Cricket books for children and teens
Children’s cricket books can do more than explain lbws and batting orders – they can spark a real love for the game. Whether it’s learning teamwork from a tense match or picking up quirky cricket phrases along the way, these books offer far more than just facts. They’re a great way to get less confident readers turning pages, and they might even nudge a few kids onto the pitch. Plus, who doesn’t want to read about their sporting heroes? This list features books by Clive Gifford, Shamini Flint, Gary D. Schmidt, Shehan Karunatilaka, Cheryl Diane Parkinson, Matt Oldfield, Tanya Aldred, Sachin Tendulkar, Varsha Shah, and Lawrence Booth.
Cricket themed books for children and teens – our recommendations
Cricket picture books
Peppa Pig: Peppa Plays Cricket by Ladybird
It is a sunny day, so Daddy Pig sets up a cricket game in the garden. Peppa, George and Suzy Sheep learn the basics as he shows them how to play. After a spell of batting and bowling, the match pauses for tea and cake, then everyone heads back for more. This charming board book story for 2-6 year olds introduces simple cricket rules alongside teamwork and taking turns, with Daddy Pig clearly in his element throughout.
Bluey: Cricket by Bluey
Rusty is in to bat, and he is determined to stay there. The grown-ups bowl everything they have, but the refrain is clear: “You’ll never get Rusty out.” Bandit frames the match as a story, looking back on Rusty’s practice and what he has had to learn to face the next ball. This colourful paperback picture book for 3-6 year olds ties into the Bluey TV series, shown in the UK on Disney+, BBC iPlayer and CBeebies.
Cricket themed books for primary aged children
Sports Academy: Cricket by Chris Oxlade
An accessible, well-written cricket skills guide for readers aged 9+, this illustrated hardback sets out batting, bowling and fielding with tips and step-by-step illustrations for key techniques. It also covers rules, equipment and major competitions as part of the Sports Academy series. It is suitable for children starting cricket, or for those who want a reference book to use alongside training. Highly recommended for KS2.
Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt
Carter Jones opens the door to an English butler, Bowles-Fitzpatrick, sent to help a family that has been struggling. The butler takes charge of routines and rules while Carter tries to manage middle school, a father who is away and not in contact, and the death of his brother. Flashbacks follow a wilderness trip in Australia with his father. Cricket runs through the story as Bowles-Fitzpatrick uses sport and structure to teach choices, responsibility and confidence. An immersive, fun page-turner for 9-12 year olds.
Going To Bat by Sunita Chawdhary
Maya joins Cricket Club at school and wants to track down the bat her grandad gave her before she left India. She also means to write to him, but school and training keep swallowing the time. Then her mum turns up as the team coach, and jealousy, pressure and the “green-eyed monster” start crowding in before the match. Cricket carries the story while it introduces emotional literacy and topics linked to mental health, wellbeing and anxiety for KS2 and PSHE. A thought-provoking read for 8+ year olds, ideal for discussion in book clubs.
The World’s Worst Alien Fight Back by Alice Primmer, illustrated by Fred Blunt
Peace-loving alien Sky is back on Earth, once again passing as an eleven-year-old at Oak Lane Primary. Her last visit ended with a failed school project, so this time she arrives with a clearer mission and a plan that ties into stopping conflict altogether. When a cricket match and a message scrawled on the school fence spark trouble with a rival school, Sky and her friends are pulled into the fallout. Alice Primmer gives playground politics an intergalactic twist in this hilarious series for 9+ year olds, while Fred Blunt’s accessible and anarchic illustrations help to sharpen the comedy.
Diary of a Cricket God by Shamini Flint and Sally Heinrich
Marcus Atkinson insists he is not a cricket star, but his dad expects otherwise and talks about “magic” in his wrists. Marcus is maths-focused and does not feel at home in sport, while his dad, a self-help author, keeps pushing the idea that you can do anything you set your mind to. Told in illustrated diary format, this fun, accessible story for 8-12 year olds uses drawings and jokes as the sporting pressure builds, with cricket facts woven throughout the entries.
Ultimate Cricket Superstars by Tanya Aldred and Matt Oldfield
This outstanding nonfiction book for 7+ year olds shares true stories of 50 cricket players, mixing past figures with current names. Each profile includes facts about the player and their career, with sections on success, failure, injury and bravery. The book also covers cricket terms and parts of the game’s history, plus player statistics. Added extras include quizzes for readers who play, along with tips linked to improving performance. It’s ideal for KS2 readers.
Incredible Cricket Stories by Clive Gifford
Cricket stories from around the world fill this nonfiction collection for 7-10 year olds, spanning men’s, women’s and para cricket across past and present. Sixty accounts cover players and matches, from Brian Lara’s 501 not out to Sajjida Shah playing for her country at 12. There is also a match played inside a volcano, and a contest on Africa’s highest mountain. Facts, stats, short bios and quizzes sit alongside an accessible guide for players. It’s perfect for KS2 classrooms.
Virat Kohli by Clive Gifford
Clive Gifford charts Virat Kohli’s route from childhood practice in India to selection for the national team and later captaincy. This fast-paced, accessible paperback for 7-10 year olds follows his training, setbacks and his step into international cricket, using match facts and career detail to explain how he built his game. It forms part of the Amazing Cricket Stars series, alongside titles on Ben Stokes, Mitchell Starc and Heather Knight, always keeping the focus squarely on cricket. It’s perfect for KS2 libraries.
Heather Knight by Clive Gifford
Clive Gifford profiles Heather Knight, an all-rounder and first-class batter who plays across formats and captains the England women’s team on tours worldwide. The book follows matches and results, with records and fact sections built into the life story. The highly engaging, easy-to-read format is ideal for children in KS2.
Last Girl In by Cheryl Diane Parkinson and Sonya McGilchrist
Kerry-Ann has loved cricket every since her Jamacan grandpa show her how to hold a bat. But bullies at the local club want to exlude her and her friends. With an empowering and satifsying ending, this accesible and pacy short chapter book is perfect for summer term book clubs in KS2, class reading outside in the sunshine and Windrush themed topic teaching.
Ben Stokes by Clive Gifford
Clive Gifford charts Ben Stokes’s route from childhood in New Zealand and early cricket at Cockermouth to a County Championship title with Durham and selection for England. The book outlines his development as an all-rounder, covering batting, bowling and fielding, and traces key stages in his international career, including his role as England captain. The fun, fact-packed format is perfect for 7+ year olds.
Ajay and the Mumbai Sun by Varsha Shah
When Ajay starts up a school newspaper with his friends Saif, Vinod, Jasmin and Jai, he stumbles upon a web of corruption by powerful people. Can he evade danger and expose the crimes? And there’s an incredibly important cricket match at the centre of the story! With rich cultural details and compelling storytelling, Ajay and the Mumbai Sun is a sublime slice of life to wistfully lose a few days reading. It’s also a must-read for children involved in school newspapers, and an inspirational book to encourage pupils to care about finding the truth.
Glory in the Cup by Bob Cattell
A group of children who play cricket for fun decide to form a proper under-11 team after a teacher suggests entering real matches. Hooker takes on the role of captain at Glory Gardens C.C., juggling selection, bruised egos and teammates who cannot always catch or keep their tempers. Some even storm off mid-game. Alongside the story, there are sections explaining coaching tips, scoring and match play. This is the first book in the compelling Glory Gardens series for 10+ year olds.
Cricket themed books for teens
Playfair Cricket Annual 2026 by Ian Marshall
An indispensable pocket guide to the 2026 season, this thorough annual combines a review of the past 12 months with Test and limited-overs records and career stats. County cricket is covered in depth, with player biographies for those registered at the start of the season, a recap of last summer and a fixture list for major domestic matches in 2026. Extensive sections on women’s cricket, the IPL and The Hundred round out the coverage. Ideal for secondary school libraries.
Remarkable Cricket Grounds by Brian Levison
Brian Levison profiles 78 incredible cricket grounds across six continents, from Test cathedrals such as Lord’s, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Eden Gardens and Newlands to outliers like Spout House in North Yorkshire and the beach wicket at Elie in Fife. The gloriously illustrated picks include forts above boundary ropes, mountains behind pavilions, castles and country houses as backdrops, plus city skylines. The net is cast wide in this stunning, school library-worthy hardback, with entries from South Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland and Singapore. A fascinating read.
The Amazing Test Match Crime by Adrian Alington
England heads to the Oval for a final Test in 1938, with the Ashes at stake, but captain Norman Blood goes missing before play. Back in Wattlecombe Ducis, Joe Prestwick needs selection if he is to secure Monica Blood’s hand. Meanwhile, The Bad Men are planning to interfere with the match, with Sawn-off Carlo, The Professor and Ralph the Disappointment among their number. Village life and cricket culture run alongside a deviously twisty disappearance crime plot. A rip-roaring read for older teens.
Playing It My Way by Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar recounts his cricket career from a first Test cap at 16 to 100 international centuries and retirement in 2013 after 24 years. He covers injuries, World Cup success, and match-fixing and IPL spot-fixing, and links the book to the film A Billion Dreams, in which he appears. It also notes his Bharat Ratna award on the day he retired. Older teens will find a lot of information on matches and scores, with some useful insights on developing an elite batting mindset.
Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2026 by Lawrence Booth
Published annually since 1864, this 163rd edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack blends cricket features and reporting with the year’s records. Tanya Aldred writes on cricket’s links with mining communities, Harry Pearson visits former county grounds, and Gideon Haigh examines India-Pakistan relations. Osman Samiuddin covers Imran Khan and Derek Pringle writes on Dickie Bird. Notes by the Editor, Cricketers of the Year, obituaries, Test reports and scorecards, and records are also included. A must-have for school libraries and teen cricket fans to pore over.
Chinaman by Shehan Karunatilaka
Retired sportswriter WG Karunasena decides to spend his remaining time making a film about Sri Lankan cricket and an overlooked bowler, PS Mathew. With his friend Ari, he retraces Mathew’s brief career, chasing a match tangled up with political unrest and bomb blasts. The story comes in fragments, doubling back and testing what is true. Cricket sits alongside family tension, ethnic conflict, administrative corruption and the pull of betting on the game. It’s a complex, fascinating and immersive read for sixth-formers.
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Cricket resources for teachers
- Chance to Shine free school resources provide lesson plans, skills videos and ready-to-run sessions for primary and secondary, designed so non-specialists can teach confidently.
- The ECB Kwik Cricket guide explains the inclusive primary format and includes downloadable rules and scorecards, which are handy for clubs, lunchtime provision and inter-school festivals.
- iCoachCricket (what it is and how to access it) outlines the ECB’s planning and practices hub, with age- and stage-appropriate activities and session-building tools.
- The All Stars support materials page points teachers and activators to the ECB Resource Hub and training videos, plus downloadable posters and templates.
- Dynamos Cricket is the ECB’s 8–11 programme – useful if you want a clear “next step” route for pupils who enjoy school sessions and want to continue locally.
- The Lord’s Schools Tour and Cricket Taster Package is a strong enrichment option, combining heritage, a stadium tour and a coached skills session.
- Youth Sport Trust KS3 secondary PE activities include cricket skill cards with linked videos, useful for quick starters, stations and cover lessons.
- Junior cricket scorecards, including printable scorecards that are useful for KS2 and KS3 matches, festivals and intra-school competitions, helping non-specialist teachers and pupils practise scoring and follow the flow of a game. Ideal for recording information for match reports in school newspapers and magazines.
BISAC JUV032000 – Juvenile Fiction / Sports & Recreation, JNF054000 – Juvenile Nonfiction / Sports & Recreation | Thema YXF, YNM
