Ben Mayes' 191 in Under-19 World Cup 2026 (Source: @graynics/x.com)
The game of cricket was born in England, and the country has gifted some of the real gems of the game, and Ben Mayes is the latest addition. In the ongoing U-19 World Cup, he smashed the highest-ever score by an English player in the tournament, turning heads worldwide.
Facing the Scotland Under-19 side, England Under-19 gave a fiery start, but Mayes took all the limelight with his sublime knock. After a stunning hundred, he drove the team towards a grand total and touched a massive milestone as the first English batter.
With an outstanding 191-run knock, he registered the highest individual score as an English batter in the tournament’s history. He must have missed a deserving 200, but the iconic feat became much more prestigious than the double century.
Ben Mayes rises through England’s domestic circuit and turns heads with brilliance
Over the years, the England cricket has unleashed some of the brain-storming cricketing talent who ended up becoming icons of the game. Amidst the long star-studded list, 18-year old Ben Mayes is showcasing the same spark of being a future legend of the cricket-playing nation.
The right-handed middle-order batter grabbed attention in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup, but his talent was shaped in England’s domestic circuit. Mayes is yet to make his First Class debut, but he has already made his mark in the limited-overs format. Making his List A debut in August 2025 against Glamorgan, he played a sublime knock of 74 runs.
In his very first outing in the domestic circuit, the world saw a future superstar in him. In 11 List A games, he scored 230 runs along with two half-centuries. In three T20s, he scored only 19 runs as the shortest format of the game has yet to witness his spark.
Mayes’ 191-run masterclass makes U19 World Cup history
As the ongoing Under-19 World Cup is unleashing some of the iconic youngsters, Ben Mayes grabbed the limelight after his heroics in the last game. As England faced Scotland under-19, the young middle-order batter created history. Joining Joseph Moores after an early dismissal, Mayes turned the tide.
Followed by a crucial half-century, he smashed a 65-ball hundred, and the opponent bowlers faced the head. As the opponent bowlers kept guessing the perfect weapon to get rid of his power-hitting, he crossed the 150-run mark, aiming for a deserving double ton.
The dream was shattered in the middle as Max Chaplin finally hit the jackpot, removing Ben Mayes in 191 runs. Mayes smashed 191 off just 117 balls, rewriting U19 World Cup history. He now holds the record for the highest individual score by a youth English batter, surpassing Dan Lawrence’s previous best of 174.
England spot their next batting star in Ben Mayes
England has long produced cricketing greats like Ian Botham, Kevin Pietersen, and modern icons Joe Root and Ben Stokes, each carving a legacy of their own. Representing the nation at the Under-19 World Cup stage, Ben Mayes showcased the same hunger. When the team was in danger, he stepped in with a brave heart and guided the side towards a strong total.
The domestic stage already saw his exceptional talent, and the world is now witnessing his spark on the big stage. Just not in the last game, his unbeaten 77 against the Zimbabwe under-19 side was another classic.
The world caught a glimpse of Ben Mayes’ calm temperament on the big stage and his rare ability to thrive under pressure. As England moves into a transition phase beyond their current stars, Mayes could emerge as a powerful weapon for the future. With perfect guidance and promising chances, he has all the abilities to be the next superstar of the nation.
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