The Sunday League began in 1969 when it was sponsored by John Player & Co. All 17 first-class counties took part. It was a forty overs per side league with 4 points for a win, 2 for a tie and 1 for a 'no result'.

Various different methods of dividing sides finishing on the same points were tried and 2 points were awarded for a 'no result'.

In 1987 the league became sponsored by Refuge Assurance and the next season the top four teams played in the Refuge Assurance Cup to decide the champion.

In 1992 the competition had no sponsor and the knock-out cup for the top four teams was scrapped. Durham took part in the competition as they became a first-class side.

With the sponsorship of AXA Equity & Law in 1993 came coloured clothing and a white ball. For one season (1993) it was a 50 overs per side competition.

At the end of the 1998 season the league was split into two with first division and a second division in the 1999 National Cricket League. The competition was contested over 45 overs and sponsored by CGU. The counties adopted nicknames.

Gloucestershire have never won the competition by were runners up in 1988.