In 2026, Yorkshire’s women’s team will become tier-one. It is a month after they missed their first chance to ascend to the top of the new domestic cricket pyramid for women.
An overview of Yorkshire’s Tier 1 promotion
On April 18, eight counties won a bid process to take over the existing regional teams. Consequently, awarded, Tier 1 rank for 2025. At first, Yorkshire and Glamorgan were told they would have to wait until 2027.
That caused a lot of debate and shock in several counties because that option hadn’t been considered before.
Glamorgan said they were “delighted” with the result and will still be able to join in 2027.
The club from Headingley said they were “surprised and disappointed.”
They made their case to the ECB, hence, they agreed to move plans forward.
Initial Disappointment and ECB Reversal for women’s cricket team
In 2027, Glamorgan will still be a Tier 1 team.
The current regional model will be replaced by a three-tiered county system next year. This is part of the ECB’s plan to put £19 million a year into women’s domestic cricket by 2027.
Of the Tier 1 counties, seven were the same as the regional teams that were already in place.
ECB CEO Richard Gould said at the time that Yorkshire were not being “punished for past sins” . Hinting to the club’s long-running racism issue.
As a result, the ECB has confirmed that Yorkshire will join Tier 1 in 2026.
This was done “to provide greater certainty about the introduction timeline for the club and the existing women’s professional playing group.”
Still, if some countries sign Diamonds players, their lives will be very different for at least a year.
Moreover, Headingley has been the home base for the Northern Diamonds. Diamonds players, Katie Levick and Lauren Winfield-Hill, have talked about how unpredictable the last few weeks have been.
Plan for a £61.8M refurbishment of two Lord’s stands have been authorized.
Future of Women’s Cricket Team
The ECB’s director of the women’s professional game, Beth Barrett-Wild, said,
“It’s clear that Yorkshire wants to join Tier 1 as soon as possible. We think it’s best for them, the women’s game, and most importantly for the players as they negotiate their contracts to give them as much certainty as we can about when they will join.”
“We look forward to getting the new three-tiered structure underway next summer, and setting in motion the next exciting stage of women’s professional domestic cricket.”
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Beth Barrett-Wild
As long as Yorkshire meets a number of conditions related to governance, strategy, and finances, the move will go ahead.
Building Pathways and Preparation
An ECB statement said it will give more certainty about the timeline for the club.
Furthermore, the existing women’s cricket team as they begin contract negotiations for 2025 on June 1, 2025.
Beth Barrett-Wild, who is in charge of the women’s professional game at the ECB, said,
“In April, we talked about how strong the bids were and how quickly we all want the game to move to the next level.”
“Yorkshire’s desire to be part of tier one as soon as possible is clear, and we believe it’s the best decision for them, the women’s game, and most importantly for the players as they enter a phase of contract negotiation, to provide as much certainty as we can about the introduction timeline for both Yorkshire and Glamorgan.”
“Because Yorkshire are already regional hosts, they are starting from a different place than Glamorgan. We think Glamorgan will benefit from having two years between 2025 and 2027 to build their talent pathway across Wales and gain experience running a women’s senior team in tier two.”
Beth Barrett-Wild
Because of this, the extra lead-in time will help them build a strong base. This will later create a competitive tier one team and proposal.
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