So, Farewell then The Hundred Version 1.0
Franchisees now own significant stakes in the eight Hundred teams and will in effect take control of the competition from October 1st 2025.
Over £500m has come into English and Welsh cricket and investors will be looking to see what develops. While the IPL is a model, cricket is the national game in India. Here it is one of a number of national games.
Its early days yet for the Hundred 2025 but crowds appear decent. Lizzie Ammon at Lords for the first two matches reported that many were attracted by the chance to see some cricket, not bothering about who was winning (in the IPL crowds bother a lot about that). Another attraction was the low ticket price- £20 for adults, while a ticket for a Test Match will cost well over a £100 for some grounds- if you can get one.
The Guardian reports that the franchisees plan early changes. The first is to move to a 120 ball competition in 2026, bringing the Hundred in line with every other short form competition around the globe (unless you count T10). That might cause issues with the T20 blast, a significant money maker for the 18 Counties, but it underlines the reality that the 100 ball format was a conceit by the ECB to allow the Hundred to be marketed outside of the existing County format.
An immediate focus reports the Guardian is to invest in players with top payments for men rising to £500,000. The Women’s Hundred has often produced better cricket with the players clearly having the incentive of a possible England place. The men often look like journeymen just passing through on their way to the next franchise competition.
So far however there appear to be little discussion about the future of the Women’s Hundred..
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/07/the-hundred-ipl-london-spirit-ecb-cricket
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