European Cricket Championship
| Administrator |
European Cricket Council, International Cricket Council |
|---|---|
| Format | List A |
| First tournament | 2000 |
| Tournament format | League system |
| Number of teams | 30 nations |
| Current champion |
 Jersey
|
| Most successful |
 Ireland (3 titles) |
The European Cricket Championship is a group of various tournaments in which national cricket sides throughout Europe compete. The competition is designed to encourage and develop the best players in countries where cricket is not a major sport and Europe's only Test cricket playing country, England, does not currently enter a side. The games are 50-over one-day cricket matches. Most of these do not have One Day International status (see below for more details).
The European Cricket Championships began in 1996 as a competition for seven European associate teams and an (English cricket Board) ECB XI. The second installment, two years later, saw the two new associate members, France and Germany join them and the competition played over two divisions.
In 2000, places were given to the top finishers of the European Affiliates Championship and this continued over the following installments. Promotion and relegation between divisions was not introduced until 2004.
With the introduction of the ICC World Cricket League in 2006, the championship was revamped. The European Affiliates Championship was incorporated into the European Cricket Championships with the teams being split between Divisions Two, Three and Four according to the placement in the final competition. Additionally, the ECB XI was no longer included and only full national sides could take part. A fifth league was introduced in 2009–10 season containing some of the newest affiliate members of the European Cricket Council.
Austria and Portugal did not compete this year, although Norway made their debut in Division Two.
Division Two was primarily played in Glasgow, with one game being played at RAF Lossiemouth for security reasons. Italy were absent, having been promoted to Division One. Greece made their return to Division Two after a six-year absence, whilst the tournament saw the international debuts of Guernsey and Jersey. It was won by Norway,
The 2009 European Championship Division Three was held in La Manga, Spain from 31 August to 5 September.
From 2006, the European Cricket Council expanded the tournament to include five divisions of between 4 and 8 teams. By 2009, all five divisions contained six teams.
...
Wikipedia