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(Redirected from County Cricket Championship)
The 'County Championship' is the domestic first class cricket competition in the United Kingdom, mainly in England. All but one of the teams are named after, and were originally representatives of, historic English counties, the exception being Glamorgan, which is a Welsh county. In a county championship game, each team has two innings and the match lasts four days (unless victory is achieved sooner).
The official County Championship began in 1890, before which an unofficial championship was contested. In the earliest years, this was decided not by any numerical method but rather by popular acclaim. Later, it became generally accepted that the side with fewest losses should be the champions. Various lists of "champions" have been compiled by cricket historians, but for the earlier years they are not in complete agreement. An important year was 1873, when for the first time player qualification rules came into force. Before this, it was quite common for a player to play for two or more counties during the course of a single season.
The first official championship in 1890 was competed for by Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire, where the sides were to play 14 matches (each other twice). The positions were based on number of wins minus the number of losses.
The following year Somerset also competed in the championship and in 1895 Derbyshire, Essex, Hampshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire also joined; the rules were changed so each side had to play at least 16 matches per season. Because, up until World War II, counties played differing numbers of matches, the points system was slightly modified so that the ratio of points to ''finished games'' (games minus draws) decided the Championship.
In 1910 the system was modified again so that the order was based on ratio of matches won to matches played, whilst from 1911 to 1967 a variety of systems were used that generally relied on points for wins and for first innings leads in games left unfinished. Since 1968, the basis has been wins (increased from 10 points in 1968, to 12 in 1976, to 16 in 1981, then back down to 12 in 1999 and up to 14 in 2004) and "bonus points", which are earned for scoring a certain number of runs or taking a certain number of wickets in the first 130 overs of each first innings. In an effort to prevent early finishes, points have been awarded for draws since 1996.
Of the current 18 sides in County Cricket the remaining joined at the following dates:
★ Worcestershire in 1899
★ Northamptonshire in 1905
★ Glamorgan in 1921
★ Durham in 1992.
An invitation in 1921 to Buckinghamshire was declined, due to lack of proper playing facilities, and an application by Devon in 1948 to join was rejected.
All matches prior to 1988 were scheduled for three days, with the exception of 1919, when there was an experiment with two day matches. From 1988 to 1992 some matches were played over four days. From 1993 onwards, all matches have been scheduled for four days.
More information about the history of the County Championship can be found here.
The County Championship is currently sponsored by financial services company Liverpool Victoria. The teams competing in each division in 2007 are as follows:
As of 2006, the bottom two teams in the first division at the end of the season are demoted to the second division for next season. Likewise, the two top finishers from the second division are promoted to the first division for next season, giving them a chance to win the county championship.
Liverpool Victoria County Championship - Final Standings for the 2006 Season
'Division One Table.'
'Division Two Table.'
For live scores from all domestic cricket see here
The county championship works on a points system, the winner being the team with most points in the first division. The points are awarded as follows:
'Win': 14 points.
'Tie': 7 points.
'Draw': 4 points.
'Loss': No points awarded.
Teams may also collect bonus points, for batting and bowling. These points can only be obtained from the first 130 overs of each team's first innings. The bonus points are retained regardless of the outcome of the match.
★ 'Batting'
:'200-249 runs': 1 point
:'250-299 runs': 2 points
:'300-349 runs': 3 points
:'350-399 runs': 4 points
:'400+ runs': 5 points
★ 'Bowling'
:'3-5 wickets taken': 1 point
:'6-8 wickets taken': 2 points
:'9-10 wickets taken': 3 points
Occasionally, a team may have points deducted. These are normally small deductions, between 0.5 and 1 point. Deductions are most commonly handed out for slow over rates or poor pitches. However, in 2005, Surrey were awarded an 8 point penalty for ball tampering. At the end of the 2005 season, this massive deduction resulted in their relegation to the second division. Also, in 2007, Glamorgan were deducted 8 points for an unprepared wicket at Swansea.
There have been two divisions since 2000.
Before 2000 there was a single division.
Whereas the winners of the County Championship since 1890 have been called the ''County Champions'', the term ''Champion County'' is strictly applied to teams that were proclaimed as champion before 1890.
There was no official system for selecting the Champion County before 1890 and the majority of winners were proclaimed by a consensus of media and/or historians. For information about the unofficial championships, see Champion County.
★ Yorkshire 30 (plus 1 shared)
★ Surrey 18 (plus 1 shared)
★ Middlesex 10 (plus 2 shared)
★ Lancashire 7 (plus 1 shared)
★ Kent 6 (plus 1 shared)
★ Essex 6
★ Warwickshire 6
★ Nottinghamshire 5
★ Worcestershire 5
★ Glamorgan 3
★ Leicestershire 3
★ Hampshire 2
★ Sussex 2
★ Derbyshire 1
The four current first class counties with no county championship titles are Durham, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire and Somerset. (Gloucestershire won some unofficial titles prior to 1890.)
Since the expansion of the Championship from 9 counties to 14 in 1895, the wooden spoon for finishing bottom has been 'won' by:
★ Derbyshire 14
★ Somerset 12
★ Northamptonshire 11
★ Glamorgan 9
★ Nottinghamshire 8
★ Sussex 8
★ Gloucestershire 7
★ Leicestershire 7
★ Worcestershire 6
★ Durham 5
★ Hampshire 5
★ Warwickshire 3
★ Essex 2
★ Kent 2
★ Yorkshire 1
Lancashire, Middlesex and Surrey have never finished bottom. Leicestershire have shared last place twice, with Hampshire and Somerset.
★ 1977-1983 Schweppes
★ 1984-1998 Britannic Assurance
★ 1999-2000 AXA ppp Healthcare
★ 2001 Cricinfo
★ 2002-2005 Frizzell
★ 2006-present Liverpool Victoria
★ 887 Yorkshire v Warwickshire Edgbaston, Birmingham 1896
★ 863 Lancashire v Surrey The Foster's Oval, Kennington 1990
★ 850-7d Somerset v Middlesex Taunton 2007
★ 811 Surrey v Somerset Kennington Oval 1899
★ 810-4d Warwickshire v Durham Edgbaston, Birmingham 1994
★ 803-4d Kent v Essex Old County Ground, Brentwood 1934
★ 801-8d Derbyshire v Somerset County Ground, Taunton 2007
★ 12 Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire Spa Ground, Gloucester 1907
★ 13 Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire Trent Bridge, Nottingham 1901
★ 14 Surrey v Essex County Ground, Chelmsford 1983
★ 15 Hampshire v Warwickshire Edgbaston, Birmingham 1922
★ 16 Warwickshire v Kent Angel Ground, Tonbridge 1913
★ 20 Sussex v Yorkshire The Circle, Hull 1922
★ 20 Derbyshire v Yorkshire Bramall Lane, Sheffield 1939
★ 547 WG Grace Gloucestershire v Sussex 1896
★ 537 MR Ramprakash Surrey v Northamptonshire 2006
★ 534 G Boycott Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire 1983
★ 531 CB Fry Sussex v Nottinghamshire 1905
★ 527 RM Poore Hampshire v Somerset 1899
★ 526 JG Langridge Sussex v Derbyshire 1949
★ 507 H Sutcliffe Yorkshire v Essex 1932
★ 502 C Washbrook Lancashire v Sussex 1947
★ 501 BC Lara Warwickshire v Durham 1994
★ Pro40 - the one day league for English first class counties.
★ Friends Provident Trophy - the one day knock out competition.
★ Twenty20 Cup - the short-form competition.
★ Latest Division 1 Table (Cricinfo.com)
★ Latest Division 2 Table (Cricinfo.com)
The 'County Championship' is the domestic first class cricket competition in the United Kingdom, mainly in England. All but one of the teams are named after, and were originally representatives of, historic English counties, the exception being Glamorgan, which is a Welsh county. In a county championship game, each team has two innings and the match lasts four days (unless victory is achieved sooner).
History
The official County Championship began in 1890, before which an unofficial championship was contested. In the earliest years, this was decided not by any numerical method but rather by popular acclaim. Later, it became generally accepted that the side with fewest losses should be the champions. Various lists of "champions" have been compiled by cricket historians, but for the earlier years they are not in complete agreement. An important year was 1873, when for the first time player qualification rules came into force. Before this, it was quite common for a player to play for two or more counties during the course of a single season.
The first official championship in 1890 was competed for by Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Sussex and Yorkshire, where the sides were to play 14 matches (each other twice). The positions were based on number of wins minus the number of losses.
The following year Somerset also competed in the championship and in 1895 Derbyshire, Essex, Hampshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire also joined; the rules were changed so each side had to play at least 16 matches per season. Because, up until World War II, counties played differing numbers of matches, the points system was slightly modified so that the ratio of points to ''finished games'' (games minus draws) decided the Championship.
In 1910 the system was modified again so that the order was based on ratio of matches won to matches played, whilst from 1911 to 1967 a variety of systems were used that generally relied on points for wins and for first innings leads in games left unfinished. Since 1968, the basis has been wins (increased from 10 points in 1968, to 12 in 1976, to 16 in 1981, then back down to 12 in 1999 and up to 14 in 2004) and "bonus points", which are earned for scoring a certain number of runs or taking a certain number of wickets in the first 130 overs of each first innings. In an effort to prevent early finishes, points have been awarded for draws since 1996.
Of the current 18 sides in County Cricket the remaining joined at the following dates:
★ Worcestershire in 1899
★ Northamptonshire in 1905
★ Glamorgan in 1921
★ Durham in 1992.
An invitation in 1921 to Buckinghamshire was declined, due to lack of proper playing facilities, and an application by Devon in 1948 to join was rejected.
All matches prior to 1988 were scheduled for three days, with the exception of 1919, when there was an experiment with two day matches. From 1988 to 1992 some matches were played over four days. From 1993 onwards, all matches have been scheduled for four days.
More information about the history of the County Championship can be found here.
2007 County Championship
The County Championship is currently sponsored by financial services company Liverpool Victoria. The teams competing in each division in 2007 are as follows:
As of 2006, the bottom two teams in the first division at the end of the season are demoted to the second division for next season. Likewise, the two top finishers from the second division are promoted to the first division for next season, giving them a chance to win the county championship.
Standings
Liverpool Victoria County Championship - Final Standings for the 2006 Season
'Division One Table.'
| Pos | County | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sussex | 16 | 242 |
| 2 | Lancashire | 16 | 224 |
| 3 | Hampshire | 16 | 207 |
| 4 | Warwickshire | 16 | 189 |
| 5 | Kent | 16 | 175 |
| 6 | Yorkshire | 16 | 154 |
| 7 | Durham | 16 | 153½ |
| 8 | Nottinghamshire | 16 | 153 |
| 9 | Middlesex | 16 | 133½ |
'Division Two Table.'
| Pos | County | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surrey | 16 | 262 |
| 2 | Worcestershire | 16 | 229 |
| 3 | Essex | 16 | 220 |
| 4 | Leicestershire | 16 | 185½ |
| 5 | Derbyshire | 16 | 178½ |
| 6 | Northamptonshire | 16 | 163 |
| 7 | Gloucestershire | 16 | 155½ |
| 8 | Glamorgan | 16 | 146½ |
| 9 | Somerset | 16 | 140 |
For live scores from all domestic cricket see here
Points system
The county championship works on a points system, the winner being the team with most points in the first division. The points are awarded as follows:
'Win': 14 points.
'Tie': 7 points.
'Draw': 4 points.
'Loss': No points awarded.
Teams may also collect bonus points, for batting and bowling. These points can only be obtained from the first 130 overs of each team's first innings. The bonus points are retained regardless of the outcome of the match.
★ 'Batting'
:'200-249 runs': 1 point
:'250-299 runs': 2 points
:'300-349 runs': 3 points
:'350-399 runs': 4 points
:'400+ runs': 5 points
★ 'Bowling'
:'3-5 wickets taken': 1 point
:'6-8 wickets taken': 2 points
:'9-10 wickets taken': 3 points
Deductions
Occasionally, a team may have points deducted. These are normally small deductions, between 0.5 and 1 point. Deductions are most commonly handed out for slow over rates or poor pitches. However, in 2005, Surrey were awarded an 8 point penalty for ball tampering. At the end of the 2005 season, this massive deduction resulted in their relegation to the second division. Also, in 2007, Glamorgan were deducted 8 points for an unprepared wicket at Swansea.
County champions
There have been two divisions since 2000.
| Year | County Champions | Relegated from 1st Division | 2nd Division Winners | Promoted from 2nd Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Sussex | Nottinghamshire, Middlesex | Surrey | Worcestershire |
| 2005 | Nottinghamshire | Surrey, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan | Lancashire | Durham, Yorkshire |
| 2004 | Warwickshire | Worcestershire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire | Nottinghamshire | Hampshire, Glamorgan |
| 2003 | Sussex | Essex, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire | Worcestershire | Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire |
| 2002 | Surrey | Hampshire, Somerset, Yorkshire | Essex | Middlesex, Nottinghamshire |
| 2001 | Yorkshire | Northamptonshire, Glamorgan, Essex | Sussex | Hampshire, Warwickshire |
| 2000 | Surrey | Hampshire, Durham, Derbyshire | Northamptonshire | Essex, Glamorgan |
Before 2000 there was a single division.
★ 1999 Surrey ★ 1998 Leicestershire ★ 1997 Glamorgan ★ 1996 Leicestershire ★ 1995 Warwickshire ★ 1994 Warwickshire ★ 1993 Middlesex ★ 1992 Essex ★ 1991 Essex ★ 1990 Middlesex ★ 1989 Worcestershire ★ 1988 Worcestershire ★ 1987 Nottinghamshire ★ 1986 Essex ★ 1985 Middlesex ★ 1984 Essex ★ 1983 Essex ★ 1982 Middlesex ★ 1981 Nottinghamshire ★ 1980 Middlesex ★ 1979 Essex ★ 1978 Kent ★ 1977 Kent/Middlesex ★ 1976 Middlesex ★ 1975 Leicestershire ★ 1974 Worcestershire | ★ 1973 Hampshire ★ 1972 Warwickshire ★ 1971 Surrey ★ 1970 Kent ★ 1969 Glamorgan ★ 1968 Yorkshire ★ 1967 Yorkshire ★ 1966 Yorkshire ★ 1965 Worcestershire ★ 1964 Worcestershire ★ 1963 Yorkshire ★ 1962 Yorkshire ★ 1961 Hampshire ★ 1960 Yorkshire ★ 1959 Yorkshire ★ 1958 Surrey ★ 1957 Surrey ★ 1956 Surrey ★ 1955 Surrey ★ 1954 Surrey ★ 1953 Surrey ★ 1952 Surrey ★ 1951 Warwickshire ★ 1950 Lancashire/Surrey ★ 1949 Middlesex/Yorkshire ★ 1948 Glamorgan | ★ 1947 Middlesex ★ 1946 Yorkshire ★ 1940-45 No championship - World War II ★ 1939 Yorkshire ★ 1938 Yorkshire ★ 1937 Yorkshire ★ 1936 Derbyshire ★ 1935 Yorkshire ★ 1934 Lancashire ★ 1933 Yorkshire ★ 1932 Yorkshire ★ 1931 Yorkshire ★ 1930 Lancashire ★ 1929 Nottinghamshire ★ 1928 Lancashire ★ 1927 Lancashire ★ 1926 Lancashire ★ 1925 Yorkshire ★ 1924 Yorkshire ★ 1923 Yorkshire ★ 1922 Yorkshire ★ 1921 Middlesex ★ 1920 Middlesex ★ 1919 Yorkshire ★ 1915-18 No championship - World War I ★ 1914 Surrey | ★ 1913 Kent ★ 1912 Yorkshire ★ 1911 Warwickshire ★ 1910 Kent ★ 1909 Kent ★ 1908 Yorkshire ★ 1907 Nottinghamshire ★ 1906 Kent ★ 1905 Yorkshire ★ 1904 Lancashire ★ 1903 Middlesex ★ 1902 Yorkshire ★ 1901 Yorkshire ★ 1900 Yorkshire ★ 1899 Surrey ★ 1898 Yorkshire ★ 1897 Lancashire ★ 1896 Yorkshire ★ 1895 Surrey ★ 1894 Surrey ★ 1893 Yorkshire ★ 1892 Surrey ★ 1891 Surrey ★ 1890 Surrey |
Whereas the winners of the County Championship since 1890 have been called the ''County Champions'', the term ''Champion County'' is strictly applied to teams that were proclaimed as champion before 1890.
There was no official system for selecting the Champion County before 1890 and the majority of winners were proclaimed by a consensus of media and/or historians. For information about the unofficial championships, see Champion County.
Number of wins by county 1890-2006
★ Yorkshire 30 (plus 1 shared)
★ Surrey 18 (plus 1 shared)
★ Middlesex 10 (plus 2 shared)
★ Lancashire 7 (plus 1 shared)
★ Kent 6 (plus 1 shared)
★ Essex 6
★ Warwickshire 6
★ Nottinghamshire 5
★ Worcestershire 5
★ Glamorgan 3
★ Leicestershire 3
★ Hampshire 2
★ Sussex 2
★ Derbyshire 1
The four current first class counties with no county championship titles are Durham, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire and Somerset. (Gloucestershire won some unofficial titles prior to 1890.)
Wooden spoons
Since the expansion of the Championship from 9 counties to 14 in 1895, the wooden spoon for finishing bottom has been 'won' by:
★ Derbyshire 14
★ Somerset 12
★ Northamptonshire 11
★ Glamorgan 9
★ Nottinghamshire 8
★ Sussex 8
★ Gloucestershire 7
★ Leicestershire 7
★ Worcestershire 6
★ Durham 5
★ Hampshire 5
★ Warwickshire 3
★ Essex 2
★ Kent 2
★ Yorkshire 1
Lancashire, Middlesex and Surrey have never finished bottom. Leicestershire have shared last place twice, with Hampshire and Somerset.
Sponsors
★ 1977-1983 Schweppes
★ 1984-1998 Britannic Assurance
★ 1999-2000 AXA ppp Healthcare
★ 2001 Cricinfo
★ 2002-2005 Frizzell
★ 2006-present Liverpool Victoria
Highest team scores
★ 887 Yorkshire v Warwickshire Edgbaston, Birmingham 1896
★ 863 Lancashire v Surrey The Foster's Oval, Kennington 1990
★ 850-7d Somerset v Middlesex Taunton 2007
★ 811 Surrey v Somerset Kennington Oval 1899
★ 810-4d Warwickshire v Durham Edgbaston, Birmingham 1994
★ 803-4d Kent v Essex Old County Ground, Brentwood 1934
★ 801-8d Derbyshire v Somerset County Ground, Taunton 2007
Lowest team scores
★ 12 Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire Spa Ground, Gloucester 1907
★ 13 Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire Trent Bridge, Nottingham 1901
★ 14 Surrey v Essex County Ground, Chelmsford 1983
★ 15 Hampshire v Warwickshire Edgbaston, Birmingham 1922
★ 16 Warwickshire v Kent Angel Ground, Tonbridge 1913
★ 20 Sussex v Yorkshire The Circle, Hull 1922
★ 20 Derbyshire v Yorkshire Bramall Lane, Sheffield 1939
Most runs against another team in one season
★ 547 WG Grace Gloucestershire v Sussex 1896
★ 537 MR Ramprakash Surrey v Northamptonshire 2006
★ 534 G Boycott Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire 1983
★ 531 CB Fry Sussex v Nottinghamshire 1905
★ 527 RM Poore Hampshire v Somerset 1899
★ 526 JG Langridge Sussex v Derbyshire 1949
★ 507 H Sutcliffe Yorkshire v Essex 1932
★ 502 C Washbrook Lancashire v Sussex 1947
★ 501 BC Lara Warwickshire v Durham 1994
See also
★ Pro40 - the one day league for English first class counties.
★ Friends Provident Trophy - the one day knock out competition.
★ Twenty20 Cup - the short-form competition.
External links
★ Latest Division 1 Table (Cricinfo.com)
★ Latest Division 2 Table (Cricinfo.com)
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