PUPILS joined the likes of Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer by getting their hands on the Cricket World Cup trophy this week.

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy’s students got hold of the prestigious gong thanks to the school’s partnership with Sussex Cricket Club.

Among those who got to grip the trophy were Year 9 pupil Frankie Cripps and sixth-former Steve Harman, who has represented Sussex U17s and was called up to the county’s second team earlier this year.

And earlier this month England Cricket Board president Ian Lovett visited the school to speak to pupils.

He called the cricket facilities “the best I’ve seen at any state school”.

“It’s a facility that some first-class counties would be proud to have,” he said.

“And I can’t believe how talented the students are.”

The school’s Aldridge Cricket Academy, opened six years ago, has yielded impressive results, with students from Brighton and Portslade seeing success.

This year alone 18-year-old academy graduate Will Sheffield signed a professional contract with Sussex, while former pupil Liam O’Brien has represented England’s physical disability team.

Portslade academy graduate Tara Norris is a regular member of Sussex’s female squad and ex-Brighton academy pupil Jordan Shaw made his debut for Sussex’s second team earlier this year.