The Hundred Women's Competition — England's Revolutionary T100 Format
The Hundred brought women's cricket to primetime TV in England from 2021. Learn how the 100-ball format works and why it transformed the women's game.
What Is The Hundred?
The Hundred is a cricket competition launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2021, featuring a unique format: each team bats for exactly 100 balls, spread across 10 overs of 10 balls (or 5 overs of 10 balls from one end alternating with 5 overs from the other). The format is shorter and simpler than T20 and was designed to attract new audiences, especially families and non-traditional cricket fans.
The Eight Teams
- Birmingham Phoenix (Edgbaston)
- London Spirit (Lord's)
- Manchester Originals (Old Trafford)
- Northern Superchargers (Headingley)
- Oval Invincibles (The Oval)
- Southern Brave (Southampton)
- Trent Rockets (Nottingham)
- Welsh Fire (Cardiff)
Women's Hundred — The Impact
The Women's Hundred is played alongside the men's competition, sharing venues and broadcast slots. Women's matches have attracted record audiences for women's domestic cricket in England — some matches drawing over 1 million TV viewers on BBC and Sky. Players like Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt, and Sophie Ecclestone became household names through Hundred exposure.
The 100-Ball Format
- Each team faces exactly 100 balls.
- Bowlers can bowl 5 or 10 consecutive balls before switching ends.
- A 25-ball powerplay at the start of each innings (only two fielders outside the inner circle).
- No balls count as both a penalty run AND a re-bowl.
- The team scoring the most runs from their 100 balls wins.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Hundred the same as T20?
No — The Hundred uses 100 balls per innings rather than 120 (6 overs × 20 balls = 120 in T20). The bowling structure also differs: bowlers can bowl in 5-ball or 10-ball stints. The Hundred is approximately 15 minutes shorter than a T20 match.
Are international players in The Hundred?
Yes — each team can recruit international players through a draft process. Top international women's players (Australian, Indian, West Indian, South African) participate alongside English domestic players. The Women's Hundred draft is structured to ensure competitive balance.