The Hundred Finals Weekend. Does anyone care who wins?
The Hundred reaches its final weekend on 30th August (Oval) and 31st August(Lords). Does anyone care who wins? The answer of course is yes. Fans of Big Cricket will be rooting for the Oval Invincibles (Men). As with the other Hundred teams its now closing time. In 2026 the team will be called MI London and owned by a franchisee.
Since I work mainly from home Ive glanced at most of the women’s and men’s Hundred games in August. The vast majority have been one sided affairs with little sense of contest. A few have been exciting, tight finishes.
Of course as Lizzie Ammon notes in the Times (30th August) particularly with franchises in place from 2026 and more money on offer there have been more big name players. I am pleased to note that Steve Smith has been out a fair bit.
There may as Ammon notes be more people identifying with the eight Hundred teams now but one fears disappointment. With the new franchisees from next year they are unlikely to be the same teams in either composition or style, and given the lacklustre competition this year, it would be a surprise if that wasn’t the case.
Phoebe Litchfield argues in the Times (30th August) that the Hundred is better than the Big Bash. Well, yes. Firstly it doesn’t go on (and on) for so long. Secondly it doesn’t have Aussie commentators.
I have noticed some individual performances which have been well worth watching. Sonny Baker was an impressive fast bowler. Nat Sciver Brunt and Jonny Bairstow had at least one exciting innings and Jimmy Anderson bowled a very decent spell in a game I watched.
The IPL is in part about the performances of individual stars, captured in social media clips. The Hundred could do more here and probably will.
Overall though the Hundred Version One has done what the ECB planned and that is to bring private investment into cricket. What happens next will be interesting and possibly not to the liking of many cricket fans
Btw perhaps as its finals weekend ground attendance figures (good at least in part) and TV viewing figures (so far unreported) will be revealed. If you are selling a product impact is important
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