By James Reid

England bowler Jack Leach hailed a day in the sunshine to remember at the home of cricket after attending the Lord’s Taverners 2024 National Table Cricket Finals.

Leach was on hand to give out medals to all 12 of the schools who made it to the finals at Lord’s, with Beckfoot School from Bradford emerging as national champions.

The dozen schools in attendance had already battled their way through local and regional qualifiers to earn a trip to London, where an enthralling day of action was capped by a thrilling final, in which Beckfoot edged past Sandfield Park School from Liverpool in the final.

“It’s a pleasure to come down and see everyone enjoying the game,” Leach said“It’s a great game, I had a little go and it’s quite difficult. I enjoyed seeing how competitive everyone is.

“It’s the national finals, it’s great for kids to be able to come here to the home of cricket to play.

“It’s everyone’s dream as a kid to play at Lord’s and for them to be able to do that is very special.”

Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table. Many young people with a disability have limited opportunities to participate in sport, but table cricket provides an incredible opportunity for them to make new friends and develop life skills such as confidence and independence, while also helping them understand the importance of leadership and teamwork in competitive environments.

Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp.

The Lord’s Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part.

Much of the Lord’s Taverners work in cricket for young people with disabilities is made possible thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by the Postcode Active Trust, in addition to support from the ECB and Sport England.

And Leach praised the work done by the Lord’s Taverners charity in organising such an accessible event.

“We want the game to be accessible to everyone,” he added. “The great work that Lord’s Taverners and the ECB have done to fund this and make it accessible is really special.

“Everyone deserves that chance, and it is great to see them making the most of it.”

Victorious Beckfoot teacher Viv MacDonald also reflected on a terrific day in the capital, despite a slightly hectic start.

“It’s been fantastic,” she said. “We arrived late so the players started playing in a little bit of a haphazard manner so we thought we wouldn’t, but we did it, we smashed it, the students love it, and we are euphoric!

“This is the cream on the top, last year we came a very close second, this is our fourth time here so it’s fourth time lucky!

“Table cricket has taught them how to perform as a team, to be a team leader, to share and camaraderie, it’s just wonderful. Table cricket has given them confidence to be out in public.

“A few of these students get a little bit shy in front of an audience and in front of their peers at assembly. This has given them a big confidence and it’ll take them on through life.”

The Lord’s Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit