The new domestic women’s tournaments in England and Wales will have Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire in its second division starting next year.
Twenty-over and 50-over cricket will be played between the 10 Tier 2 counties; the competition’s schedule and format for 2025 have not yet been revealed. All National Counties that choose to compete in the new competitions at that level starting in 2025 will be granted Tier 3 status.
In addition, the ECB said on Thursday that clubs from all three categories will participate in a knock-out cup tournament, providing all counties with an opportunity to compete against one another, with all three tiers set to close between the 2025 and 2028 seasons, with no promotion or relegation. It is projected that the three-tiered system will be established in 2025, along with the cup competition’s introduction.
Durham, Essex, Surrey, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Warwickshire will compete in Tier 1 of the new tournaments beginning in 2025, according to an announcement made earlier this year by the ECB. If a number of requirements are met, Glamorgan will enter Tier 1 in 2027 and Yorkshire will join for the 2026 season. By 2029, the ECB hopes to increase the number of Tier 1 teams to 12.
Director of the women’s professional game Beth Barrett-Wild stated: “It’s exciting to see the three tiers finalized.” It moves women’s professional domestic cricket one step closer to its new terrain. Up to 39 counties will be competing under the new system starting next summer, which will support the development and quicken the depth of the women’s professional game both on and off the field.
“We shouldn’t underestimate how big this step is for women’s cricket and indeed the whole game; a thriving and sustainable women’s domestic pyramid underneath the Hundred and England Women, with more professional female players, increased investment, and enhanced alignment across the men’s and women’s game, is a huge step forward for cricket.”
By 2027, women’s domestic cricket will receive an additional £8 million in financing annually, bringing the total yearly investment in this sector to almost £19 million.
