasn't published a list of the schools taking part, so if you'd like to know whether your child's school is involved, their PE department is the best place to ask.

From the school hall to the club nets

School cricket is a brilliant start. But many teenagers who enjoy it in PE lessons soon want somewhere to keep playing, with regular coaching, friends to play alongside and a summer season to look forward to. That's what a local club is for.

At Cheam Cricket Club, winter training for secondary school Years 7 to 11 runs on Tuesday evenings from 7.40pm to 9pm in full-size indoor nets in Sutton – at Overton Grange School, with the first week of each block at Harris Academy Sutton. It's hardball cricket, girls and boys train together, and there are no trials: every young player who wants to play is welcome, whatever their level. Younger brothers and sisters in school Years 3 to 6 have their own softball session earlier the same evening, with equipment provided.

The autumn block runs until 8 December, and there is a three-session trial option if your child would like to try it first. New players are welcome to join part-way through the block. Times, prices and booking are all on our Winter Programme page.

Cheam Cricket Club has been welcoming new players since 1864. If your teenager comes home from school talking about cricket this winter, we'd love to see them on a Tuesday night.