The Women's County Championship , known since 2014 as the Royal London Women's One-Day Cup ,[1] was a women's cricket competition organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board . It was the women's equivalent of the County Championship , although it operated as a 50-over limited overs cricket competition with teams organised into a number of divisions. It was introduced in 1997 to replace the Women's Area Championship .
The teams competing in the Championship were drawn mostly from the historic counties of England , with 32 teams representing these. The Scottish national side competed in the competition since 2007, the Wales women's national cricket team since 2008 and the Netherlands joined in 2009.[2] The Ireland national team played in the competition between 2009 and 2015 before withdrawing in early 2016.[3] [4]
The competition was the longest established women's cricket competition in England and Wales. It operated alongside the Women's Twenty20 Cup , established in 2009,[5] and the Women's Cricket Super League between 2016 and 2019, a franchise league with six teams playing Twenty20 cricket.[6]
2019 , won by Kent , was the final season of the Championship due to a restructuring of women's cricket in England. From 2020, the only 50-over tournament was competed by regional teams, initially in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy . Kent were the most successful county in the history of the Championship with eight titles, whilst Sussex and Yorkshire both won six titles.[7]
History
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The inaugural Women's County Championship took place in 1997, with 16 teams competing in three divisions .[8] This first tournament was organised and run by the Women's Cricket Association , which voted to merge with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on 29 March 1998.[9] As such, the ECB has administered the competition since 1998.[9]
Yorkshire were the winners of five of the first six Championships,[10] with East Midlands breaking their run in 1999 .[11] After this began a period that was dominated by Sussex and Kent . Sussex won six titles between 2003 and 2013, including three in a row between 2003 and 2005,[12] whilst Kent won eight titles between 2006 and 2019.[13] Yorkshire managed one more title, in 2015, whilst Lancashire and Hampshire have won one title apiece, in 2017 and 2018, respectively.[14] Hampshire's title came after a remarkable rise through the divisions, winning Division 3 in 2015 and Division 2 in 2017 before being crowned County Champions one year later.[15]
2019 marked the final year of the County Championship as women's cricket in England was restructured by the ECB, paving the way for a regionalised 50-over tournament , as well as the Women's Hundred .[7] [16] A similar tournament, but with no national winner, was introduced ahead of the 2024 season, in the form of the ECB Women's County One-Day .[17]
Structure
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The Championship operated on a league structure, with varying amounts of divisions and teams over its history. The first Championship involved 16 teams split across three divisions.[8] Gradually more teams were added over the years (and county sides replaced the regional and Second XI sides that initially competed), and in 2004 , which had 24 participants, a second tier was added, the County Challenge Cup.[18] In 2008 (which had 33 teams participating) the Challenge Cup was ended and teams were placed in Divisions 1 to 5.[19] This became four divisions in 2012 and finally three divisions in 2017 , a structure that continued until the Championship ended in 2019.[20] [21]
Varying amounts of teams have participated in the Championship over the years, reaching a peak of 38 teams in 2015 . 35 teams competed in the final season of the Championship in 2019. The teams that have participated in the tournament are:[22]
Roll of honour
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See also
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References
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^ Royal London Women’s One-Day Cup, England and Wales Cricket Board . Retrieved 2016-08-08.
^ Dutch join women's championship, England and Wales Cricket Board , 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
^ EXCLUSIVE: Ireland Cut Costly County Cricket, Crickether, 2016-01-12. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
^ Ireland women to play South Africa in seven-match series, BBC Sport, 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
^ England to introduce women's Twenty20 Cup, CricInfo , 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
^ Super League: Franchise cricket gets set for launch in England, BBC Sport, 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
^ a b Booth, Lawrence, ed. (2020). Wisden Cricketer's Almanac 2020 . Great Britain: John Wisden & Co Ltd. p. 1198. ISBN 978-1-4729-7285-9 .
^ a b c "Women's County Championship 1997 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ a b "A History of Women's Cricket". Yorkshire Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2009 .
^ "Yorkshire List A Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "East Midlands List A Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Sussex List A Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Kent List A Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Lancashire List A Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Hampshire List A Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "ECB launches new plan to transform women's and girls' cricket". ECB. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "ECB Women's County Championship/Season 2024". Play-Cricket. Retrieved 11 March 2024 .
^ "Frizzell Women's County Championship 2004 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2008 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2012 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2017 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "ECB Women's County Championship". Play-Cricket . Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2019 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2019 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Bowling in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2019 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2018 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2018 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Bowling in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2018 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2017 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2017 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Bowling in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2017 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2016 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2016 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Bowling in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2016 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2015 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2015 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Bowling in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2015 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2014 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2014 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Bowling in Royal London Women's One-Day Cup 2014 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2013 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in LV Women's County Championship 2013 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Bowling in LV Women's County Championship 2013 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2012 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2013 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in LV Women's County Championship 2012 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2013 .
^ "Bowling in LV Women's County Championship 2012 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2013 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2011 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 June 2012 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in LV Women's County Championship 2011 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 June 2012 .
^ "Bowling in LV Women's County Championship 2011 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 June 2012 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2010 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 June 2012 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in LV Women's County Championship 2010 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 June 2012 .
^ "Bowling in LV Women's County Championship 2010 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 June 2012 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2009 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 December 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in LV Women's County Championship 2009 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 December 2009 .
^ "Bowling in LV Women's County Championship 2009 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 December 2009 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2008 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in LV Women's County Championship 2008 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 March 2021 .
^ "Bowling in LV Women's County Championship 2008 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 March 2021 .
^ "LV Women's County Championship 2007 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in LV Women's County Championship 2007 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in LV Women's County Championship 2007 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Liverpool Victoria Women's County Championship 2006 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Liverpool Victoria Women's County Championship 2006 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Liverpool Victoria Women's County Championship 2006 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Frizzell Women's County Championship 2005 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Frizzell Women's County Championship 2005 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Frizzell Women's County Championship 2005 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Frizzell Women's County Championship 2004 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Frizzell Women's County Championship 2004 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Frizzell Women's County Championship 2004 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Frizzell Women's County Championship 2003 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Frizzell Women's County Championship 2003 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Frizzell Women's County Championship 2003 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Frizzell Women's County Championship 2002 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Frizzell Women's County Championship 2002 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Frizzell Women's County Championship 2002 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Women's County Championship 2001 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Women's County Championship 2001 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Women's County Championship 2001 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Women's County Championship 2000 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Women's County Championship 2000 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Women's County Championship 2000 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Women's County Championship 1999 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Women's County Championship 1999 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Women's County Championship 1999 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Women's County Championship 1998 Points Table". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Women's County Championship 1998 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Women's County Championship 1998 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Batting and Fielding in Women's County Championship 1997 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .
^ "Bowling in Women's County Championship 1997 (Ordered by Wickets)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 July 2009 .