Lifestyle, food and drink, and our family life and travel adventures.
Cricket’s first new format for 18 years will hit the UK in 2021 with a view to attracting a different type of audience to the game. Research carried out by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed that the more traditional form of T20 cricket was finishing too late for families with younger children, and that forced a rethink.
Step forward The Hundred with its twist on limited overs cricket and a league that will feature some of the best short-form players around.
“Root action” (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by Ballacorkish
Eight sides from England and Wales will take part in the inaugural running of The Hundred and each will field a men’s and a women’s team. Much of the focus will be on the men’s competition where early cricket betting markets have placed Southern Brave as the outright favourites. Close behind are Trent Rockets, Oval Invincibles and Northern Superchargers.
The Hundred has looked to cover every region of England and Wales, and across the Severn Bridge, Welsh Fire will be flying a lone flag. Completing the initial set of eight teams are Manchester Originals, Birmingham Phoenix and London Spirit.
In the initial stages of the tournament, each team will play eight matches, four at home and four away. They will play their closest rivals twice and every other side will be met on one occasion. At the end of that group phase, the side who tops the table will progress directly to the final and the teams in second and third place will contest a solitary semi-final.
There is a clue to the format in the name with matches scheduled to involve 100 balls. 50 balls will be allocated to each side and this is where the twist to current limited overs cricket can be found.
Batsmen will change ends at the end of ten balls and, instead of traditional six-ball overs, bowlers can send down either five or ten deliveries in succession. Bowlers can bowl up to a maximum of 20 balls in each innings.
Batting sides will receive a 25-ball Powerplay where fielding restrictions will apply, and they have the opportunity to take a two-and-a-half-minute timeout. Essentially, those 50 balls are split into five sets of ten in order to keep the game flowing.
“Lord’s Cricket Ground” (CC BY 2.0) by jimbowen0306
Each of the eight sides involved in The Hundred will be based at one of the biggest grounds in England and Wales. Traditional test match venues are being used with a view to maximising crowds and the excitement that a full house brings.
The two London sides will, therefore, make use of Lord’s and The Oval, while favourites Southern Brave are at Hampshire’s home ground – the Rose Bowl. Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Headingley and Sophia Gardens complete the picture.
While the exact dates for the 2021 Hundred have yet to be confirmed, the competition will take place from July to September and it has been timed to coincide with school summer holidays. It’s a perfect way in which to get youngsters interested in cricket and, with some of the best T20 players involved, The Hundred is sure to provide a feast of entertainment.
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
Contact: [email protected]
