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Everything You Need To Know About The European T10 League
If a traditional five-day test match is a little bit too long for your liking, you’ll love the thrill of T10 cricket. After all, in a game of T10 cricket, each team only faces 60 balls. As a result, it feels like the batter is trying to hit every single delivery out of the ground. If you’re interested in learning more about European T10 cricket, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about the sport right here.
What is European T10 cricket?
T10 cricket is the shortest form of the game. Although many professional games of T20 cricket now take over three hours (and sometimes four at international level), T10 games are often completed in around 90 minutes, which is the same as a football match.
During the game, each side bats for a period of 10 overs. During this time, there’s also a three-over power play where only a few fielders can guard the boundary. Like traditional cricket, each side still has 10 wickets, so most teams swing for the fences and try to hit every ball for six.
Where is European T10 cricket played?
As the name suggests, European T10 cricket is played right across Europe and most European nations have a national league. For example, in the last few years, European T10 cricket leagues have been played in Germany, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Belgium and Malta.
In fact, even though cricket is considered to be a summer sport, European T10 cricket is played throughout the entire calendar year. For instance, the latest round of fixtures in the European T10 league was played at the start of December in Malta.
Similarly, in November, European T10 cricket was even played in Barcelona. In Spain’s version of the competition, Badalona Shaheen CC took home the title. To show just how exciting this form of cricket can be, scorecards from the European T10 league even show that the team scored a blistering 135 runs from their 10 overs. This is because captain Dilawar Khan scored a massive 31 runs off only 11 balls. He even hit five sixes in the process!
Because we’re now in December, most European leagues from the T10 European Cricket Series have finished. For 2020, the champions are:
- Austrian — Vienna Afghan CC
- Belgium — Beveren CC
- Bulgaria — Indo-Bulgarian CC
- Capelle — Sparta Cricket 1888
- Cartaxo — Malo CC Vilamoura
- Cyprus — Punjab Lions CC
- Dresden — BSV Britannia
- Finland — Helsinki Cricket Club
- Frankfurt — MSC Frankfurt
- Hungary — Royal Tigers Cricket Club
- Malmo — Ariana AKIF
- Romania — ICC Bucharest
- Rome — Jinnah Brescia Cricket Club
- Tallinn — Tallinn Hippos
- Vienna — Pakistan CC
What will happen in 2021?
Although 2020 has been an action-packed year for the European T10 league, 2021 looks set to be even bigger. This is because not only will all of the above national tournaments continue, but the European Cricket League will return for its second edition.
The European Cricket League is the highlight of the T10 calendar in Europe. For the 2021 edition of the tournament, 16 of Europe’s best T10 teams (including many of the champions listed above) will descend on La Manga in Spain for a tournament like no other. Over the space of eight days, 32 games of T10 cricket are expected to be played in front of capacity crowds. The teams featured will even include representatives from England and Ireland, who are both full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The inaugural tournament was held in 2019 and was a huge success. In this edition, eight champions played 17 matches over three days before VOC Rotterdam were crowned champions. They beat SG Findorff (Bremen) from Germany in the final.
Last year’s international tournament was also a great showcase for up-and-coming talent. For example, 2019’s player of the tournament Max O’Dowd is now a full Netherlands international who has even played in T20 World Cup qualifiers.
Similarly, Cluj all-rounder Pavel Florin became an overnight internet sensation with his performances and even drew admiration from legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne.
So, although 2020 has been a great year for the European T10 league, 2021 looks set to be even better. As the calendar turns over to 2021, be sure to watch the domestic leagues and keep an eye out for players who may compete in the European Cricket League. After all, if they perform well, they may even go on to be the next big thing.
