New Cricket Formats: T10, The Hundred, and the Future of Short-Form Cricket
Cricket has evolved beyond T20 into even shorter formats — T10 cricket (10 overs per side) and The Hundred (100 balls per side, England). This guide explains these newer formats, who plays them, their commercial appeal, and whether they are cricket's future or a novelty.
Cricket's format evolution has accelerated since T20 cricket launched in 2003. T10 cricket — just 10 overs per side, with a match lasting approximately 90 minutes — has grown substantially. The Hundred (England's 100-ball format, where each team faces 100 balls split into 'sets' of 10) launched in 2021 and attracted significant viewership, particularly among new audiences. These experimental formats test cricket's boundaries — both commercially and philosophically, asking what makes cricket 'cricket'.
T10 Cricket
T10 cricket (10 overs per side) was first formalised by the Abu Dhabi T10 league in 2017. Matches last approximately 90 minutes — comparable to a football match. The format forces near-immediate aggression: there is no time to build an innings, and virtually every delivery must be attacked. Score targets range from 70-120 runs. The ICC has not given T10 official international status, but franchise T10 leagues (Abu Dhabi T10, Lanka Premier League T10 variants) attract global players including international superstars.
The Hundred (England)
The Hundred replaced the overs-based counting system with ball-based counting — each team faces 100 balls, divided into 'sets' of 10 balls (equivalent to an over and a third). A bowler bowls a set of 5 consecutive balls (switching ends is optional mid-set). This creates slightly different tactical rhythms than T20. The Hundred has been controversial among cricket traditionalists — but commercially successful, with its BBC free-to-air deal and gender-equal format design reaching new audiences. It features eight city-based franchise teams.
The Future of Short Formats
The proliferation of formats creates a crowded calendar and forces choices on players, broadcasters, and administrators. Some analysts predict that T10 or The Hundred will replace T20 as the dominant short format — others argue T20's combination of strategy and spectacle has found the optimal balance. What seems certain is that cricket will continue experimenting: the sport's core challenge is maintaining complexity and skill while becoming accessible to new audiences who want shorter, faster entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
What is T10 cricket?
T10 cricket is a 10-over-per-side format, with matches lasting approximately 90 minutes. It was formalised in 2017 by the Abu Dhabi T10 league and has grown as a franchise league product, though it does not have ICC official international status.
What is The Hundred cricket format?
The Hundred is England's 100-ball-per-side format, launched in 2021. Each team faces 100 balls (divided into 10-ball 'sets') rather than a fixed number of overs. It features eight city-based teams with equal men's and women's competitions run alongside each other.
Will T10 become an official ICC format?
The ICC has not yet given T10 cricket official international status. T10 remains a franchise league format. The ICC's focus for short-format cricket remains T20, which has both international and World Cup status. Future format decisions will depend on commercial success and player availability.