ECB U13 National Club Championship - Background

2011 is set to be another record year as, once again, over 1,800 clubs enter the competition and around 27,000 junior cricketers share the dream of being in the team crowned ECB U13 National Cricket Champions come the culmination of the Finals Festival at Oakham School in August.

The victorious captain will have the honour of lifting the Ken Barrington Cup.

Mike Gatting, ECB Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships, said “It is testament to the heritage and quality of the ECB U13 National Club Championship that it has produced so many world class performers over the years. Anya Shrubsole, was one of the first girls to ever appear in the Finals Festival when she played for Bath CC in 2005.

"In 2008 she made her England debut in a Women’s ODI against South Africa and is just the latest example."

Giles Clarke, ECB chairman, said: “England stars such as Andrew Flintoff, Monty Panesar, and James Anderson have all taken part in the ECB U13 National Club Championship as have former England players such as Nasser Hussain, Steve Harmison and Marcus Trescothick.

"I think that shows the importance of the competition on the path from the playground to the Test arena and why it has established itself in the last 30 years as an essential part of the cricketing calendar.”

The Championship is played on a county basis with each of the 40 county winners progressing to a National Knock-out Competition. The National Finals Festival are played at Oakham School, Rutland from August 10-12 2011.