National Counties Cricket Championship

The NCCA 3 Day Championship (previously the Minor Counties Cricket Championship) is a season-long competition in England and Wales that is contested by the members of the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA), the so-called national counties (previously called the minor counties) that do not have first-class status. History The competition began in 1895, with the Worcestershire honorary secretary Paul Foley being influential in its creation. It has been contested annually ever since apart from the two World War periods, and cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19. From 2014 to 2019 the tournament was known as the Unicorns Championship. Four clubs which used to play in the Minor Counties Championship have been granted first-class status – Worcestershire in 1899; Northamptonshire in 1905; Glamorgan in 1921 and Durham in 1992. Until 1959, when the Second XI Championship was founded, most second XIs of the first-class counties used to contest the Minor Counties. A few continued to do so and the last to withdraw was Somerset 2nd XI after the 1987 season.