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LINKS TO DOMESTIC CRICKET IN TEST PLAYING COUNTRIES
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Traditionally only one Test country played its cricket in the nothern hemisphere summer season-April to September. This was England and it is much the busiest.Its season is marked for archive purposes by the year, 1999, 2000, 2001 etc.
The rest play in the southern hemisphere summer or northern hemisphere winter- September to May.This is known as 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001=02 etc. For most of cricket's history these season's were discreet but recently they have overlapped more and more with Sri Lanka and Australia holding tests 'out of season'. Despite the overlap statisticians refer to the split year season for 9 Test countries and for England at home by the single years. With the introduction of the ICC Test championship there is already a move to a wider spread for the Test programme but the domestic First Class, club and school cricket schedules remain within the traditional seasons.
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Australia
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Six States compete in the First Class Pura Cup( Sheffield Shield) and One Day Mercantile Mutual Cup. For the second eleven/state academy competition, the Australian Cricket Academy and Capital Territory join in.

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Bangladesh
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The latest Test country's domestic F/c programme is in its infancy but there is a large domestic sector just below first class.

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England
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England and Wales have 18 Counties competing in F/C competition and another 20 in Minor County Cricket. The congested and costly UK programme is often criticised for being counterproductive to the development of a good international side and a waste of resources thus reducing vital grass roots investment.

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India
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India has an extensive First Class programme and one day competitions played for by States and Regions.

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Pakistan
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Pakistan's domestic set up has been relatively unstable unlike the other Test counties. Currently there are both company and locality based organisations competing in F/C and one day competitions.

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New Zealand
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The Kiwis have provinces playing in domestic competitions.

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Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka's first class domestic prgramme is relatively young compared with the long establihed club and schools cricket sectors.

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South Africa
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South Africa's domestic senior programme is organised by Provinces and the First Class one in two divisions.

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West Indies
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West Indies have a first class programme based various islands, island groups and Guyana that made up the former British Caribbean colonies. Recently they have added other countries in the Americas to their one day competitions and an overseas 'A'touring team plus their own 'A' team to the First Class BUSTA competition.

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Zimbabwe
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Zimbabwe has a three province first class programme.

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