The Hundred: Complete Guide to Cricket's Most Controversial New Format
A full explainer of The Hundred competition — format rules, team structure, eight franchises, how 100-ball cricket differs from T20, the arguments for and against the format, audience targets, and The Hundred's place in English cricket strategy.
How The Hundred Works
The Hundred is a 100-ball per side format — not overs — launched by the ECB in 2021. Each team faces 100 deliveries; bowlers can bowl in sets of five or ten consecutive balls (not six as in traditional overs). A change of end is mandatory every 10 balls (instead of every 6). Each bowler can bowl a maximum of 20 balls. There are two powerplays of 25 balls each (the first mandatory at the start; the second optional, used at a time chosen by the batting team between balls 26–100).
The Eight Teams
The Hundred features eight city-based franchises: London Spirit, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Hampshire Hawks, Birmingham Phoenix, Trent Rockets, Northern Superchargers, Manchester Originals, and Welsh Fire — for women's cricket, the same eight bases. Men's and Women's matches are played at the same venues on the same days, giving women's cricket prime-time broadcast slots alongside the men's competition.
Arguments For and Against
Supporters argue The Hundred targets non-cricket audiences who find T20 too long or complicated, reduces jargon-heavy messaging (balls not overs), and gives women's cricket parity with men's. Critics — many within the county cricket system — argue The Hundred damages the County Championship by taking peak-summer broadcasters, reduces the pathway for county players, and creates an elite competition that fragments loyalty. The debate remains live: ECB data shows The Hundred attracting younger and more diverse demographics than county cricket.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Hundred recognised by the ICC?
The Hundred is a domestic competition run by the ECB — not an international format. The ICC does not need to sanction domestic competitions. Players who participate in The Hundred have their stats counted in domestic T20/List A records by the ECB, not as ICC-classified statistics.
How does the 100-ball powerplay differ from T20?
The Hundred's powerplay covers the first 25 balls (not overs) — approximately equivalent to 4 overs of T20 cricket. The batting team's optional second powerplay (chosen between balls 26–100) has no T20 equivalent, adding a tactical wrinkle.