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To view/download the latest results and tables, please visit the "Results and Tables" page by clicking on the button above.

If any club has a change of captain or delegate details, or a change of ground, whether during the season or in the middle of winter, it is essential that Kevin Booker (see "Administration" page) is informed without delay. Failure to do that will mean that important information may not reach the club, and other clubs may not be able to make contact in case of potential match cancellations, or difficulty in locating a ground, in the event that the published information is no longer valid. Where there is no published captain of a team playing away (or if the information shown is no ,longer correct), for example, that team may lose any right, in the event of adverse weather, to having a say about whether or not the match is cancelled, because the home team will not have an opposing captain with whom to agree the cancellation (though the home team captain would be expected to use "best endeavours", such as contacting the visiting team's clubhouse, for a cancellation to be accepted by the Executive Committee in those circumstances). An entry form is sent, prior to each season, to the last known email contact, for completion and return. If the form is not completed and returned, any adverse consequences flowing from that will be entirely down to the faulting club, which will, I'm afraid, receive little sympathy, in such circumstances.

If any club has a team that wishes to join the Championship, or if you wish to contact me about this web site, or for any other information concerning the Championship, please send an email by clicking on the following link: kevin's email.

RAISON D'ETRE

As indicated in the heading, the Championship was formed in 1986. It was created in order to provide competitive cricket for those who were no longer of 1st or 2nd XI standard but were not yet ready to hang up their boots, and to introduce young players to the world of league cricket earlier, and in a gentler and more sympathetic manner, than would be possible in higher teams. In that respect, we believe the Championship has been very successful.

HISTORY

Initially, there was just one division of 10 clubs, but increasing numbers enabled expansion to first 2 then 3 divisions. For the new millennium, competition for the 3rd XIs (and some 4th XIs) of many of the clubs whose 1st and 2nd XIs play in the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League, previously provided within the Premier League, is being provided within the Championship. The 3rd XIs of many of the clubs whose 1st and 2nd XIs play in the Warwickshire and Worcestershire Cricket Leagues are also prominent, and many are long-standing members of the Championship. Unfortunately, in recent seasons, one or two clubs have been unable to sustain regular 3rd XI cricket and, sadly, have fallen by the wayside, with the result that the 5 division structure created when the Birmingham and District Premier League teams joined, has, for season 2004, now been reduced to 3 divisions.  Please see the Club Websites page for links to B&DPCL and WCL (I haven't found a site for the Worcestershire Cricket League, if anyone knows of one, please let me know by email to the address below), as well as for some of the clubs with teams playing in the Championship.

The top division, known as the Premier Division, covers the whole geographical area encompassed by the Championship (currently from Nuneaton in the north-east, to Coventry in the east, Redditch and Studley in the south, Bromsgrove in the south-west, Halesowen in the west, Pelsall in the north - see map below), whereas the division 1 is split geographically into, for this season, east and west, with just a single lower division. For future seasons, the geographical split may be different, dependent upon the mix of teams at the level of that grade. If sufficient additional clubs were interested in joining, it might be possible to restore the division 2 grade.

The expansion has resulted in cricket of an increased standard being played at the top of the Championship, and a wider range of playing strength between top and bottom. The consequence is that any new club joining, however good or modest its playing standard, has an excellent chance of finding quickly a level to suit that standard. In addition, a club with an expanding player base, and hence a rising standard of play, can continue to find new challenges up to the highest level. The expansion has also meant some minor changes, for example increasing the number of overs per innings from 48 to 50, with a resultant earlier start time (1:45pm instead of 2pm up to 15 August, 1:15pm instead of 1:30pm thereafter), but the guiding principles remain unaltered.

We believe the Championship is probably the largest in the country for 3rd XI cricket (if anyone knows differently, please let me know). If there is any club 3rd or 4th XI that does not already play in a league but might like to, or that does but would like a fresh challenge in a league dedicated to the interests of 3rd XI cricket, and which is interested in joining, please email me with details of your club and its 3rd/4th XI cricket, at the email address below. News, fixtures, rules, results, tables, and links to websites for some clubs, and for other leagues, can all be seen on other pages in this site (see links above).

Kevin Booker

Vice-Chairman

Totally unconnected with cricket, but if you're ever in North Wales, Poachers restaurant in Criccieth is the place to eat. See the menu at: http://www.poachersrestaurant.co.uk/. Visit the site to obtain a voucher for a free dessert with your meal!

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This page was last updated on 07 March 2009.

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