National Counties Trophy (England) 2021/22

The National Counties Trophy is a fifty-over knockout competition for non-first-class clubs in England and Wales. Organised by the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA), the tournament sits below the first-class county structure and operates independently of the National Counties Championship. The NCCA governs twenty-four clubs that have historically been known as minor counties, a designation the association itself changed to National Counties following a 2020 rebranding.

The event follows a straightforward elimination format. Teams are divided into groups for the initial stage, with group winners advancing to quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. If a match is tied, net run rate serves as the primary tie-breaker. There is no promotion or relegation linked to this trophy; it remains a standalone competition within the NCCA structure.

Berkshire holds the record for the most titles, having won the competition nine times. This includes victories in 2023 and 2026. In the 2021 final, Berkshire defeated Cumbria by 151 runs. The tournament has undergone several name changes throughout its history, including the English Industrial Estates Cup, the Holt Cup, the MCC Trophy, and the Unicorns Trophy, before adopting its current name.

The competition was founded in 1983. Its governing body, the Minor Counties Cricket Association, was established in 1895, predating the tournament itself. While the majority of participants are non-first-class clubs, notable history includes the 2002 victory by the Warwickshire Cricket Board, a first-class county board. The current season features teams such as Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Cumbria, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire. The competition does not offer a route between tiers but provides a designated cup competition for these specific clubs.