How is the MJCA structured?

• The MJCA League is split into five areas: Central, South, West, East and North
• ECC enters numerous teams for each age group in the MJCA League Central Area

Boys MJCA

• Most of the MJCA Age Groups are split into two Groups or Divisions (all except U14 this year).
• Teams in the U9 MJCA league play soft ball pairs (8 or 10-a-side, informal league)
• Teams in the U10 MJCA league play hard ball pairs (usually 10-a-side)
• Teams in the U11 MJCA league and above play normal 11-a-side “out is out” cricket

Girls MJCA

• Girls league competitions are offered at Under 10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15 and U17 age groups.
• Girls competitions within the MJCA are organised into geographical split (typically North and South), however for the U13, there are 3 areas – North, South, Central, and for the U15, there are also 3 areas – North, South, West. The U14 and U17 age groups have only one league across the whole county.
• The U10 (softball), U11 and U12 Girls competitions will all be played as pairs hardball cricket, unless specified and the U13, U14, U15 and U17 Girls competitions will be played as normal cricket (11-a-side hardball), in line with standard junior cricket formats.
• There are county-wide competitions and finals at most age-groups once league matches have concluded, allowing girls teams from across Middlesex to compete for county honours.

What teams will ECC enter for the MJCA 2026 Season?

• Please click here for the ECC Team Sheet Summer 2026, colour coded by age group, for teams that ECC will enter into the Boys MJCA and Girls MJCA competitions.
• Note that in some cases, ECC enters Girls teams into the Boys MJCA competitions. Girls are allowed to “play down” one age group (for example, U14 girls can play U13 boys). These teams include the name “Spirit” in their title.
• Note most ECC boys age groups also have a “playing up” team which plays in a league one or two years “above” their “actual” age group. These teams include the name “Phoenix” (or “Scorchers”) in their title. For example, the U11D Phoenix team, is the team for ECC U10 players “playing up” into the U11 MJCA Boys competition.
• The MJCA has required that all Ealing teams are listed as A, B, C or D for each MJCA age group. Note that where one of these teams is an Ealing “playing up team” it also has the name “Phoenix” or “Scorchers”, as above.
• The MJCA requires a list of 8 players to be provided for each A team squad (and B team squad, where there is a C team squad, etc) and those 8 players cannot “play down” into a “lower ranked” team.
• Sound complicated? It is. But it is MJCA junior cricket. Hopefully the ECC Team Sheet Summer 2026 helps. But we have to comply with the requirements of the MJCA when it comes to team nomenclature!
• Please click here for a Draft List of Junior Fixtures for Summer 2026. Please note this is in draft and subject to change (although we hope any changes will now be minimal).

What are the MJCA league rules?

Boys MJCA
• U9 and U10 MJCA matches are pairs cricket, usually 10-a-side (but can be 8-aside or very occasionally 12-aside), 4 overs per batting pair, with each player bowling two overs (including the wicket keeper). There are no LBWs.
• Each team starts on 200 runs. If you lose a wicket it is -5 runs. The team with the most runs after 20 overs (16 overs if 8-aside) wins.
• Matches against other clubs are softball at U9 (incredi-ball or Aero ball) played on a 15-yard pitch but matches between Ealing teams are usually played as hardball on a 17-yard pitch (provided all players are ready for this).
• Matches for U10 MJCA teams are pairs cricket hard ball.
• Matches for U11 MJCA teams and above are normal cricket rules hard ball.
• See the official MJCA website for more detail: https://mjcacricket.org/mjca-rules/competition-rules/under-9-outdoor-competition-rules/
• Please click on the attached pdf at the bottom of the page for the key rule changes for summer season 2026:

Girls MJCA

• U10 girls play softball pairs cricket, 8-a-side, 16-over innings per side (20 overs if 10 players). Teams start on 200 runs and run deductions apply for wickets lost; highest score wins.
• U11 and U12 girls play hardball pairs cricket, 8-a-side, 16-over innings per side (20 overs if 10 players). As with U10, each wicket lost results in runs deducted from the total; highest score wins.
• In pairs matches (U10–U12), each batter pair bats for 4 overs and all players bowl (bowling quotas managed so no bowler bowls significantly more than others).
• From U13 upwards (U13, U14, U15 and U17), girls play standard hardball cricket: 11-a-side, typically 20 overs per side under the Laws of Cricket with MJCA adaptations (e.g., pink balls, pitch lengths per age group).
• Normal cricket scoring and results apply in hardball matches; wides/no balls and bowling restrictions follow standard MJCA outdoor competition rules.
• See the rules specific for to girls competition here: https://mjcacricket.org/mjca-rules/competition-rules/girls-outdoor-rules/