Village cricket

Village cricket is a term, sometimes pejorative, given to the playing of cricket in rural villages in England and Wales. Many villages have their own teams that play at varying levels in local or regional club cricket leagues.

When organised cricket first began in the 17th century, matches were played between rival parishes or villages and this level of competition has endured. It contrasts with what may be termed representative cricket whereby a team includes players from more than one parish (e.g., a team that represents a county or a country).

Village cricket teams are often made up of local residents only, although some teams' first XI can include players with connections to minor counties cricket clubs and members of the academies of the county cricket club of the county in which the team lies.

In many non-professional cricket leagues, the adjective "village" is a descriptor used humorously, self-deprecatingly, or, sometimes, pejoratively to convey a sense of amateurishness of some aspect of the team's (or an individual's) preparation, dress, conduct, or play.

The annual National Village Cup competition began in 1972 and each year's competition is covered in detail (particularly the final) in the following Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Responsible for its organisation is The Cricketer.

It is open to qualifying teams (ie those from villages - not towns - up to a set maximum population - originally 2,500 but more recently 5,000 - and surrounded by open countryside) from across England, Wales and Scotland. The final is played at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The competition's headline sponsor has changed often in recent years; the 2015 competition is chiefly sponsored by Davidstow Cheddar.

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