It was so disappointing to learn in April that Kent will not be one of the eight counties to be awarded a Tier One, professional women’s team for the period 2025-2028.
At an England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) meeting, the recommendation of the Selection Panel was ratified by the Board. The eight Tier One positions were awarded to Lancashire, Durham, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Essex, Hampshire and Somerset.
It is also understood that by 2027, Tier One will be expanded to ten teams, to include Glamorgan and Yorkshire. In 2029, the ECB aims to expand the top tier to 12 teams, although the criterion for expansion is unconfirmed.
Kent’s bid outlined the scale of opportunity to grow cricket in Kent and London with a dedicated Performance Centre and state-of-the-art training facilities based at The County Ground, Beckenham, the current base of the women’s regional team, South East Stars.
This was supported by data showing a combined population in Kent and four London Boroughs of almost three million people.
