The Hundred is a brand new cricket tournament that has been introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Launched in 2021, this format of cricket aims to attract a wider and younger audience to the sport. The main difference between The Hundred and other cricket tournaments is the number of balls per innings. Instead of the usual 120 balls, each team will have 100 balls to score as many runs as possible. This means that there will be 100 deliveries from each end and the batting team can decide when to take their power play, which consists of 20 balls where the scoring potential is doubled.
Another unique feature of The Hundred is the fact that each team has a maximum of 15 players, with a maximum of three overseas players allowed. The tournament will consist of eight teams, with each team playing eight matches in the league stage. The top four teams will then qualify for the playoffs, with the top two teams battling it out in the final for the title. In addition to these rules, there are also new innovative features such as a tactical timeout, where the bowling team can take a two-and-a-half minute break to discuss strategy, and a coin toss that will determine which team gets to choose to bat or bowl first. With its fast-paced and unpredictable format, The Hundred promises to be an exciting addition to the world of cricket.
