Sharks Return to Hornchurch with the Crown as ECS England 2026 Opens Up

The Stage Is Set at Harrow Lodge Park

The ECS returns to Hornchurch under the England and Wales Cricket Board banner, with the 2026 edition bringing together nine club teams in the senior men’s category.

From Monday 27 July 2026 through Friday 7 August 2026, Harrow Lodge Park will host 40 planned matches across 11 match days, giving fans a full helping of fast-moving ECS action in England.

And the headline is impossible to miss: Sharks Cricket Academy won the ECS England, Hornchurch, 2025 title, and they are back in the field looking to defend that crown.

The Defending Champions and the Chasing Pack

Sharks Cricket Academy arrive with two ECN events already behind them, an ECN team ranking of 72, and a strong overall team rating of 93. Their profile is especially eye-catching with a batting rating of 96, a bowling rating of 85, and a fielding rating of 89.

But East Londoners carry the strongest overall number in the field, rated 97 and ranked 26. They have also played two ECN events, and their batting rating of 99 is the best team batting mark listed for this event, backed by bowling at 81 and fielding at 93.

Markhor London bring experience too, having played three ECN events. They are ranked 171, rated 86 overall, and carry a balanced look with 87 in batting, 88 in bowling, and 83 in fielding.

Rainham, with two ECN events played, come in ranked 194 and rated 84 overall. Their batting rating of 94 stands out, while their bowling is rated 67 and fielding 68.

Hornchurch are the most experienced ECN team in the group, having featured in six ECN events. Ranked 230 and rated 82 overall, they bring ratings of 84 in batting, 79 in bowling, and 89 in fielding.

Meanwhile, Comilla Warriors, Fearless Lions of West Ham, Upminster, and Apex United are all stepping into ECN competition for the first time, meaning they arrive without ECN team rankings — adding a proper wildcard feel to the tournament.

Star Power Everywhere You Look

Sharks Cricket Academy have the player with the highest batting average in the event: Ubaid Kiani, sitting on a remarkable 146.0.

East Londoners’ Vibhor Yadav is one of the biggest statistical storylines of the tournament. He is the leading ECN wicket-taker among players in this event with 55, owns the best bowling average at 12.9, and also has the best bowling economy rate at 7.7. His standout figures remain 5/5 in 2.0 overs, recorded for Janjua Brescia against Milan United on 25 April 2023.

Vibhor is not just a bowling threat either. He also has the most ECN runs among players in this event with 1,400, and has hit the most Maximos with 110.

Apex United may be newcomers as a team, but Noman Javed arrives with huge individual numbers: the highest ECN player batter rating in the field at 99, the highest ECN player bowling rating at 97, the best batting strike rate at 386.0, and the top Maximo rate at 27.6.

Apex also have Muhib Burki, who owns the best bowling strike rate among players in the event at 7.5.

Markhor London add serious experience through Madhukar Thapa, who has played the most ECN matches among players here with 54. They also feature Aamir Shaukat, holder of the highest top score in the field: 94 off 40 balls for Sonseca Sultans against Costa Del Sol on 17 March 2026.

The Big Storyline

Sharks Cricket Academy return as the reigning Hornchurch champions, but this field has depth, experience, debut energy, and some dazzling individual records.

East Londoners bring elite ratings and Vibhor Yadav’s all-round ECN record. Apex United arrive fresh but armed with Noman Javed’s explosive numbers. Markhor London bring match-hardened names, while Hornchurch and Rainham add more ECN know-how.

The crown was Sharks’ in 2025. In 2026, Harrow Lodge Park gets to find out whether they can keep it.