Clydesdale Bank 40 is the newest domestic one-day competition, having completed its second campaign in 2011 - culminating in a final won by Surrey v Somerset at Lord’s on September 17.

As well as the 18 first class counties, Scotland, Netherlands and the Unicorns (a team of players without first class contracts) compete on the Road to Lord's. See our Clydesdale Bank 40 - Teams page for links to their sites.

Clydesdale Bank 40 is about a fun afternoon out for the whole family with live cricket at the heart of the spectator experience. Games are predominantly played on a Sunday and around Bank Holidays and the 40-over format is designed to fit comfortably into the busy family weekend.

Clydesdale Bank, title sponsor for three years from the first season in 2010, has been a long-time supporter of cricket and the ECB. Clydesdale was involved as an official partner of the domestic Twenty20 competition between 2005 and 2009 and has also established links with various counties and individual players.

Format

The 21 teams have already been divided into three groups for the 2012 season.

Netherlands, Scotland and the Unicorns were allocated berths in Group A, B and C respectively. The 18 First Class Counties were placed in a group by a free draw.

Teams will play every other side in their group home and away. The winners of each group and the best second placed team will qualify for the semi-finals.

Fixtures will be confirmed in due course - along with the rest of the 2012 domestic season.

2012 Clydesdale Bank 40 draw

Group A

Netherlands
Leicestershire Foxes
Worcestershire Royals
Lancashire Lightning
Middlesex Panthers
Essex Eagles
Gloucestershire Gladiators

Group B

Scotland
Durham Dynamos
Hampshire Royals
Surrey Lions
Welsh Dragons
Somerset
Notts Outlaws

Group C

Unicorns
Derbyshire Falcons
Yorkshire Carnegie
Kent Spitfires
Warwickshire Bears
Sussex Sharks
Northamptonshire Steelbacks

This is the moment the teams are hoping to emulate in 2011 - Ian Bell & Imran Tahir celebrating Warwickshire's success at Lord's in September 2010