Tier 3 status, meanwhile, will be awarded to all National Counties who would like to participate in the new competition from 2025. The ECB has also announced the formation of a knock-out cup competition consisting of teams from all three tiers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The cup competition aims to provide all Counties with the opportunity to compete against each other, play at some of the country\u2019s biggest venues, and give players across the pyramid the chance to test their skills on an elevated platform.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
ECB also anticipates that the cup competition will be launched in 2025, alongside the establishment of the three-tiered structure. Earlier this year, Durham, Essex, Surrey, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Warwickshire were confirmed to be in Tier 1 of the new domestic structure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to see the three tiers finalised. It brings the new landscape of women\u2019s professional domestic cricket one step closer. From next summer we will see up to 39 Counties competing across the new structure, which will both accommodate the growth and accelerate the depth of the women\u2019s professional game -\u2013 on and off the field.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s taken substantial work from the game to get to this point and having seen how the Counties have shared their plans, I\u2019m so enthused about what comes next. We shouldn\u2019t underestimate how big this step is for women\u2019s cricket and indeed the whole game.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA thriving and sustainable women\u2019s domestic pyramid underneath The Hundred and England Women, with more professional female players, increased investment, and enhanced alignment across the men\u2019s and women\u2019s game, is a huge step forward for cricket,\u201d said Beth Barrett-Wild, director of the women's professional game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s taken substantial work from the game to get to this point and having seen how the Counties have shared their plans, I\u2019m so enthused about what comes next. We shouldn\u2019t underestimate how big this step is for women\u2019s cricket and indeed the whole game.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n