The new Hundred cricket competition has been postponed until 2021. It was more or less unavoidable.
I’m no fan of the Hundred but the detail of the cancellation is concerning and not much reported. Agreed there are more important things at the moment.
After cancelling the competition last week the ECB announced this week that they were cancelling players contracts too. The reaction has been muted to unreported. It appears that players have been paid 20% of their contract fee and will lose 80%.
That will hit some lesser known and lower paid male cricketers although Steve Smith may survive. The lowest fee for a male player in the Hundred was £30K while the maximum for female players was £15K. Its like Gentlemen v Players for the 2020s only this time the division is based on gender not class.
There is a further twist and pondering the impact of this is difficult because there is little information. There is a report from ESPN here that touches on some issues:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29128781/hundred-delay-hit-women-game-hard-katie-levick
The KIA Super League the main women’s cricket competition ended in 2019 and was due to be replaced by The Hundred. That wont happen in 2020. Not all involved will be without income however as the ECB seem to have confirmed they are proceeding with 40 central contracts for women players. How much these are worth and who is getting them seems obscure (at least Google doesnt seem to tell me..) It will still leave some women players without any income however and some have talked of leaving the game.
Media and social media reaction seems muted at best. It shouldnt be.
Update (ESPN 5th May)
The below doesnt give clarity but suggests a little more detail
Selection and retention for the women’s competition is less likely to raise concerns, with players signed by teams partly based on location via an informal recruitment process rather than a draft. Charlotte Edwards, the former England captain and Southern Brave head coach, said on Sunday it was a “worrying time” for the women’s game following the tournament’s postponement, with several players set to miss out on deals in the short term.
While the Hundred’s postponement has been confirmed, the ECB has downplayed reports that a revised schedule for the summer could include no women’s cricket. “We’re working alongside all international boards whose men’s or women’s teams are due to come here this summer,” said a spokesperson.
Update 7th Mat
The Guardian has reported that with the possibility of playing some men’s cricket at two bio-secure venues (Old Trafford & the Aegas Bowl) there may be limited or no slots available for women’s cricket in 2020.
What this means for women cricketers, due to sign contracts for the season on 1st May is apparently being thought about.
discussions are under way about how to help players who may have expected to sign a professional contract in the new domestic women’s structure on 1 May.
Leave a Reply