Reading Boys cricket side in national final at Lord's

The MCC Foundation Hubs Finals Day will see Reading Boys Hub take on the Bradford Boys Hub.

Reading have earned their spot in the final by beating a number of teams, they faced Slough and Guildford in the first two rounds, the latter have knocked Reading out in previous years. Following that they beat Bristol and Brighton which were a more comfortable affair amassing some bigger totals to see them through. In the semi-finals they took on Wembley, batted first and managed to defend their total to get into the final.

The MCC Foundation runs a network of 77 cricket hubs across the UK, providing free-to-access coaching and match play to around 3,200 state-educated young cricketers. The programme includes 10 weeks of coaching sessions between January and March before the start of the national competition which culminates at Lord’s.

Saturday will also see a girls final between Guildford and Bolton with all four teams getting the chance to sample the full experience of playing at Lord’s including use of the Pavilion Dressing Rooms and lunch served in the Players Dining Room.

MCC Foundation Reading Hub manager, Adam Davidson, said: “The boys are massively excited, since we got through it is all any of them have spoken out and for some they have been speaking about it from the very first training session.

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for young cricketers and I think that can only inspire them to continue their own journey within the game, there are many jealous parents and coaches who won’t get this opportunity, so it is a massive thing for the boys.”

Dr Sarah Fane OBE, MCC Foundation Director, said: “Young people in the UK face many challenges. The MCC Foundation works in the UK and around the world to provide life-changing opportunities through cricket and to ensure that it can be a game for all and the Hubs programme is a great example of this work .”

MCC Foundation Patron and MCC President Stephen Fry is due to present the awards on the day.