First-class cricket
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First-class cricket matches are those of at least three days length, involving either international teams or the highest division of domestic competition. By custom, first-class cricket is said to have begun in 1815, the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
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Conduct of a game of first-class cricket
The game is conducted similarly to Test cricket, though usually of a maximum length of 3 or 4 days rather than the 5 of Test cricket (though a few are). (Technically, Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket. However, the term "first class" is usually used to refer to domestic competition only.) Around the world, these teams are usually representative of internal political divisions - for instance, Australia's domestic first-class competition is between state representative teams. Due to the time demands of such a competition (the matches cannot be played on weekends, for instance) first-class cricketers are mostly paid professionals.
A first class match played domestically has the same rules as Test matches, except for the number of days of play and the follow on rule. Normally, the matches are conducted over three or four days. However, the laws allow for two or one day first class matches as well.
The follow-on rule
The follow-on minimum lead requirement in first-class cricket is:
- 5 or more days - 200 runs
- 3 or 4 days - 150 runs
- 2 days - 100 runs
- 1 day - 75 runs
If the whole first day of play is abandoned without a ball being bowled, then the day is ignored for the sake of calculating follow on. For example, if the first day of a four-day match is abandoned due to weather or other reasons, then the match is counted as a three-day one for the sake of determining follow on. (This would not make a difference in four-day matches because the follow on requirements for four and three days is the same.) Note that only the first day can be ignored in this calculation. If more than one day is abandoned, the second and subsequent days are still counted for the calculation of follow-ons.
Definition of first-class cricket
As well as domestic competition, it is typical for international teams touring another country to play warm-up first-class matches against domestic teams. However, with the increasing schedule of international players and consequent more tightly-scheduled tours, the number of such one-off games is decreasing. According to the International Cricket Council, a match is first class if:
- It is of three or more days scheduled duration
- Each side playing the match has eleven players
- The match is played on natural, and not artificial, turf
- The match is played on an international standard ground
- The match conforms to the Laws of Cricket, except for only minor amendments
- The Board of cricket in the appropriate nation or the International Cricket Council recognizes the match as first-class.
A Test Match is a first class match played between two Full Member countries given the status of a Test match-playing nation by the International Cricket Council, following the Playing Conditions for Test Matches established by the International Cricket Council, and following various other regulations.
The following matches or competitions are also recognized as first-class by the appropriate Boards of Cricket, providing the above regulations are met:
- United Kingdom and Ireland
- County Championship matches
- Marylebone Cricket Club versus a first class county
- Oxford University versus Cambridge University
- Cambridge, Durham, Oxford and Loughborough University Centres of Cricketing Excellence matches versus first class counties
- Scotland versus Ireland
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- Australia
- Pura Cup matches.
- Australia 'A' versus Australian XI
- Australia 'A' versus first class opponents, including State teams
- Australian XI versus first class opponents, including State teams
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- South Africa
- Super Sport Series matches
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- West Indies
- Red Stripe Cup matches
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- India
- Ranji Trophy matches
- Duleep Trophy matches
- Irani Trophy matches
- A State or regional associations versus another state or regional association, provideed the associations are affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- New Zealand
- State Championship matches
- New Zealand 'A' versus a Cricket association, provided the association is affiliated to New Zealand Cricket
- A cricket association versus another cricket association, provided that the associations are affiliated to New Zealand Cricket
- New Zealand 'A' versus a first class opponent
- A cricket association versus a first class opponent, provided the association is affiliated to New Zealand Cricket
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- Pakistan
- Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches
- Super League matches
- Cricket Associations and Departments (corporate teams) versus each other, or other first class opponents, provided the associations or departments are affiliated to the Pakistan Cricket Board, and the match is organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board
- Pakistan 'A' versus a touring Test team or Kenya
- Pakistan versus a touring 'A' team from a Test country or Kenya
- Paksitan 'A' versus a touring 'A' team from a Test country or Kenya
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- Sri Lanka
- Premier League (Division I) Matches
- Sri Lanka 'A' (or another team designated by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka) versus a touring 'A' team
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- Zimbabwe
- Logan Cup Matches
- A cricket association versus another cricket association, provided the associations are affiliated to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union
- A first class team versus a touring first class team
- Kenya (Not a Test Team)
- A first class team (including touring Test teams) versus Kenya
- Other Non-Test Full Member Countries
- Non-Test Full Member Country versus a first class touring team, with the consent of the touring team
- Official Test Trial matches.
- Special matches between teams adjudged first class by the Board(s) of cricket concerned, with the approval of the International Cricket Council
- Games played for the ICC Intercontinental Cup. This competition involves teams from USA, Canada, Bermuda, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Uganda, Kenya, Namibia, UAE, Malaysia and Nepal.
Notes:
- A first class opponent is a team recognized as first class in its home country, and includes foreign touring Test teams (some first class teams are not entitled to play first class matches in other countries; such determinations are made by the local Board of cricket)
- The 'A' Team and the 'XI' Team are the representatives of a nation subordinate to the Test team, and are not always adjudged first class
First class domestic teams
Australia
Bangladesh
England and Wales
The eighteen major counties (listed below) are divided into two divisions for the County Championship. In each division the teams play each other twice, both home and away. The bottom and top teams of the first and second divisions respectively are relegated and promoted at the end of the season. Most other counties are minor counties and play in their own competition.
- Derbyshire County Cricket Club
- Durham County Cricket Club
- Essex County Cricket Club
- Glamorgan County Cricket Club (the only Welsh major county).
- Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
- Hampshire County Cricket Club ("Hants")
- Kent County Cricket Club
- Lancashire County Cricket Club
- Leicestershire County Cricket Club
- Middlesex County Cricket Club
- Northamptonshire County Cricket Club ("Northants")
- Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club ("Notts")
- Somerset County Cricket Club
- Surrey County Cricket Club
- Sussex County Cricket Club
- Warwickshire County Cricket Club
- Worcestershire County Cricket Club
- Yorkshire County Cricket Club
India
- Andhra
- Assam
- Baroda
- Bengal
- Delhi
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Hyderabad
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Jharkhand (Jharkhand, which had been part of the state of Bihar, was granted statehood in 2001. As most of the cricketing infrastructure and players were in Jharkhand, Bihar had its first class status revoked in favour of Jharkhand).
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Mumbai
- Orissa
- Punjab
- Railways
- Rajasthan
- Saurashtra
- Services
- Tamil Nadu
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Vidarbha
New Zealand
Pakistan
The domestic teams may either be city teams, government service teams, or corporate teams. Some cities have two teams; in this case, the second team is named the "Blues."
- Sargodha
- Lahore
- Lahore Blues
- Faisalabad
- Sheikhupura
- Karachi
- Karachi Blues
- Bahawalpur
- Dadu
- Sialkot
- Gujranwala
- Rawalpindi
- Peshawar
- Pakistan International Airlines
- Allied Bank
- National Bank of Pakistan
- Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan
- Pakistan Customs
- Water and Power Development Authority
- Khan Research Labs
- Habib Bank Limited
- Sui Gas Corporation of Pakistan
- Pakistan Public Works Department
- Service Industries
South Africa
- Boland
- Border
- Easterns
- Eastern Province
- Free State
- Gauteng
- Griqualand West
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Maritzburg
- Northerns
- North West
- Western Province
Sri Lanka
- Air Force Sports Club
- Bloomfield
- Burgher
- Chilaw Marians
- Colombo
- Colts
- Galle
- Kurunegala
- Moratuwa
- Nondescripts Cricket Club (Note: Due to recent structural changes, many teams were eliminated or amalgamated into the Nondescripts Club)
- Panadura
- Ragama
- Sebastianites
- Sinhalese Sports Club
- Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club
West Indies
Zimbabwe
External links
- Official ECB website (http://www.ecb.co.uk)
- Twenty 20 Cricket (http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk)
- The official laws of cricket (http://www.lords.org/cricket/laws.asp)
- Cricket-Online (http://www.cricket-online.org)
- CricInfo (http://www.cricinfo.com)
- Cricket Introduction (http://cricketlearn.tripod.com)