National League (cricket)
Encyclopedia
The NatWest Pro40 League was a one-day cricket
league for first-class cricket counties in England
and Wales
. It was inaugurated in 1999, but was essentially the old 'Sunday League' retitled to reflect the fact that large numbers of matches were played on days other than Sunday.
'Refuge Assurance' became the new sponsors of the competition in 1987 and then in 1988 started an end of season play-off competition known as the 'Refuge Assurance Cup'. The top four teams of the season qualified with the top team playing the fourth placed team and the second and third place teams playing each other. The winners of each match met in a final at a neutral venue. This competition lasted until 1991. Somerset played Lancashire at Taunton on Friday 5 July 1991 to make the first Sunday League game not to be played on a Sunday.
The Sunday League was not sponsored in 1992, but in 1993 'AXA Equity and Law' became the sponsor. The matches this season were 50 overs per innings. The first round of matches that took place on May 9 1993 were the first official matches played in coloured clothing and a white ball in England. The following season the competition reverted back to 40 overs per innings. On Wednesday 23 July 1997 Warwickshire played Somerset at Edgbaston
. This game was the first competitive county game to played under floodlights.
The counties incorporated nicknames into their official names for the National League, from 2002. For example, Kent became the 'Spitfires', Middlesex the 'Crusaders' and Lancashire were the 'Lightning'. The following season the Scotland Saltires
took part in the League until 2005.
The C & G Trophy was restructured, in 2006, from a knock-out competition to a round-robin league format, which took up the early part of the season. The National League was renamed the 'NatWest Pro40' and was played in the later part of the season with the teams playing each other once. Also, two teams instead of three were promoted to the first division and two relegated to the second division. A third promotion/relegation spot is determined in a play-off game between the team third from top in the second division and third from bottom team in the first.
tournament; the 'English Premier League'. However the proposed 'English Premier League' extra Twenty20 idea was abandoned in favour for an expanded Twenty20 Cup competition 'P20'.
The ECB announced, on August 27 2009, that in 2010 there will be a 40-overs per innings tournament replacing both the Pro40 and the Friends Provident Trophy. This along with the English County Championship
and the Twenty20 Cup
will be English cricket's three domestic competitions.
Division 2 teams in 2009:
AXA Life League
AXA Equity & Law League
Sunday League
Refuge Assurance League
John Player Special League
John Player League
John Player's County League
One-day cricket
Limited overs cricket, also known as one-day cricket and in a slightly different context as List A cricket, is a version of the sport of cricket in which a match is generally completed in one day, whereas Test and first-class matches can take up to five days to complete...
league for first-class cricket counties in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It was inaugurated in 1999, but was essentially the old 'Sunday League' retitled to reflect the fact that large numbers of matches were played on days other than Sunday.
Sunday League
The 'John Player Special League' was launched, in 1969, as the second one-day competition in England and Wales alongside the Gillette Cup. The 17 counties played each other in a league format on Sundays afternoons throughout the season. These matches were concise enough to be shown on television and BBC 2 broadcast one match each week in full until 1980s and then part of the Sunday Grandstand multi-sport programme. For close finishes for the title, cameras appeared at the grounds where the contenders for the title were competing and the trophy presentation to the victorious team would be on film.'Refuge Assurance' became the new sponsors of the competition in 1987 and then in 1988 started an end of season play-off competition known as the 'Refuge Assurance Cup'. The top four teams of the season qualified with the top team playing the fourth placed team and the second and third place teams playing each other. The winners of each match met in a final at a neutral venue. This competition lasted until 1991. Somerset played Lancashire at Taunton on Friday 5 July 1991 to make the first Sunday League game not to be played on a Sunday.
The Sunday League was not sponsored in 1992, but in 1993 'AXA Equity and Law' became the sponsor. The matches this season were 50 overs per innings. The first round of matches that took place on May 9 1993 were the first official matches played in coloured clothing and a white ball in England. The following season the competition reverted back to 40 overs per innings. On Wednesday 23 July 1997 Warwickshire played Somerset at Edgbaston
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
. This game was the first competitive county game to played under floodlights.
National League
The National League was launched in 1999 with the 18 first-class counties split into two divisions with three teams promoted and relegated from each. The matches were played over 45 overs and the competition was sponsored by 'Norwich Union'. Matches were spread over the week rather than Sundays only.The counties incorporated nicknames into their official names for the National League, from 2002. For example, Kent became the 'Spitfires', Middlesex the 'Crusaders' and Lancashire were the 'Lightning'. The following season the Scotland Saltires
Scottish cricket team
The Scotland national cricket team represents Scotland in the game of cricket. They compete in the Clydesdale Bank 40 as the Scottish Saltires...
took part in the League until 2005.
The C & G Trophy was restructured, in 2006, from a knock-out competition to a round-robin league format, which took up the early part of the season. The National League was renamed the 'NatWest Pro40' and was played in the later part of the season with the teams playing each other once. Also, two teams instead of three were promoted to the first division and two relegated to the second division. A third promotion/relegation spot is determined in a play-off game between the team third from top in the second division and third from bottom team in the first.
Restructuring proposals
In 2008, it was decided that the league would be disbanded from 2010, in order to make way for a new Twenty20Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
tournament; the 'English Premier League'. However the proposed 'English Premier League' extra Twenty20 idea was abandoned in favour for an expanded Twenty20 Cup competition 'P20'.
The ECB announced, on August 27 2009, that in 2010 there will be a 40-overs per innings tournament replacing both the Pro40 and the Friends Provident Trophy. This along with the English County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
and the Twenty20 Cup
Twenty20 Cup
The Twenty20 Cup was a cricket competition for English and Welsh county clubs.In 2010, it has been replaced by Friends Provident t20 as the domestic Twenty20 competition.-History:...
will be English cricket's three domestic competitions.
Teams
Division 1 teams in 2009:- Durham DynamosDurham County Cricket ClubDurham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
- Essex EaglesEssex County Cricket ClubEssex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
- Gloucestershire GladiatorsGloucestershire County Cricket ClubGloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
- Hampshire HawksHampshire County Cricket ClubHampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
- Nottinghamshire OutlawsNottinghamshire County Cricket ClubNottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
- Somerset SabresSomerset County Cricket ClubSomerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
- Sussex SharksSussex County Cricket ClubSussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
- Worcestershire RoyalsWorcestershire County Cricket ClubWorcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
- Yorkshire CarnegieYorkshire County Cricket ClubYorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
Division 2 teams in 2009:
- Derbyshire PhantomsDerbyshire County Cricket ClubDerbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
- Glamorgan DragonsGlamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
- Kent SpitfiresKent County Cricket ClubKent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
- Lancashire LightningLancashire County Cricket ClubLancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
- Leicestershire FoxesLeicestershire County Cricket ClubLeicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
- Middlesex PanthersMiddlesex County Cricket ClubMiddlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
- Northamptonshire SteelbacksNorthamptonshire County Cricket ClubNorthamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
- Surrey Brown CapsSurrey County Cricket ClubSurrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
- Warwickshire BearsWarwickshire County Cricket ClubWarwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
National League
| Season | 1st Division | Relegated | 2nd Division | Promoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NatWest Pro40 | ||||
| 2009 | Sussex | Not applicable | Warwickshire | Not applicable |
| 2008 2008 NatWest Pro40 The 2008 NatWest Pro40 was a league system 40 over competition. Sussex Sharks won Division One, while Essex Eagles finished top of Division Two, gaining promotion; Yorkshire Carnegie were also promoted, but Glamorgan Dragons lost their playoff match and remained in Division Two... |
Sussex | Middlesex, Lancashire | Essex | Yorkshire |
| 2007 | Worcestershire | Warwickshire, Essex, Northamptonshire | Durham | Somerset, Middlesex |
| 2006 | Essex | Glamorgan, Durham, Middlesex | Gloucestershire | Worcestershire, Hampshire |
| totesport The Tote The Tote, formerly the Horserace Totalisator Board, is a British bookmaker with head offices in Wigan. It was owned from its formation in 1928 by the UK Government but was sold to Betfred in July 2011. Under the brand totesport the Tote has 514 high street betting shops, outlets on Britain's 60... League |
||||
| 2005 | Essex | Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Hampshire | Sussex | Durham, Warwickshire |
| 2004 | Glamorgan | Warwickshire, Kent, Surrey | Middlesex | Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire |
| National League | ||||
| 2003 | Surrey | Leicestershire, Yorkshire, Worcestershire | Lancashire | Northamptonshire, Hampshire |
| Norwich Union Norwich Union Norwich Union was the name given to insurance company Aviva's British arm before June 2009. It was originally established in 1797. It is the biggest life insurance provider in the United Kingdom, and has a strong position in motor insurance... League |
||||
| 2002 | Glamorgan | Somerset, Durham, Nottinghamshire | Gloucestershire | Surrey, Essex |
| 2001 | Kent | Gloucestershire, Surrey, Northamptonshire | Glamorgan | Durham, Worcestershire |
| Norwich Union Norwich Union Norwich Union was the name given to insurance company Aviva's British arm before June 2009. It was originally established in 1797. It is the biggest life insurance provider in the United Kingdom, and has a strong position in motor insurance... National League |
||||
| 2000 | Gloucestershire | Worcestershire, Lancashire, Sussex | Surrey | Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire |
| CGU National League | ||||
| 1999 | Lancashire | Warwickshire, Hampshire, Essex | Sussex | Somerset, Northamptonshire |
Sunday League
AXA League- 19981998 AXA LeagueThe 1998 AXA League was the thirtieth competing of English cricket’s Sunday League. The competition was won for the fourth time by Lancashire County Cricket Club....
Lancashire
AXA Life League
- 1997 Warwickshire
AXA Equity & Law League
- 1996 Surrey
- 1995 Kent
- 19941994 AXA Equity & Law LeagueThe 1994 AXA Equity & Law League was the twenty-sixth competing of English cricket’s Sunday League. The competition was won, as part of their historic treble of County Championship, Sunday League and Benson & Hedges Cup, by Warwickshire County Cricket Club....
Warwickshire - 19931993 AXA Equity & Law LeagueThe 1993 AXA Equity & Law League was the twenty-fifth competing of English cricket’s Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Glamorgan County Cricket Club....
Glamorgan
Sunday League
- 19921992 Sunday LeagueThe 1992 Sunday League was the twenty-fourth competing of English cricket’s Sunday League. There was no sponsor for this season. The competition was won for the first time by Middlesex County Cricket Club....
Middlesex
Refuge Assurance League
- 19911991 Refuge Assurance LeagueThe 1991 Refuge Assurance League was the twenty-third competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club....
Nottinghamshire - 19901990 Refuge Assurance LeagueThe 1990 Refuge Assurance League was the twenty-second competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Derbyshire County Cricket Club.-Standings:-Refuge Assurance Cup:...
Derbyshire - 19891989 Refuge Assurance LeagueThe 1989 Refuge Assurance League was the twenty-first competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the third time by Lancashire County Cricket Club.-Standings:-Refuge Assurance Cup:...
Lancashire - 19881988 Refuge Assurance LeagueThe 1988 Refuge Assurance League was the twentieth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the third time by Worcestershire County Cricket Club.-Standings:-Refuge Assurance Cup:...
Worcestershire - 19871987 Refuge Assurance LeagueThe 1987 Refuge Assurance League was the nineteenth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the second time by Worcestershire County Cricket Club....
Worcestershire
John Player Special League
- 19861986 John Player Special LeagueThe 1986 John Player Special League was the eighteenth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the third time by Hampshire County Cricket Club....
Hampshire - 19851985 John Player Special LeagueThe 1985 John Player Special League was the seventeenth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the third time by Essex County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Essex - 19841984 John Player Special LeagueThe 1984 John Player Special League was the sixteenth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the second time by Essex County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Essex
John Player League
- 1983 Yorkshire
- 19821982 John Player LeagueThe 1982 John Player League was the fourteenth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Sussex County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Sussex - 19811981 John Player LeagueThe 1981 John Player League was the thirteenth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Essex County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Essex - 19801980 John Player LeagueThe 1980 John Player League was the twelfth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Warwickshire County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Warwickshire - 19791979 John Player LeagueThe 1979 John Player League was the eleventh competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Somerset County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Somerset - 19781978 John Player LeagueThe 1978 John Player League was the tenth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the second time by Hampshire County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Hampshire - 19771977 John Player LeagueThe 1977 John Player League was the ninth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the second time by Leicestershire County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Leicestershire - 19761976 John Player LeagueThe 1976 John Player League was the eighth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the third time by Kent County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Kent - 19751975 John Player LeagueThe 1975 John Player League was the seventh competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Hampshire County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Hampshire - 19741974 John Player LeagueThe 1974 John Player League was the sixth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Leicestershire County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Leicestershire - 19731973 John Player LeagueThe 1973 John Player League was the fifth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the second consecutive year by Kent County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Kent - 19721972 John Player LeagueThe 1972 John Player League was the fourth competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Kent County Cricket Club.-Standings:...
Kent - 19711971 John Player LeagueThe 1971 John Player League was the third competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the first time by Worcestershire County Cricket Club.-Standings:-Batting averages:-Bowling averages:...
Worcestershire - 19701970 John Player LeagueThe 1970 John Player League was the second competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the second consecutive year by Lancashire County Cricket Club.-Standings:-Batting averages:-Bowling averages:...
Lancashire
John Player's County League
- 19691969 Player's County LeagueThe 1969 Player's County League was the first competing of what was colloquially known as the Sunday League. The second one-day league in England and Wales, it consisted of the seventeen first-class counties playing each other on Sunday afternoons throughout the season. The competition was won by...
Lancashire
Refuge Assurance Cup
- 19911991 Refuge Assurance CupThe 1991 Refuge Assurance Cup was the fourth and last competing of the Refuge Assurance Cup, for the most successful teams in the Sunday League. It was an English limited overs county cricket tournament which was held between 1 and 15 September 1991...
Worcestershire - 19901990 Refuge Assurance CupThe 1990 Refuge Assurance Cup was the third competing of the Refuge Assurance Cup, for the most successful teams in the Sunday League. It was an English limited overs county cricket tournament which was held between 5 and 16 September 1990...
Middlesex - 19891989 Refuge Assurance CupThe 1989 Refuge Assurance Cup was the second competing of the Refuge Assurance Cup, for the most successful teams in the Sunday League. It was an English limited overs county cricket tournament which was held between 6 and 17 September 1989...
Essex - 19881988 Refuge Assurance CupThe 1988 Refuge Assurance Cup was the first competing of the Refuge Assurance Cup, for the most successful teams in the Sunday League. It was an English limited overs county cricket tournament which was held between 7 and 18 September 1988...
Lancashire
Tournaments won by county
- Essex 5
- Kent 5
- Lancashire 5
- Worcestershire 4
- Glamorgan 3
- Hampshire 3
- Sussex 3
- Warwickshire 3
- Leicestershire 2
- Surrey 2
- Derbyshire 1
- Gloucestershire 1
- Middlesex 1
- Nottinghamshire 1
- Somerset 1
- Yorkshire 1
- Durham 0
- Northamptonshire 0
See also
- National League Division One in 2005National League Division One in 2005-Table:The table, showing all completed matches is as follows:-Links to detailed coverage of the 2005 season:-Hampshire v Essex :Essex beat Hampshire by 16 runs ...
- National League Division Two in 2005National League Division Two in 2005-Table:The table, showing all complete matches as at 14 September is as follows:-Derbyshire v Kent :Match abandoned - Derbyshire , Kent ...
- County ChampionshipCounty ChampionshipThe County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
- the domestic first class competition in England and Wales - Friends Provident Trophy (formerly C&G Trophy)- the one-day knock out competition
- Twenty20 CupTwenty20 CupThe Twenty20 Cup was a cricket competition for English and Welsh county clubs.In 2010, it has been replaced by Friends Provident t20 as the domestic Twenty20 competition.-History:...
- the short-form competition - Indian Premier LeagueIndian Premier LeagueThe Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
- the Indian League