On July 18th, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially announced the establishment of Tier 2 and Tier 3 within the restructured women’s domestic cricket structure, set to commence fully in 2025. During the 2025-2028 seasons, all three tiers will operate on a closed basis without promotion or relegation.
Tier 2 will include Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire, who will compete in both 50-over and 20-over formats. Detailed competition structure and the 2025 schedule will be disclosed later.
Earlier this year, the ECB announced a major revamp for women’s cricket in the domestic circuit – introducing a ‘three-tier model’ and to achieve the same, a massive investment in women’s cricket. ECB already announced Tier 1 earlier this year, highlighting a significant evolution in professional women’s domestic cricket. Counties such as Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire have secured Tier 1 status starting from 2025.
The ECB aims to allocate £8 million annually by 2027, increasing total annual investment in women’s domestic cricket to approximately £19 million.
Additionally, Tier 3 status will be open to all National Counties interested in participating in the new competitions from 2025 onwards.
Yorkshire is slated to attain Tier 1 Club status in 2026, contingent on meeting specific criteria, while Glamorgan is scheduled to join Tier 1 in 2027. Looking ahead, the ECB plans to expand Tier 1 to include 12 teams by 2029.
Beth Barrett-Wild, Director of the Women’s Professional Game, expressed excitement over the finalization of the three tiers, stating that it brings the new landscape of women’s professional domestic cricket one step closer. Starting next summer, up to 39 counties will compete across the new structure, accommodating growth and accelerating the depth of the women’s professional game both on and off the field.
Barrett-Wild, said: “It’s exciting to see the three tiers finalised.”
“It brings the new landscape of women’s professional domestic cricket one step closer. From next summer we will see up to 39 Counties competing across the new structure, which will both accommodate the growth and accelerate the depth of the women’s professional game – on and off the field,” she said.
She acknowledged the substantial work involved in reaching this point and shared enthusiasm about the counties’ plans, emphasizing the significance of this step for women’s cricket and the entire game. Barrett-Wild highlighted the establishment of a thriving and sustainable women’s domestic pyramid under The Hundred and England Women, with more professional female players, increased investment, and enhanced alignment across the men’s and women’s games as a huge step forward for cricket.
Barrett-Wild further added, “It’s taken substantial work from the game to get to this point and having seen how the Counties have shared their plans, I’m so enthused about what comes next. We shouldn’t underestimate how big this step is for women’s cricket and indeed the whole game; a thriving and sustainable women’s domestic pyramid underneath The Hundred and England Women, with more professional female players, increased investment, and enhanced alignment across the men’s and women’s game, is a huge step forward for cricket.”
The ECB has also announced the creation of a knock-out cup competition involving teams from all three tiers. Scheduled to launch in 2025 alongside the new three-tiered structure, the competition aims to allow counties to compete against each other, play at major venues, and provide players across the pyramid with an enhanced platform to showcase their skills.
(Quotes sourced from ECB media release)