each. The matches were played over 45 overs and the competition was sponsored by Norwich Union. Matches were spread over the week rather than Sundays only. The counties incorporated nicknames into their official names for the National League, from 2002. For example, Kent became the 'Spitfires', Middlesex the 'Crusaders' and Lancashire were the 'Lightning'. The following season the Scotland Saltires took part in the League until 2005. The C & G Trophy was restructured, in 2006, from a knock-out competition to a round-robin league format, which took up the early part of the season. The National League was renamed the 'NatWest Pro40' and was played in the later part of the season with the teams playing each other once. Also, two teams instead of three were promoted to the first division and two relegated to the second division. A third promotion/relegation spot was determined in a play-off game between the team third from top in the second division and third from bottom team in the first. Replacement In July 2009, the ECB unveiled plans for a revamped county structure involving three competitions, one of which would replace both the Pro40 and the Friends Provident Trophy. On 27 August 2009, this new competition was announced as a 40-overs-per-innings tournament, similar to the Pro40. The ECB 40, also known as the Clydesdale Bank 40 for sponsorship reasons, would serve as one of the three competitions in county cricket for the next four years, along with the County Championship and the Friends Provident t20. Teams Division 1 teams in 2009: Durham Dynamos Essex Eagles Gloucestershire Gladiators Hampshire Hawks Nottinghamshire Outlaws Somerset Sabres Sussex Sharks Worcestershire Royals Yorkshire Carnegie Division 2 teams in 2009: Derbyshire Phantoms Glamorgan Dragons Kent Spitfires Lancashire Lightning Leicestershire Foxes Middlesex Panthers Northamptonshire Steelbacks Surrey Brown Caps Warwickshire Bears Results National League Sunday League AXA League AXA Life League AXA Equity & Law League Sunday League John Player Special League John Player League John Player's County League Tournaments won by county See also National League Division One in 2005 National League Division Two in 2005 County Championship – the domestic first class competition in England and Wales Friends Provident Trophy (formerly C&G Trophy) – the one-day knock out competition Twenty20 Cup – the short-form competition Notes External links ECB Natwest Pro40 website Warwickshire v Somerset July 1997 – Electronic Telegraph English domestic cricket competitions Recurring sporting events established in 1969