The Hundred: England's 100-Ball Cricket Format Explained
The Hundred is England's unique 100-ball cricket competition. This guide explains the rules of The Hundred, how it differs from T20, and how the competition has been received since its 2021 launch.
The Hundred is a cricket competition introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2021, featuring eight city-based franchises playing matches of exactly 100 balls per side rather than the standard over-based format. It is designed to attract new audiences to cricket — particularly families and people unfamiliar with the sport — with a simplified format, shorter match duration (approximately two hours) and city-based team identities that differ from the county structure.
How The Hundred Scoring Works
In The Hundred, each team faces 100 balls. Bowlers bowl in sets of five or ten consecutive deliveries rather than six-ball overs. A 'five' is one bowler bowling five consecutive balls from the same end; after a five or ten, the bowling end switches. No bowler may bowl more than 20 balls in an innings. The powerplay covers the first 25 balls, during which only two fielders may be outside the inner ring. From balls 26–100, five fielders may be outside the ring.
The Eight Hundred Teams
The eight Hundred teams are: Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire. The teams are city and region-based, deliberately avoiding county boundaries to create new identities. Players are drafted through a combination of retention rights and a player draft. Each team fields both men's and women's squads, with the men's and women's finals traditionally held on the same day.
International Players in The Hundred
Each Hundred team includes international players selected through a draft and retentions. The competition window in July–August coincides with the domestic calendar gap in many countries, allowing top players to participate. Australian, South African, West Indian and New Zealand internationals have regularly featured. The ECB's relationship with Cricket Australia and other boards to secure player availability has been an ongoing negotiation as the global franchise calendar becomes increasingly crowded.
Frequently asked questions
How many balls can one bowler bowl in The Hundred?
A maximum of 20 balls per innings. Bowlers can be used in sets of five or ten consecutive balls. A captain can choose to have one bowler bowl two consecutive sets of five (totalling ten balls) or break their 20-ball allocation across multiple spells.
Is The Hundred the same as T20 cricket?
No. T20 uses 20 six-ball overs (120 balls) per side; The Hundred uses exactly 100 balls. The Hundred also differs in how bowlers operate (sets of five or ten, not overs), and the powerplay lasts 25 balls rather than six overs. Despite being shorter, The Hundred is not equivalent to any other standard format.