The 2012 English cricket season was the 113th in which the County Championship had been an official competition. It began on 31 March with a round of university matches, and continued until the final of the Clydesdale Bank 40 on 15 September. Three major domestic competitions were contested: the 2012 County Championship won by Warwickshire, the 2012 Clydesdale Bank 40 and the 2012 Friends Life t20 both won by Hampshire Royals.

During this season, three Test teams toured England: West Indies lost both the Test series (2–0) and the One Day International (ODI) series (2–0), and the solitary Twenty20 International (T20I). Australia also toured, in a series of five match One Day International (ODI) series which they lost 4–0. South Africa also toured, beating England in a three Test series 2–0 and drew the five match ODI series and the three match Twenty20 International (T20I) series.