Chris Woakes supports state school cricket competition

England World Cup winner Chris Woakes has been back to his roots to launch a competition to get more children in state schools playing cricket.

The Warwickshire bowler coached pupils at his former school, Barr Beacon School in Aldridge, before their first game.

The first round of matches in the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, which is run by the MCC Foundation purely for state schools, was held on Wednesday.

“It’s just great to see kids enjoying the sport and having the opportunity to play it, both boys and girls,” he said.