European Cricket Championship

European Cricket Championship
Administrator	European Cricket Council, International Cricket Council
Format	List A
First tournament	2000
Tournament format	League system
Number of teams	30 nations
Current champion	Jersey
Most successful	Ireland (3 titles)

The European Cricket Championship is a group of various tournaments in which national cricket sides throughout Europe compete. The tournament is designed to encourage and develop the best players in countries where cricket is not a major sport and Europe's only Test cricket playing country, England, does not currently enter a side. The games are 50-over one-day cricket matches. Most of these do not have One Day International status (see below for more details).

History

The European Cricket Championships began in 1996 as a competition for seven European associate teams and an ECB XI.^[1] 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 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.

Participating teams

Legend

1st – Champions
2nd – Runners-up
3rd – Third place
SF – Semi-finallist (no third-place playoff)
* – Team was ineligible for tournament
— Hosts

Team	1996	1998	2000	2002	2004	2006	2008	2010	2011	2013	Total
Austria	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8th	6th	2
Belgium	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	7th	12th	2
Croatia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	12th	—	1
Denmark	3rd	2nd	6th	5th	4th	4th	3rd	5th	1st	2nd	10
England Board XI	4th	6th	2nd	1st	1st	—	—	—	—	*	5
France	—	8th	—	—	—	—	—	—	6th	5th	3
Germany	—	7th	—	—	—	—	—	—	10th	7th	3
Gibraltar	6th	10th	—	—	—	—	—	—	9th	10th	4
Guernsey	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4th	SF	2
Ireland	1st	4th	4th	3rd	5th	1st	1st	*	*	*	7
Ireland "A"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2nd	—	—	1
Isle of Man	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	9th	1
Israel	8th	9th	—	—	—	—	—	—	11th	—	3
Italy	7th	5th	5th	6th	—	5th	5th	6th	2nd	1st	9
Jersey	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1st	3rd	SF	3
Netherlands	2nd	1st	1st	4th	2nd	3rd	4th	*	*	*	7
Netherlands "A"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4th	—	—	1
Norway	—	—	—	—	—	—	6th	—	5th	8th	3
Scotland	5th	3rd	3rd	2nd	3rd	2nd	2nd	*	*	*	7
Scotland "A"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3rd	—	—	1
Sweden	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	11th	1

Tournaments

1996

The first tournament was played in Denmark in 1996. The participating teams were Denmark, Gibraltar, Netherlands, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Scotland and an England Board XI. The tournament was won by Ireland after beating the Netherlands in the final.^[2]

1998

In 1998, the tournament was split into two Divisions, although teams from the two Divisions still played each other in the final play-off matches. The teams from the previous tournaments were joined by France and Germany. The tournament was won by the hosts, the Netherlands .^[3]

2000

The Divisional structure was tightened for this tournament, with teams from the two divisions not playing each other. The teams from the previous tournament were this time joined by Greece and Portugal. The tournament was played in Scotland and was again won by the Netherlands. The second division was won by Gibraltar.^[4]

2002

This tournament was held in Northern Ireland, with Austria replacing Greece from the previous tournament. It was won by the ECB XI. The second division was again won by Gibraltar.^[5]

2004

In this year, the two Divisions were played in two different countries. Division One, played in the Netherlands, was again won by the ECB XI,^[6] whilst Division Two, played in Belgium was won by Italy. Austria and Portugal did not compete this year, although Norway made their debut in Division Two.^[7]

2006

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 and Ayr. 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.^[8]

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.

Place	Team	Wins	NR	Loss	PTS	NRR
1	Ireland	3	1	0	7	+2.42
2	Scotland	3	0	1	6	+0.03
3	Netherlands	2	1	1	5	+1.18
4	Denmark	1	0	3	2	−0.28
5	Italy	0	0	4	0	−2.72

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 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. 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.^[9] The tournament was met by protests due to the involvement of the Israeli team.^[10]

Group A

Place	Team	Wins	Loss	PTS	NRR
1	Germany	1	2	2	0.92
2	Gibraltar	1	2	2	0.66
3	Guernsey	1	2	2	0.53
4	Greece	3	0	0	-

Greece was disqualified for ineligibility of players.

Group B

Place	Team	Wins	NR	Loss	PTS	NRR
1	Norway	2	0	1	4	1.19
2	Jersey	1	1	1	3	1.71
3	Israel	1	1	1	3	0.75
4	France	1	0	2	2	0.78

Division Four

This tournament was played in Belgium, and featured the debut of Cyprus who played Finland, Luxembourg and Slovenia. It was won by Finland who gained promotion to 2007 Division Three, as did runners-up Cyprus.^[11]

Place	Team	Wins	Loss	PTS	NRR
1	Finland	2	1	4	0.92
2	Cyprus	2	1	4	−0.20
3	Luxembourg	1	2	2	0.16
4	Slovenia	1	2	2	−0.77

2007

Division Three

Group A

Place	Team	Wins	Loss	PTS	NRR
1	Croatia	3	0	6	2.017
2	Spain	1	1	3	1.161
3	Finland	1	2	2	0.687
4	Portugal	0	2	1	0.523

Group B

Place	Team	Wins	Loss	PTS	NRR
1	Isle of Man	2	0	5	1.450
2	Malta	1	1	3	1.288
3	Cyprus	1	1	3	0.800
4	Belgium	0	2	1	0.785

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.