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The ECB 40 or Clydesdale Bank 40 is a new 40-over English cricket competition that made its debut on April 25, 2010. Devised and organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the ECB 40 has replaced two other English cricket competitions - the Pro40 and Friends Provident Trophy. The official sponsor of the ECB 40 is Clydesdale Bank, which signed a three-year sponsorship deal. Hence the Clydesdale Bank 40.
The ECB introduced the ECB 40 due to the growing popularity of Twenty20 cricket (20 overs, single innings), domestically thanks to the Twenty20 Cup, and internationally due to the ICC World Twenty20 and the Indian Premier League (IPL). In addition, the ECB recognised a declining interest in the Pro40 and Friends Provident Trophy. The Clydesdale Bank 40 is made up of three groups of seven teams. The best team and the second best team from each group progress to two semi-finals. The winners of each semi-final then compete in the finals for the coveted ECB 40 trophy.
The teams in the 2010 Clydesdale Bank 40 consist of: Group A - Glamorgan Dragons, Lancashire Lightning, Somerset Sabres, Surrey Lions, Sussex Sharks, Unicorns and Worcestershire Royals. Group B - Derbyshire Falcons, Essex Eagles, Gloucestershire Gladiators, Middlesex Panthers, Netherlands, Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Yorkshire Carnegie. Group C - Durham Dynamos, Hampshire Royals, Kent Spitfires, Leicestershire Foxes, Nottinghamshire Outlaws, Scottish Saltires and Warwickshire Bears.
