The Hundred 2024 has finished and the County Championship and Tests resume this week.
I glanced at it rather than watch, but the women’s game remains of good quality while the men’s is patchy. This isnt really about the cricket though but the wider issues The Hundred throws up.
Ticket sales in 2024 were a bit down but then there has been a lot of other sport this summer so far. 10 of the 34 games were played at Lords and the Oval but these accounted for 46% of ticket sales. A game at either venue is an occasion (but then surely so is Edgbaston or Old Trafford). It might be reflected that London audiences have more money available.
The Women’s game, particularly now salaries have increased, attracts top players from around the globe and is a success in a sport where equality and diversity lag. It needs to be said more often.
Audiences for the Hundred are also younger and more mixed and if you attend a Test at, say, Lords (as I did in July) you may reflect that this is not how cricket audiences always look.
Finally there is the issue of the franchising process. It officially starts in September. Given the ECB’s record in just about everything one hopes the Department of Media and Culture and Sport is keeping a close eye to make sure that what transpires is actually in the wider interests of English and Welsh cricket
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