All you need to know about The Hundred: Cricket’s newest experiment

Cricket, since its inception in 1877, has come a long way. Back in that time, the game was much simpler with only a single format played, that too without any restriction of time. But with a paucity of time, the game has evolved and shorter versions have risen to the fore. After One-day International cricket was introduced in the early 70s, the game was given another new look around four decades later, as T20 cricket was born.

In the last decade, another shorter format of the game has been introduced in the form of T10 cricket, a match of 10-overs per side. The newest addition to the sport will be the English-invented the Hundred, a 100-ball game per side, a format which falls between T20 and T10 cricket.

You, with your family. Or maybe your friends. Edge of your seat action. That atmosphere. World-class talent. It’s coming, and we’re excited. ? pic.twitter.com/pmVffurd92

— The Hundred (@thehundred) April 25, 2021

The tournament will be run by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and will take place for the first time in summer 2021, having been delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament will give equal recognition to both men and women, with almost all the matches taking place as back-to-back double-headers at the same venue on the same day.

Basic rules

Each side will play 100 balls each, with the one scoring a higher number of runs being the winners. The fielding side will change ends after 10 balls, and the bowler will either deliver five or 10 consecutive balls, as per the decision of the team’s captain. The maximum any bowler can bowl in one game is 20 balls.

Powerplay and Timeout 

There will be 25-ball powerplay for each team, where two fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle.

Each bowling side will be allowed to take a strategic timeout break of up to two and a half-minute where they can plan and strategize amongst themselves and the coach about the tactics of the game ahead.

Scoreboard

Scoreboards for the tournament could be stripped of all information other than the total number of wickets and balls left as the format is designed to make games shorter, more attractive, and easy to understand for a fresh audience.

The format in a nutshell:

1. 100 balls per innings.
2. A change of ends after 10 balls.
3. Bowlers deliver either five or 10 consecutive balls.
4. Each bowler can deliver a maximum of 20 balls per game.
5. Each bowling side gets a strategic time-out of up to two and a half minutes.
6. A 25-ball powerplay start for each team.
7. Two fielders are allowed outside the initial 30-yard circle during the powerplay.
8. A simplified scoreboard is proposed.