After long talks about the newest cricket venture in cricket history, the plan seems to be working and is ready to go on floors. The Hundred is an independent tournament planned by the ECB (England Cricket Board). The tournament will have non-conventional rules to bring in new variety to the brand of cricket.
This tournament will feature 8 teams that will play a 100-ball match, which is shorter than the 120-ball T20 matches. These eight teams will be England based, namely- Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire.
The rules goes as–
1) Every bowler can bowl 5 or 10 bowl on a stretch and a total of 20 bowls can be bowled in a match.
2) While bowling, the bowler can ask for change of end in between.
3) Each team can have a maximum of three overseas player.
4) Each named team will also form a women’s team under the same name as men’s.
Teams will be able to select a maximum of three overseas players but there is no limit to the number of players from any county or country. All of the world’s biggest names – with the exception of current India internationals – are expected to make themselves available.
The first draft of the league is out and looks like following-
Birmingham Phoenix– Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Pat Brown and Amy Jones, Kirstie Gordon
London Spirit– Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Eoin Morgan and Heather Knight, Freya Davies
Manchester Originals– Jos Buttler, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson and Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone
Northern Superchargers– Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid, David Willey and Lauren Winfield, Linsey Smith
Oval Invincibles– Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Jason Roy and Laura Marsh, Fran Wilson
6) Southern Brave– Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, James Vinceand Anya Shrubsole, Danni Wyatt
7) Trent Rockets– Joe Root, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales and Nat Sciver, Katherine Brunt
8) Welsh Fire– Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Colin Ingram and Katie George, Bryony Smith
Following the main draft, each team will have the opportunity for a final ‘wildcard’ pick, to be chosen during next year’s T20 Blast. That player will receive a £30,000 contract.