Somerset Cricket Women's Team awarded 'Tier 1' status
There are eight Fist Class Counties which have been awarded the status
It has been confirmed today (18 April) that there are eight First Class Counties which have been successful in their bid to become a Tier 1 women's team.
The top squads will come into force from 2025, but in a blow to Yorkshire - they'll have to wait for Tier 1 status for another two years - for 2027 - under the England and Wales Cricket Board's new scheme.
Somerset, however, are on the list - joining seven others who will be competing in the evolved women's professional domestic structure.
The ECB say there's also an intent to grow to 12 teams by the 2029 season.
The eight selected Counties to compete in Tier 1 of the evolved women’s professional domestic structure from 2025 are:
- Durham
- Essex
- Hampshire
- Lancashire
- Nottinghamshire
- Somerset
- Surrey
- Warwickshire
Joining them, by 2027, will be Glamorgan and Yorkshire.
This is all to enhance access for talented female players across the country, with the further expansion later on in the decade happening due to the 'rapid growth of the women's game'.
It's hoped the sport could see an 80% increase in the number of professional female players in England and Wales by 2029 compared to today – with the plans set to further accelerate the growth of women’s cricket, amid the introduction of the three-tiered domestic competition structure.
When the two extra teams come in, the ECB say they will be investing an extra £3m a year into the scheme, meaning there'll be a total of £8m new funding per year being invested into women’s domestic cricket by 2027 – taking annual investment in this area to c.£19m.
Somerset CCC Chief Executive, Gordon Hollins said: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity by the ECB to play a leading role in the growth of women’s cricket. I am extremely proud of all the staff at Somerset CCC, past and present, who have done so much to promote and develop women’s cricket over several years. I would also like to thank the Executive Team who worked so hard to compile our submission earlier this year.
“The growth of the women’s game is an integral pillar within our Club’s strategic plan, as Somerset seeks to inspire the South West through cricket.
“Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Devon, Cornwall, and Wiltshire, all have a critical role to play going forward, as we embark on a journey which ensures the South West is a region that leads the way in the growth of women’s cricket. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with them going forward.
“We will now take time to study the terms of the award before creating a robust implementation plan which will allow the Club to deliver its ambitions in women’s cricket, while maintaining our position at the top table of men’s cricket.
“It is important amidst the excitement, to allow players and coaches, men and women, the opportunity to focus on the season which is now under way.”
Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “Through this process we’ve seen a huge appetite from First Class Counties to have a women’s professional team, and a real commitment to growing women’s and girls’ cricket in this country.
“I’d like to congratulate those counties who have been successful in their bids. I’m also delighted that in light of the support we have seen and the strength of the bids we have considered, we can accelerate our plans, including new top tier professional teams at Glamorgan and Yorkshire by 2027 with and a further two being introduced by 2029.
“More professional teams means more women able to make a career out of being a cricketer, more role models to inspire future generations, and more of the country having a women’s professional team to follow nearby.
“I recognise today’s announcement will also be disappointing to those who haven’t been successful at this stage. But with the new three-tier structure we are introducing, there is still a huge opportunity for them to compete in the other tiers so together we can all realise the potential of women’s domestic cricket.”
ECB Director of Women’s Professional Game Beth Barrett-Wild said: “At the start of this tender process we challenged the First Class Counties to show us their vision for the women’s professional game and to demonstrate their desire and commitment to becoming one of our professional Tier 1 Clubs.
“Over the last couple of months it’s been brilliant to see the time and energy that has gone into the submissions, and I’ve been hugely impressed by the quality and ambition of the bids.
“The decision to select two additional Counties – Glamorgan and Yorkshire – as the ninth and tenth Tier 1 Clubs by 2027, and our stated aim to move to 12 teams in Tier 1 by 2029, is testament to the strength of the bids and the pace at which we all want to move to effect change.
“It’s clear that the game is united in wanting to take the women’s professional game forward, and in wanting to produce commercially vibrant teams and competitions that excite fans and showcase the quality of our professional players.
“I’m energised about what comes next, for the Counties themselves, for the players, for fans and for everyone who wants to see women’s cricket continue its accelerated trajectory.”
All 18 First Class Counties and MCC were invited to tender to become a women’s Tier 1 Club, who were assessed on four criteria:
- Vision and mission – Their passion, ambition and prioritisation.
- Quality cricket – Player development and squad composition plans, coaching and sports science and medicine provision, talent pathway activation and training/match day facilities.
- Passionate fans – Marketing, digital and communications plans, match day experiences and fan facilities.
- Long-term value – Financial investment, commercial strategy, governance, leadership and EDI plans.
The evolved women’s domestic structure in full will be rolled out in 2025.
For the duration of the 2025-2028 seasons all three tiers will be ‘closed’, with no promotion or relegation.
The three-tier structure aims to build on the impact of the existing Regional Model, which has accelerated performance levels within women’s cricket and laid solid foundations, to further grow the depth and reach of the women’s professional game.