What is The Hundred?
The Hundred is an exciting 100-ball cricket format introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Launched in 2021, it was designed to make cricket simpler, shorter, and family-friendly while attracting new fans to the game.
Unlike Test, ODI, or even T20 formats, The Hundred brings fast-paced matches of just 2.5 hours, combining world-class cricket with music, entertainment, and fan engagement.
The 2025 season begins on 5 August 2025 and concludes with the Final on 31 August 2025 at Lord’s.
The Hundred Format at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Balls per innings | 100 |
| Match Duration | Around 2.5 hours |
| Overs | No traditional 6-ball overs. Instead, bowlers deliver 5 or 10 balls. |
| Bowler Limit | Max 20 balls per bowler per match |
| Change of Ends | After every 10 balls |
| Powerplay | First 25 balls, only 2 fielders allowed outside 30-yard circle |
| Timeout | 90 seconds (some competitions use up to 150 seconds) per innings |
| Reviews (DRS) | 1 review per innings (Hawk-Eye, UltraEdge, etc.) |
| Result System | Team with most runs wins. Tie → “Super 5” (5 extra balls each) |
| Points System | Win = 4 points, Tie = 2 points, No result = 2 points, Loss = 0 points |
Key Rules of The Hundred Series
1. Innings & Balls
- Each team gets 100 legal balls to bat.
- If 10 batters are out, the innings ends early.
2. Bowling Rules
- Bowlers can bowl either 5 or 10 consecutive balls (captain decides).
- Each bowler can deliver maximum 20 balls per match.
3. Change of Ends
- Fielding ends are changed every 10 balls.
4. Strategic Timeout
- The fielding side can take one timeout per innings to discuss tactics.
- Duration is 90 seconds to 150 seconds depending on competition rules.
5. Powerplay
- The first 25 balls of an innings are Powerplay.
- Only 2 fielders outside the 30-yard circle.
6. Result & Points
- Win → 4 points
- Tie → 2 points each
- No Result (rain, etc.) → 2 points each
If tied in knockouts or finals → Super 5 (mini tiebreaker with 5 balls each).
Teams in The Hundred Competition 2025
The Hundred features 8 city-based teams for both Men’s and Women’s tournaments.
| Team | Home Ground |
|---|---|
| Birmingham Phoenix | Edgbaston |
| London Spirit | Lord’s |
| Manchester Originals | Emirates Old Trafford |
| Northern Superchargers | Headingley |
| Oval Invincibles | The Kia Oval |
| Southern Brave | Utilita Bowl |
| Trent Rockets | Trent Bridge |
| Welsh Fire | Sophia Gardens |
Each team has:
- 15 players in the squad
- Max 3 overseas players
- Men’s teams can include 1 centrally contracted England player
Player Selection System
The squads are picked through a multi-stage system:
- Player Retention & Direct Signings
- Teams can retain up to 10 players from last season.
- Option to directly sign 1 overseas player.
- The Hundred Draft
- Remaining slots filled via draft.
- Draft order is reverse of last season’s standings.
- Teams can use a Right to Match card to re-sign previous players.
- Vitality Wildcard Draft
- Domestic players who perform well in T20 Blast get a late call-up.
Salaries in The Hundred (2025)
The Hundred Women’s Competition Salary Bands
| Band | Salary | No. of Players |
|---|---|---|
| Top Band | £65,000 | 2 |
| £50,000 | 2 | |
| £36,000 | 2 | |
| £20,500 | 2 | |
| £16,000 | 2 | |
| £12,500 | 2 | |
| £10,000 | 3 |
The Hundred Men’s Competition Salary Bands
| Band | Salary | No. of Players |
|---|---|---|
| Top Band | £200,000 | 2 (+1 England central contract) |
| £120,000 | 2 | |
| £78,500 | 2 | |
| £63,000 | 2 | |
| £52,000 | 2 | |
| £41,500 | 2 | |
| £31,000 | 3 |
Why The Hundred is Different from T20
| Feature | T20 Cricket | The Hundred |
|---|---|---|
| Balls per Innings | 120 | 100 |
| Overs | 20 overs (6 balls each) | No overs, 5 or 10 balls sets |
| Match Duration | ~3 hours 45 minutes | ~2 hours 30 minutes |
| Powerplay | 6 overs (36 balls) | 25 balls |
| Bowler’s Limit | 24 balls (4 overs) | 20 balls |
| Tiebreaker | Super Over (6 balls) | Super 5 (5 balls each) |
Fan Engagement & Experience
The Hundred isn’t just cricket — it’s family entertainment:
- Affordable tickets (kids under 16 for £5, under 2 free).
- Music concerts & live acts during matches.
- Equal prize money for men’s and women’s tournaments.
- Strong sustainability focus (eco-friendly kits, reduced plastic use, and travel emissions).
The Hundred is cricket’s newes t revolution, combining fast gameplay, entertainment, and inclusivity. With its unique rules, equal spotlight for women’s cricket, and shorter match duration, it has already become a blockbuster summer event.
The 2025 edition promises even more action, starting on 5 August and ending with the Final at Lord’s on 31 August 2025.
Whether you’re a cricket lover or a first-time viewer, The Hundred offers something for everyone.
