The Hundred Explained — England's 100-Ball Cricket Format
What The Hundred is, how the 100-ball format differs from T20, which eight teams compete, the men's and women's competitions, and why The Hundred was created.
The Hundred is a 100-ball-per-side cricket competition created by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and launched in 2021. Eight city-based teams — four men's, four women's — compete across July and August. The format was designed to attract a younger and more casual audience with a shorter, faster game and simplified scoring.
How 100 Balls Work
Each team faces exactly 100 deliveries (unlike T20's 120 balls per side from 20 overs). Balls are delivered in 'sets' of 5 or 10 — a bowler can bowl 5 or 10 consecutive balls before changing ends. There are no 'overs' in The Hundred — the format uses 'balls remaining' rather than overs as its primary clock. Teams have 25 'sets' total (100 balls), and bowlers cannot bowl more than 20 consecutive balls (20% of the innings).
The Eight Teams
London Spirit (Lord's), Oval Invincibles (The Oval), Southern Brave (Southampton), Manchester Originals (Old Trafford), Trent Rockets (Nottingham), Welsh Fire (Cardiff), Birmingham Phoenix (Edgbaston), Northern Superchargers (Headingley). Both men's and women's teams share the same city identity. Oval Invincibles (women) and Southern Brave (men) have been the most successful in the first seasons.
Why Was It Created?
The ECB created The Hundred explicitly to attract 'hard to reach audiences' — families, women, and younger fans who found T20 cricket still too long or complex. The simplified ball count (no need to understand overs), earlier finish times, and family-friendly venues were core to the strategy. The competition has been commercially successful but controversial among cricket traditionalists who prefer T20 or county cricket formats.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Hundred replacing T20 Blast in England?
No — both competitions run separately. The Hundred runs in July-August during the international window; the Vitality Blast (county T20) runs from June. They are managed by different entities — ECB and county clubs respectively.
Can county players play in The Hundred?
Yes — players are drafted from the county player pool. Each team drafts domestic players, and overseas players are also signed. However, The Hundred teams are independent entities, not county teams.
What happens if The Hundred match is tied?
A Super Five (5-ball equivalent of the T20 Super Over) is played to determine the winner.