The Hundred Cricket League: A Challenging Year for English Cricket

This year hasn’t been the best for The Hundred Cricket League or English cricket overall. With the men’s T20 World Cup happening abroad and visiting Test teams ranking lower globally, the spotlight shifted to other major events like the Olympics and football’s European Championship. These distractions made it harder for the Hundred to capture the attention of casual sports fans.

A Year of Consolidation for the English Cricket Board

For the ECB, the 2024 season of the Hundred Cricket League was about steadying the ship and proving the tournament’s worth. The board focused on keeping things stable and showing potential investors that the competition still had value. The hope was that those considering investing in hospitality suites during the finals weekend were more interested in the nail-biting knockout games than the declining scoring rates and smaller crowds that marked the rest of the season.

Preparing for the Sale of Franchises of The Hundred

Next month, selling stakes in the franchises will officially begin, with 49% or more in each team up for grabs. The goal is to “take the competition to the next level,” which mainly means offering higher wages to keep top players from leaving for overseas leagues. The proceeds from these sales will be distributed across English cricket, to strengthen the sport at all levels.

Decline in Ticket Sales and Attendance

Official figures show that ticket sales dropped by 7% compared to 2023, falling from 580,000 to 540,000. The decline was particularly noticeable outside of London. However, Lord’s and The Oval, which hosted 10 out of 34 matchdays, accounted for about 46% of the Hundred’s total attendance. It’s no surprise then that London Spirit and Oval Invincibles are expected to be the most attractive franchises for potential buyers.

Positive Notes on the Women’s Tournament

Despite some challenges, the ECB’s director of major events, Rob Hillman, expressed pride in the Hundred’s fourth season, highlighting record-breaking attendances at women’s fixtures. “We look forward to seeing how it grows in the future and how we build on these foundations as we seek partners to help make the Hundred even bigger and better,” Hillman said.

The women’s tournament continues to lead the way in terms of its status in the global game. Heather Knight, captain of the London Spirit team that won their first title, praised the tournament for putting the women’s game on the map. “You look at the crowd, and it’s so different from what you’d see at a men’s Test match… it’s brought different people to the women’s game,” Knight said.

Mixed Performance on the Field

The quality of cricket in the men’s tournament was a mixed bag. The first week of the competition suffered due to clashes with Major League Cricket and England’s third Test against the West Indies. This was further compounded by Jos Buttler’s calf injury, which deprived the Hundred of one of its biggest stars and exposed the over-reliance of Manchester Originals on his performances.

Early in the tournament, a batch of balls that swung and seamed combined with poor pitches and teams heavily investing in their bowling attacks led to a sharp decline in scoring rates. In the men’s competition, scoring dropped by about 14 runs per 100 balls, while in the women’s game, it fell by seven runs per 100 balls. This shift brought bowlers back into the spotlight but may have been too much for casual fans who prefer higher-scoring matches.

Success and Struggles Among Teams

Oval Invincibles’ success as back-to-back champions, with only three defeats in two seasons, has been a positive for the men’s tournament. Their consistent recruitment strategy has helped them build a strong identity as a team. In the women’s competition, Welsh Fire’s resurgence and Southern Brave’s unexpected struggles were among the best stories of the season, with Southern Brave’s title defense ending in a last-place finish.

Challenges with Overseas Players

The overlap with Major League Cricket led to some farcical one-match signings. For example, Mohammad Amir bowled 15 of the first 20 balls in the men’s competition before flying straight to Canada’s Global T20. Nicholas Pooran, the top draft pick, arrived with his luggage stuck in transit after a night on a transatlantic flight and then struggled in his debut for Northern Superchargers.

However, the women’s competition showed that investment can attract top talent, with a 60% increase in top salaries bringing stars like Meg Lanning and Ash Gardner to the tournament for the first time. Annabel Sutherland, another high-profile signing, was named MVP after starring with both bat and ball for the Superchargers.

The Importance of Domestic Talent

This season highlighted the importance of quality domestic players in short-form leagues. While international stars like Lanning and Pooran grabbed headlines, the overall success of the tournament depended heavily on the performances of local players. Sam Billings, captain of the winning men’s team, praised the depth of domestic talent, saying, “Our domestic pool of players is phenomenal. The standard is only second to the IPL.”

England Player Availability and Injuries

The availability of England’s top players is crucial to the success of the Hundred, and injuries can have a significant impact. Ben Stokes’ hamstring tear in his fifth game for the Superchargers was a major blow and a public relations disaster for the ECB. In response, the board rested Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson ahead of the Sri Lanka Tests. Next year, the Hundred will have a clear run starting in early August, immediately after India tours England.

Public Perception and Challenges Ahead

The public response to Stokes’ injury highlighted the ongoing controversy surrounding the Hundred. “There’s a few Lancs fans who want me burned at the stake,” said Keaton Jennings, who captained Lancashire in the Metro Bank Cup before signing a replacement deal with London Spirit. This sentiment reflects the division that the tournament has caused among cricket fans.

Looking Forward to 2025

The upcoming sale of franchise stakes means that the 2025 season could bring significant changes to the Hundred. “It is a huge unknown, of course,” said Billings. “There will be big change.” Any alterations to team names or salaries may wait until 2026, as the ECB finalizes the details of the investments. Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, emphasized that they will take their time to ensure they make the right decisions.

The Future of the Hundred

Now four years old, this cricket league has shown potential in achieving two of its core goals: accelerating the growth of the women’s game and attracting new fans to cricket. However, the success of the upcoming sale process will determine whether the competition can achieve its most significant goal yet: securing the financial future of cricket in England and Wales. The next steps will be crucial in shaping the future of the Hundred and the broader landscape of English cricket.