Second Class Cricket?
Saturday, September 18, 2010 : County Championship
This season the teams relegated from Division 1 (Kent and Essex) were those promoted from Division 2 last year. And surprise, surprise the teams that were promoted from Division 2 (Sussex and Worcestershire) were those relegated from Division 1 last year. What does this tell us?
Well basically about 11 teams are playing First Class cricket on a regular basis and the others are Minor Counties. Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Derbyshire, Middlesex and Leicestershire and temporarily Surrey, are beached in the shallows of Division 2.
Have these guys ever been in Division 1?
Well yes but not for long. The 2 division system started in 2000. Here’s how the Minor First Class Counties, i.e. Second Class have fared:
- Derbyshire relegated in 2000 never to return.
- Glamorgan promoted in 2000 only to be relegated in 2001 never to return.
- Middlesex promoted in 2002 only to be relegated in 2006 never to return.
- Leicestershire were relegated in 2003 never to return.
- Northamptonshire relegated in 2001, promoted in 2003, relegated in 2004 never to return.
- Gloucestershire promoted in 2003, relegated in 2005 never to return.
- Surrey are the exceptions having been Division 1 champions in 2000 and 2002 and have spent only 3 seasons in Divison 2.
Maybe within 10 years Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Derbyshire, Middlesex and Leicestershire will be major Minor Counties?
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