The England and Wales Cricket Board
50+ County Championship

History of the Championship

The Championship began in 1984 following an initiative by the Eastern Region of the Sports Council in the previous year as part of its Sport for All campaign.

The counties in the Eastern Region centred around Essex took part in a pilot 50+ cricket competition and its immediate appeal prompted the then National Cricket Association (the umbrella organisation representing the recreational game but since amalgamated with The Test and County Cricket Board to form the present day England & Wales Cricket Board) to introduce a national 50+ competition.

In its first year 18 counties entered and in the succeeding years the number grew to its present day total of 40 – 37 plus the Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight and the Cricket Association of Wales. The present Championship structure embraces 5 groups of eight counties, the teams in each group playing each other on a league basis. The 5 winners and runners-up in each group plus the best overall fourth placed county go forward to a knockout competition.

The Championship is hugely popular among the players and is played in a highly competitive manner but in an exceptionally good spirit – as one would expect from “senior” cricketers! Such is its popularity today that many counties run a 50+ ‘A’ Team and 60+ Teams, each with a regional competition. All the players have strong roots with their clubs and play an important part in encouraging young players.

Kent’s group of eight counties is considered to be the strongest in the competition consisting as it does of ourselves, Surrey, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Middlesex and Essex.

Kent have a proven track record in the Championship having appeared in 8 Finals and winning 6 which is twice more than Lancashire who lie in second place with regards to quantity of wins.

The Kent 50+ ‘A’ Team compete in the “Home Counties Seniors Championship” which consists of the same counties as mentioned above, the only difference to the National Championship is that two 49 year olds may play therefore introducing them a year early to assist in selection for the following year.

Additionally, an exceedingly popular 60+ championship is played; don’t mock it, it is still good cricket!

Suitability of players is usually by word of mouth and I assure you that we have plenty of knowledgeable individuals around the county in all areas of cricket to assess any name that is put forward.

It is a fact that teams over many years have come from various divisions of cricket but we do look for the Kent League to be the leading provider of players. Please contact me if anyone you know may be interested in their involvement.

Len Morris - 01223 714225:  email: morrisL9@sky.com