NatWest Pro40 League

From Wiki Cricket

The NatWest Pro40 League is a List A domestic cricket competition held in England.It was started in the year 1969 as the Sunday League, the sponsor for the tournament at that time was John Players.This 40 over competition was an immediate success when it was introduced and was a major source of entertainment in those days.The tournament has been known by various names in the past

John Player's County League in the 1969 season

John Player Leagure from 1970 to 1983

John Player Special League from 1984 to 1986

Refuge Assurance League from 1987 to 1992

AXA Equity & Law League from 1993 to 1996

AXA Life League in the 1997 season

AXA League in the 1998 season

The tournament was then retitled in the year 1999 as the matches played were no longer restricted to Sundays.It was called as

CGU National League in the 1999 season

Norwich Union National League in the 2000 season

Norwich Union League from 2001 to 2002

National League in 2003

Totesport League from 2004 to 2005

NatWest Pro40 from 2006

From the 1999 season ,teams were divided into two groups of 9 teams.At the end of each season the top three teams from division 2 were promoted to division 1while the last three teams in division 1 were legated.In 2006 season, a small change was made so that only two teams were promoted and relegated.The third team's promotion/relegation were to be negotialed during the play-off match.It has been offically announced that the League would be disbanded in 2010 to make way for the new Twenty20 tournament,English Premier League.

Number Of Wins Recorded By Teams

Lancashire 06

Worcestershire , Glamorgan 04

Kent , Essex 05

Hampshire , Warwickshire , Sussex , Surrey ,Gloucestershire 03

Leicestershire , Middlesex , Somerset 02

Yorkshire , Derbyshire , Nottinghamshire 01

Teams

1.Lancashire Lightning

2.Worcestershire Royals

3.Kent Spitfires

4.Hampshire Hawks

5.Leicestershire Foxes

6.Somerset Sabres

7.Essex Eagles

8.Sussex Sharks

9.Yorkshire Carnegie

10.Derbyshire Phantoms

11.Nottinghamshire Outlaws

12.Middlesex Crusaders

13.Glamorgan Dragons

14.Surrey Brown Caps

15.Gloucestershire Gladiators

16.Northamptonshire Steelbacks

20.Durham Dynamos

21.Warwickshire Bears