| The County Championship in English domestic cricket | | | | became impractical for all of the teams to play the |
| did not officially commence until 1890, but for several | | | | exact same number of matches, each team had to |
| decades previously, there were unofficial contests to | | | | play at least sixteen games, but for a long time |
| determine the best sides in the country. | | | | some of them could play more and a system was |
| There are partial records dating back as far as 1825 | | | | needed to counter the dominance of teams playing |
| to a small competition featuring a handful of English | | | | more games. It was decided that the highest |
| counties. A winner was only announced if they went | | | | average number of points per finished game should |
| the whole season without losing to any of the other | | | | be used as the indicator of the best team. |
| teams and before its termination in 1963 it had been | | | | A further change was made in 1910, where the team |
| won by Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Nottinghamshire. | | | | with the best ratio of wins to matches played would |
| It is more commonly agreed that the first formal | | | | be champion. This system only lasted a year, before |
| competition began in 1964, when the country's | | | | a points system was reintroduced. |
| sporting press decided upon the champion. There | | | | No exact format settled until 1968, when 10 points |
| was no use of consensus to elect just one champion, | | | | were awarded for a win and none for a draw, with |
| but several publications would each name their own | | | | bonus points awarded for successful and speedy play |
| winner - often, but not always in agreement. | | | | in the first innings. |
| Even with a points system used as a guide for the | | | | Only minor changes occurred until 1996, when in a bid |
| latter seasons, there were some disputes. | | | | to prevent games finishing early, points were |
| Finally, in 1890 a system was agreed where a league | | | | awarded for draws. |
| table would be used to conclude the season's | | | | This points system is still in place today, but the most |
| champion. Gloucestershire, Kent, Lancashire, | | | | monumental upheaval to the contest didn't come until |
| Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Sussex and | | | | 1999, when it was announced the league would split |
| Yorkshire all competed in the inaugural contest, which | | | | into two divisions of quality, with promotion and |
| was eventually won by Surrey. | | | | relegation between the two after each season. |
| The changes were unquestionably beneficial to the | | | | It came at a time of dwindling attendances and was |
| game; more counties joined in the following seasons: | | | | intended to halt the slide by reducing the number of |
| Somerset in 1891 and Derbyshire, Essex, Hampshire, | | | | fixtures that had little bearing on the teams' overall |
| Leicestershire and Warwickshire all joined for 1895, | | | | success. |
| by which time the MCC gave its endorsement. | | | | Despite fears the split would harm teams that end up |
| Worcestershire followed in 1899 and | | | | in the Second Division; it has proved successful in |
| Northamptonshire in 1905. | | | | reviving interest and increasing ticket sales for almost |
| The only other clubs to join after this were Welsh | | | | all clubs; ultimately, at least for the time-being, |
| side, Glamorgan in 1921 and Durham in 1992. | | | | securing the survival of all eighteen counties. |
| The addition of these new clubs meant that it | | | | |