European Country Profiles

European Country Profiles

Romania

The game resumed in the early part of the 21st century after a wave of immigration from the subcontinent and other traditional cricket playing countries.

Greece

The beautiful island of Corfu has been the main centre of Greek cricket since about 1820.

Luxembourg

Cricket in Luxembourg began when the UK joined the European Community in 1973.

Denmark

1989 saw Denmark beat the The Netherlands away from home for the first time, winning by 33 runs.

Norway

The first club, Oslo Cricket Club, now known as Sentrum CC, was founded in 1972. By 2008 Norway was playing in European Division 1.

Czech Republic

They played a series against Austria in 2006, toured Wales in 2008, and made their ICC Europe tournament debut in the Division Five tournament in 2009.

Cyprus

Cyprus played their first ICC Europe competition in 2006 when they participated in the Division 4 Championships.

Jersey

Jersey's international profile has risen dramatically since becoming an Associate member of ICC in 2005.

Germany

Germany has featured in five World Cricket League events, finishing seventh in WCL5 in 2008, and fifth in 2017.

Croatia

Cricket began in 1819; in 2019 Croatia was suspended by the ICC for non-compliance.

Estonia

The main ground in Estonia is The Hippodrome which is located in the centre of Tallinn’s racecourse.

Portugal

British merchants formed the Oporto Cricket Club in 1855, the Lisbon club was formed in 1860.

Gibraltar

The first cricket match against an overseas team occurred as a result of a three ship collision in the harbour.

Slovenia

Cricket was started in Slovenia in a small town near the Austrian border in 1974 by 13 year old Borut Cegovnik.

Guernsey

Guernsey was granted Affiliate status by ICC in 2005 and the following year made their debut in European Division 2.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria are currently 69th in the ICC T20 rankings, with their highest position having been 52nd.

Israel

The first recorded match in the new country took place in 1956 at Tel-Hashomer, between Tel Aviv and Be’erSheva.

Belgium

In 1905 Belgium met The Netherlands in the first of what became a regular series of internationals.

Iceland

Despite not being an ICC member, Icelandic cricket has developed something of a cult following and can boast the world's most northerly ground.

Austria

In 1996 a national cricket centre was opened in Seebarn, 20 kilometres north of Vienna.

Isle of Man

The Isle of Man Cricket Association was formed in 1930 as an affiliate member of Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Switzerland

Unsurprisingly, Switzerland is home to one of Europe's most scenic cricket grounds.

Finland

Cricket was first played as a demonstration sport during the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

Spain

From the Peninsular War to European Division 1, Spanish cricket has a long history.

France

French cricket holds a unique place in the history of the game for a number of reasons.

Italy

By 1984 the clubs of Capanelle, Lazio and Roma had been formed in Rome. The dominant and influential figure of Simone Gambino became President in 1986.

Sweden

Sweden recently appointed former South African Test player Jonty Rhodes as Head Coach.

Malta

Many of the early matches were played on the Floriana Parade Ground, adjacent to Valletta's city walls.

Turkey

Cricket restarted in the mid-1990s when students at the Middle Eastern Technical University in Ankara formed a club.