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Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup align with women’s game to drive professionalism and growth

Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup align with women’s game to drive professionalism and growth

Men’s and women’s professional domestic T20 and 50-over competitions will be fully aligned for the first time next season in further steps to fuel the growth and reach of women’s professional cricket.
The move will see men’s and women’s teams competing side by side in the Vitality Blast and the Metro Bank One Day Cup from the 2025 season.
The eight women’s Tier One professional county teams

There will be 10 Tier 1 teams from 2027. Photo: Getty Images

Eight Tier 1 Counties confirmed for 2025 and plans unveiled for four more women’s professional domestic teams by 2029

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the eight First Class Counties who have been successful in their bid to be awarded Tier 1 women’s team status from 2025.

As a further outcome of the Tier 1 invitation to tender process, the ECB has also today announced the selection of two additional First Class Counties to expand Tier 1 from eight to ten teams by 2027, and an intent t

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