Women's County Championship
Encyclopedia
The Women's County Championship (currently known as the LV= Women's County Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the women's domestic cricket
league in the British Isles
. It was introduced in 1997 to replace the existing Women's Area Championship.
The teams competing in the Championship are mostly based around the historic counties of England
, however there are several exceptions: the Scottish national side has competed in the competition since 2007, while their Irish and Dutch counterparts joined in 2009.
The current champions are Kent
, while Yorkshire
are the most successful team.
. 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. As such, the ECB has administered the competition since 1998.
This structure is being used for the first time in 2009, with each team's division determined by their final position in the 2008 competition. Previously each division had four teams, and a "festival finale" was held at the County Ground, Taunton, but this was scrapped to avoid the risk of rain affecting many games over a short period.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
league in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. It was introduced in 1997 to replace the existing Women's Area Championship.
The teams competing in the Championship are mostly based around the historic counties of England
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
, however there are several exceptions: the Scottish national side has competed in the competition since 2007, while their Irish and Dutch counterparts joined in 2009.
The current champions are Kent
Kent Women cricket team
The Kent Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Kent. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship, which they won in 2006 and 2007.-Honours:*Women's County Championship...
, while Yorkshire
Yorkshire Women cricket team
The Yorkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Yorkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:...
are the most successful team.
History
The inaugural Women's County Championship took place in 1997, with 16 teams competing in three divisionsDivision (sport)
In sports, a division is a group of teams who compete against each other for a championship.-League system:In sports using a league system , a division consists a group of teams who play a sport at a similar competitive level...
. This first tournament was organised and run by the Women's Cricket Association
Women's Cricket Association
The Women's Cricket Association was responsible for the running of women's cricket in England between 1926 and 1998. It was formed by a group of enthusiasts following a cricket holiday in Malvern...
, which voted to merge with the England and Wales Cricket Board
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
(ECB) on 29 March 1998. As such, the ECB has administered the competition since 1998.
Structure
The 35 teams that make up the Championship are split into five divisions, with the bottom division split into two groups based on geographical location. These divisions for the 2009 season were:| 2009 Divisions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | Two | Three | Four | Five | |
| North and East | South and West | ||||
| Berkshire Berkshire Women cricket team The Berkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Berkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Cheshire Cheshire Women cricket team The Cheshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Cheshire. They play in Division Two of the Women's County Championship.... |
Derbyshire Derbyshire Women cricket team The Derbyshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Derbyshire. They play in Division Four of the Women's County Championship.... |
Cornwall Cornwall Women cricket team The Cornwall Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Cornwall. They play in Division Four of the Women's County Championship.... |
Cumbria Cumbria Women cricket team The Cumbria Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Cumbria. They play in Division Five North of the Women's County Championship.... |
Dorset Dorset Women cricket team The Dorset Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Dorset. They play in Division Five South and West of the Women's County Championship.... |
| Kent Kent Women cricket team The Kent Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Kent. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship, which they won in 2006 and 2007.-Honours:*Women's County Championship... |
Essex Essex Women cricket team The Essex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Essex. They play in Division Two of the Women's County Championship.... |
Devon Devon Women cricket team The Devon Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Devon. They play in Division Three of the Women's County Championship.... |
Durham Durham Women cricket team The Durham Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Durham. They play in Division Four of the Women's County Championship.... |
Ireland | Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Women cricket team The Gloucestershire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Gloucestershire. They play in Division Five South and West of the Women's County Championship.... |
| Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Women cricket team The Nottinghamshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Nottinghamshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Lancashire Lancashire Women cricket team The Lancashire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Lancashire. They play in Division Three of the Women's County Championship.... |
Hampshire Hampshire Women cricket team The Hampshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Hampshire.They play in Division Four of the Women's County Championship... |
Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Women cricket team The Hertfordshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Hertfordshire. They play in Division Four of the Women's County Championship.... |
Leicestershire Leicestershire Women cricket team The Leicestershire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Leicestershire. They play in Division Five North of the Women's County Championship.... |
Netherlands |
| Somerset Somerset Women cricket team The Somerset Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Somerset. Having twice finished as Women's County Championship Division Two Champions—in 2004 and 2005—and once as Division Two runners-up—in 2008—they... |
Middlesex Middlesex Women cricket team The Middlesex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Middlesex. They play in Division Two of the Women's County Championship.... |
Scotland | Norfolk Norfolk Women cricket team The Norfolk Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Norfolk. They play in Division Five East of the Women's County Championship.... |
Northumberland Northumberland Women cricket team The Northumberland Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Northumberland. They play in Division Five North of the Women's County Championship.... |
Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Women cricket team The Oxfordshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Oxfordshire. They play in Division Five East of the Women's County Championship.... |
| Surrey Surrey Women cricket team The Surrey Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Surrey affiliated with Surrey County Cricket Club. They play in Division Two of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Warwickshire Warwickshire Women cricket team The Warwickshire Women's Cricket Team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Warwickshire. They play in Division Two of the Women's County Championship.... |
Staffordshire Staffordshire Women cricket team The Staffordshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Staffordshire. They play in Division Three of the Women's County Championship.... |
Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Women cricket team The Northamptonshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Northamptonshire. They play in Division Four of the Women's County Championship.... |
Suffolk Suffolk Women cricket team The Suffolk Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Suffolk. They play in Division Five East of the Women's County Championship.... |
Shropshire Shropshire Women cricket team The Shropshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Shropshire. They play in Division Five North of the Women's County Championship.... |
| Sussex Sussex Women cricket team The Sussex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Sussex. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire Women cricket team The Yorkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Yorkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Worcestershire Worcestershire Women cricket team The Worcestershire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Worcestershire. They play in Division Two of the Women's County Championship.... |
Wales | — | Wiltshire Wiltshire Women cricket team The Wiltshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Wiltshire. They play in Division Five South and West of the Women's County Championship.... |
This structure is being used for the first time in 2009, with each team's division determined by their final position in the 2008 competition. Previously each division had four teams, and a "festival finale" was held at the County Ground, Taunton, but this was scrapped to avoid the risk of rain affecting many games over a short period.
Roll of honour
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Leading run-scorer | Leading wicket-taker | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Kent Kent Women cricket team The Kent Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Kent. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship, which they won in 2006 and 2007.-Honours:*Women's County Championship... |
Sussex Sussex Women cricket team The Sussex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Sussex. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Heather Knight (Devon, 622) | Charlotte Anneveld (Kent, 24) | |
| 2008 | Sussex Sussex Women cricket team The Sussex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Sussex. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Kent Kent Women cricket team The Kent Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Kent. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship, which they won in 2006 and 2007.-Honours:*Women's County Championship... |
Heather Knight (Devon, 390) | Sonia Odedra (Nottinghamshire, 10) | |
| 2007 | Kent Kent Women cricket team The Kent Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Kent. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship, which they won in 2006 and 2007.-Honours:*Women's County Championship... |
Sussex Sussex Women cricket team The Sussex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Sussex. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Emily Drumm Emily Drumm Emily Cecilia Drumm MNZM is a cricketer, who has captained New Zealand in 41 women's one-day internationals, winning 28 of them, losing 12 and with one no result.... (Kent, 222) |
Lynsey Askew Lynsey Askew Lynsey Riann Frances Askew is an English cricketer who has played for England in One-Day International matches and international Twenty20 cricket.... (Kent, 13) |
|
| 2006 | Kent Kent Women cricket team The Kent Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Kent. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship, which they won in 2006 and 2007.-Honours:*Women's County Championship... |
Sussex Sussex Women cricket team The Sussex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Sussex. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Jenny Gunn Jenny Gunn Jennifer Louise Gunn is an English cricketer and a member of the current England women's team. A medium pace bowler and lower middle order batsman, she is the daughter of former Nottingham Forest player Bryn Gunn. She plays for Nottinghamshire and Western Australia and made her Test debut at 17... (Nottinghamshire, 356) |
Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Marie Edwards MBE is an English cricketer and current captain of the England women's team.... (Kent, 12) |
|
| 2005 | Sussex Sussex Women cricket team The Sussex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Sussex. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Kent Kent Women cricket team The Kent Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Kent. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship, which they won in 2006 and 2007.-Honours:*Women's County Championship... |
Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Marie Edwards MBE is an English cricketer and current captain of the England women's team.... (Kent, 302) |
Judith Turner (Berkshire, 10) | |
| 2004 | Sussex Sussex Women cricket team The Sussex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Sussex. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Kent Kent Women cricket team The Kent Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English ceremonial county of Kent. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship, which they won in 2006 and 2007.-Honours:*Women's County Championship... |
Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Marie Edwards MBE is an English cricketer and current captain of the England women's team.... (Kent, 308) |
Heather Booth (Berkshire, 12) | |
| 2003 | Sussex Sussex Women cricket team The Sussex Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Sussex. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Women cricket team The Nottinghamshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Nottinghamshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Taryn Keir (Warwickshire, 303) | Lynne Spooner (Derbyshire, 12) | |
| 2002 | Yorkshire Yorkshire Women cricket team The Yorkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Yorkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Berkshire Berkshire Women cricket team The Berkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Berkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Marie Edwards MBE is an English cricketer and current captain of the England women's team.... (Kent, 233) |
Vicky Borman (Hertfordshire, 14) | |
| 2001 | Yorkshire Yorkshire Women cricket team The Yorkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Yorkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Berkshire Berkshire Women cricket team The Berkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Berkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Arran Brindle Arran Brindle Arran Brindle is an English cricketer and member of the England Women's team.She represented England women in 9 Test matches and 58 one-day internationals from 2000-2005, scoring a century in the First Test against Australia at Hove in 2005 and 8 ODI fifties... (Lancashire, 274) |
Yvonne Craven (Berkshire, 13) | |
| 2000 | Yorkshire Yorkshire Women cricket team The Yorkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Yorkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Women cricket team The Nottinghamshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Nottinghamshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Marie Edwards MBE is an English cricketer and current captain of the England women's team.... (Kent, 374) |
Nicky Myers (Nottinghamshire, 13) | |
| 1999 | East Midlands | Yorkshire Yorkshire Women cricket team The Yorkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Yorkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Jane Smit Jane Smit Jane Smit is an English cricketer and former member of the England team. A wicket keeper, she was formerly married to Australian-born Derbyshire and Northamptonshire cricketer Matthew Cassar but she has reverted to her maiden name... (East Midlands, 335) |
Janet Tedstone (Yorkshire Seconds, 13) | |
| 1998 | Yorkshire Yorkshire Women cricket team The Yorkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Yorkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Surrey Surrey Women cricket team The Surrey Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Surrey affiliated with Surrey County Cricket Club. They play in Division Two of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Edwards Charlotte Marie Edwards MBE is an English cricketer and current captain of the England women's team.... (East Anglia, 394) |
Sarah Clarke Sarah Clarke (cricketer) Sarah Louise Clarke is a cricketer who played 6 one day internationals for the England women's cricket team from her debut against Scotland in August 2001 to her last game to date against India at Pune in January 2002.She made a top score of 66 not out against Scotland in the European cup and took... (Surrey Seconds, 12) |
|
| 1997 | Yorkshire Yorkshire Women cricket team The Yorkshire Women's cricket team is the women's representative cricket team for the English historic county of Yorkshire. They play in Division One of the Women's County Championship.-Honours:... |
West Midlands | Jane Smit Jane Smit Jane Smit is an English cricketer and former member of the England team. A wicket keeper, she was formerly married to Australian-born Derbyshire and Northamptonshire cricketer Matthew Cassar but she has reverted to her maiden name... (East Midlands, 429) |
Helen Pack (West Midlands, 11) |