First-class cricket

First-class cricket is a term for cricket matches of at least three days length, either involving international teams, or the highest division of domestic competition. 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). 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.

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.

Table of contents 1 First class domestic teams 1.1 Australia 1.2 Bangladesh 1.3 England and Wales 2 India 3 New Zealand 4 Pakistan 5 South Africa 6 Sri Lanka 7 Zimbabwe

First class domestic teams

Australia

• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Western Australia
• Victoria

Bangladesh

• Barisal[?]
• Chittagong[?]
• Dhaka
• Khulna[?]
• Rajshahi[?]
• Sylhet[?]

England and Wales

The eighteen major counties (listed below) are divided into two divisions. 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
• Durham
• Essex
• Glamorgan - the only Welsh major county.
• Gloucestershire
• Hampshire - "Hants"
• Kent
• Lancashire
• Leicestershire
• Middlesex
• Northamptonshire - "Northants"
• Nottinghamshire
• Somerset
• Surrey
• Sussex
• Warwickshire
• Worcestershire
• Yorkshire

India

• Andhra
• Assam
• Baroda[?]
• Bengal
• Delhi
• Gujarat
• Himachal Pradesh
• Hyderabad
• Mumbai
• Orissa
• Punjab
• Railways
• Rajasthan
• Tamil Nadu
• Uttar Pradesh

New Zealand

• Auckland
• Canterbury
• Central Districts[?]
• Northern Districts[?]
• Otago
• Wellington

Pakistan

• Sargodha[?]
• Lahore
• Faisalabad[?]
• Sheikhupura[?]
• Karachi
• Bahawalpur
• Dadu[?]
• Sialkot[?]
• Gujranwala[?]
• Rawalpindi[?]
• Peshawar

South Africa

• Boland[?]
• Border[?]
• Easterns[?]
• Eastern Province[?]
• Free State[?]
• Gauteng[?]
• Griqualand West[?]
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Northerns[?]
• North West[?]
• Western Province[?]

Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe

• Mashonaland[?]
• Manicaland[?]
• Matabeleland[?]
• Midlands[?]