With exactly 50 days to go until the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Yorkshire has played a starring role in the largest single-day cricket participation event in UK history. Over 23,000 children from 125 schools across the region took part in Schools Cricket Day, an initiative designed to inspire the next generation of players.
The event serves as a major milestone ahead of the tournament, which begins on 12 June. Headingley Cricket Ground is set to host 5 fixtures, starting Saturday 13 June with a double-header featuring Australia vs Bangladesh followed by India vs Netherlands.
In Yorkshire, the celebrations included a dedicated session at Morley Cricket Club hosted by Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC), where 50 children from 5 local schools were joined by Australia and YCCC star Jess Jonassen. Beyond the boundary, teachers received training to become “cricket activators,” ensuring a long-term legacy for the sport in local communities.
Nationally, the Schools Cricket Day saw legends like Heather Knight OBE and Lydia Greenway OBE visiting host cities. The event is part of the ECB’s broader ambition to see 500,000 women and girls playing cricket this year, while also creating 500 “Champions of Change” through the Young Cricket Collective.
Australia and Yorkshire CCC star Jess Jonassen said: “I can’t wait for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup coming to England, and Headingley, in just 50 days’ time. Major tournaments can have such a powerful legacy and today’s School Cricket Day is a pivotal step towards encouraging more girls and boys to pick up a bat and ball and fall in love with the sport.”
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. 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.”
The day also integrated “Rights in Play” resources from UNICEF, the ICC’s global charity partner, helping children understand their rights through sport. Tickets for the tournament are now on sale at tickets.womens.t20worldcup.com.
