Second Eleven Twenty20 (England) 2021/22

The Second Eleven Twenty20 is a domestic cricket competition in England and Wales, organized by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). It features the second teams, or 2nd XIs, of county cricket clubs as a developmental platform for young players, academy prospects, and fringe first-team players. Established in 2004 as the Second Eleven Trophy, the competition adopted the Twenty20 format later, with records confirming the T20 iteration was active by 2011. The tournament is structured into two geographical divisions, the North Division and the South Division. Teams compete in a league stage within these divisions, followed by a knockout phase where the winners of each division meet in a final to determine the overall champion. The number of participating teams fluctuates but typically ranges between 20 and 24 across both divisions. There is no formal promotion or relegation linking the Second Eleven competitions to the first-team professional leagues, such as the T20 Blast or the Royal London One-Day Cup; instead, performance here serves as a pathway for player selection to senior squads. The competition mirrors the structure of the first-team T20 Blast but is distinct in its developmental focus and lower status, not carrying first-class or List A status. Notable winners include Middlesex 2nd XI (2013, 2015), Leicestershire 2nd XI, Surrey 2nd XI, and Sussex 2nd XI. The 2024 final was won by Somerset 2nd XI, who defeated Yorkshire 2nd XI by 66 runs at Sir Paul Getty's Ground, Wormsley. The competition is one of three Second Eleven tournaments, alongside the Second XI Championship (first-class) and the Second Eleven Trophy (50-over), each mirroring the formats of the senior county competitions.