The European Cricket Championship was a group of various tournaments in which national cricket sides throughout Europe competed. The competition was designed to encourage and develop the best players in countries where cricket was not a major sport and Europe's only
Test cricket
Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket played at international level between teams representing full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC). A match consists of four innings (two per team) and is scheduled to last f ...
playing country at the time, England did not enter a full-strength side. The games were often played as 50-over one-day cricket matches, most of these without
One Day International status, but more recently has been played in a Twenty20 format (see below for more details).
History
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
The ICC World Cricket League (WCL) was a series of international one-day cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status (i.e., teams of Associate status) administered by the International Cricket Council. All Associate Members of t ...
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, but discontinued thereafter, along with Division 4. With the end of the World Cricket League in 2017, the European 50-over divisional structure was abolished altogether.
Participating teams
;Legend
* – Champions
* – Runners-up
* – Third place
* – Semi-finalist (no third-place playoff)
*
* – Team was ineligible for tournament
* — Hosts
Tournaments
2006-07 European Cricket Championship
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.
Division One
The European Division One Championships was held from 4–9 August in Scotland. Five teams participated in a round robin tournament, the games being held in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
and
Ayr
Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire Subdivisions of Scotland, council area and the historic Shires of Scotlan ...
. The games between Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands had full ODI status. The tournament was won by Ireland, who had also won a 'clean sweep' of European Championship at all age levels.
[2006 Division One at CricketEurope](_blank)
The top three teams qualified for
2007 WCL Division One, the 4th place for
2007 WCL Division Two and the 5th place for
2007 WCL Division Three.
Division Two
The European Division Two Championships was held from 4–9 August in Scotland, together with Division One. The winner would be promoted to the next installment of Division One in 2008.
Division Two was primarily played in Glasgow, with one game being played at
RAF Lossiemouth
Royal Air Force Lossiemouth or more commonly RAF Lossiemouth is a military airfield located on the western edge of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, north-east Scotland.
Lossiemouth is one of the largest and busiest fast-jet stations in the R ...
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
Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label= Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west France. It is the l ...
. It was won by Norway, who were promoted to 2008 Division One. The win also granted them entry into
2008 WCL Division Five alongside runners-up Jersey and 3rd place Germany. Greece came in last place and were relegated to 2007 Division Three after being stripped of their first round points due to fielding ineligible players.
[At a later board meeting it was decided that Greece would be further relegated to the next installment of Division Four in 2009. However, when the teams were sorted for the fourth and fifth divisions, Greece lost out on their Division Four spot and were placed in Division Five instead.] The tournament was met by protests due to the involvement of the Israeli team.
Group A
Greece was disqualified for ineligibility of players.
Group B
Division Four
This tournament was played in Belgium, and featured the debut of
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ge ...
who played
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
,
Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
and
Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...
. It was won by Finland who gained promotion to 2007 Division Three, as did runners-up Cyprus.
[2006 Division Four at CricketEurope](_blank)
2007
Division Three
=Group A
=
=Group B
=
In the semi-finals Croatia beat Malta by nine wickets and Spain beat the Isle of Man on fewer wickets lost when scores were tied. In the final Croatia beat Spain by four runs. In the 5th–8th place play-offs, Belgium and Portugal were victorious meaning that Cyprus and Finland would be relegated to 2009 Division Three.
Play off
On 18 November 2007 a play-off between Croatia and Israel took place in Tel Aviv, Croatia won the match by five runs to win promotion to Division Two.
2008-09 European Cricket Championship
Division One
The European Championship Division 1 was held from 25 to 31 July in Ireland. Six teams participated in a round robin tournament, the games being played in Dublin.
[2008 Division One at cricinfo.com](_blank)
/ref> The tournament was won by Ireland.
Division Two
The European Championship Division 2 was held from 18 to 23 August in Guernsey. Six teams participated in a round robin tournament, the games being played at the King George V, Port Soif and College Field grounds. The tournament was won by Jersey who will compete in a play off later in the year for a chance of promotion to Division One. By finishing in 2nd and 3rd place, Guernsey and Gibraltar also secured themselves a place in 2009 WCL Division Seven.
2009
Division Three
The 2009 European Championship Division Three was held in La Manga, Spain from 31 August to 5 September. Israel finished top and gained promotion to 2010 Division Two after beating Croatia in a play-off. Malta were relegated to 2011 Division Four.
Division Four
The 2009 European Championship Division Four was held in Limassol, Cyprus from 14 to 19 September. The winners were Cyprus on net run rate as both Switzerland and Austria, who had returned to the competition after a number of years absence, had equal points at the end of the competition. Slovenia were relegated to 2011 Division Five after losing all of their games.
Division Five
The 2009 European Championship Division Five was held in Corfu, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
from 7 to 12 September. Greece finished top gaining promotion to Division 4. The tournament also marked Turkey's debut in international cricket. Although they finished last they did gain their first victory in international cricket over Bulgaria.
2010
Division One
The 2010 European Championship Division One was held in Jersey
Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label= Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west France. It is the l ...
from 13 to 19 July. The ECC decided that the division would be made up of the six highest placed European teams currently embedded in the World Cricket League
The ICC World Cricket League (WCL) was a series of international one-day cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status (i.e., teams of Associate status) administered by the International Cricket Council. All Associate Members of ...
structure. The three nations with ODI status sent their second XIs to the tournament. Hosts Jersey were the champions, winning all their games.
Division Two
The 2010 European Championship Division Two was held in Guernsey from 13 to 19 July. The ECC decided that the division would be made up of the three lowest placed teams currently embedded in the World Cricket League
The ICC World Cricket League (WCL) was a series of international one-day cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status (i.e., teams of Associate status) administered by the International Cricket Council. All Associate Members of ...
structure and the three next placed teams based on recent regional events. The highest placed of these latter teams at the end of the tournament would gain qualification for 2010 WCL Division Eight. Guernsey were the champions after winning all the games and Germany qualified for the Division Eight tournament. Although their net run rate was lower than that of France they earned qualification as they had won their match against the French side. Norway finished above Israel for the same reason.
Champions
Division One
Division Two
Division Three
Division Four
Division Five
See also
* European Affiliates Championship
* European Cricket Council
References
{{European Championships
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by str ...
International cricket competitions
Cricket competitions in Europe