Cricket

The Hundred 2025: Everything you need to know about cricket’s fastest format ahead of a landmark season

by
Scott Balaam
8 August 2025

https://x.com/thehundred

The Hundred is a professional franchise cricket competition in England and Wales featuring a fast-paced format designed to attract new fans and modernize the sport. Here’s a full breakdown of what it is, how it started, its history, and who plays in it.

What is The Hundred?

The Hundred is a 100-ball cricket format launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Each team faces 100 balls per innings, and the match usually lasts around 2.5 hours — shorter than a T20 and much shorter than ODI or Test formats.

Key rules:

100 balls per team.
A bowler can deliver either 5 or 10 consecutive balls, but a max of 20 balls per match.
No overs as in traditional cricket; the change of end happens after every 10 balls.
Strategic timeouts and simplified scoreboards are also part of the design.

When did it start?

Officially launched in 2021, after being delayed from its original 2020 start due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The inaugural season ran from July 21 to August 21, 2021.

How did it start?

The Hundred was created as part of the ECB’s effort to:

Attract younger and more diverse audiences.
Increase TV and digital viewership.
Make cricket more family-friendly and accessible, especially to newcomers unfamiliar with complex traditional formats.

It was initially controversial, especially among cricket purists, but has since gained a more mixed but growing reception, particularly for its emphasis on gender parity, with men’s and women’s matches run in parallel.

History and Evolution

2019: Format formally proposed and approved by the ECB despite opposition from some players and county officials.
2020: Postponed due to COVID-19.
2021: First season, with 8 city-based franchises fielding men’s and women’s teams.
2022–2024: Gained traction with strong attendance, TV ratings (especially on BBC and Sky), and high-profile international stars participating.
The women’s competition, in particular, has been praised for elevating women’s cricket and achieving equal prize money in 2023.

Teams (Franchises)

There are 8 franchise teams, each with a men’s and women’s side:

Birmingham Phoenix – Edgbaston
London Spirit – Lord’s
Manchester Originals – Old Trafford
Northern Superchargers – Headingley
Oval Invincibles – The Oval
Southern Brave – The Ageas Bowl
Trent Rockets – Trent Bridge
Welsh Fire – Sophia Gardens

Each team has a mix of England internationals, overseas stars, and rising domestic talent.

Who Plays in It?

International Stars (2024 examples):

Men: Glenn Maxwell, Shaheen Afridi, Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine, Babar Azam, Nicholas Pooran
Women: Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Marizanne Kapp, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana

England internationals:

Men: Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran
Women: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Heather Knight, Alice Capsey

Young domestic talent:

The Hundred is also a platform for breakthrough English players, such as:

Men: Will Smeed, Tom Banton, Rehan Ahmed
Women: Issy Wong, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier

Broadcast and popularity

Broadcast on BBC and Sky Sports, helping it reach millions of viewers.
The 2023 men’s and women’s finals sold out Lord’s, and games have regularly drawn large crowds.
It has also boosted attendance for women’s cricket like no previous competition in England.

🧾 Summary

Feature	Details
Name	The Hundred
Founded	2021
Format	100-ball per side
Number of Teams	8 (each with men’s and women’s squads)
Goal	Attract new fans, modernize cricket
Broadcast	BBC, Sky Sports
Stars	Mix of English internationals, overseas stars, youth
Controversy	Faced early criticism from traditionalists but growing in popularity

Here’s the latest on The Hundred 2025—including the squads, schedule, standout players, and context for this year’s edition:

Tournament overview

5th season of The Hundred, running from 5 to 31 August 2025.
All eight city-based franchises return, each fielding both men’s and women’s teams.
Features a group stage and knockout format, with daily double-headers of women’s and men’s matches.

Match schedule highlights

Opening day (5 August): London Spirit vs. Oval Invincibles (women and men) at Lord’s.
Men’s and women’s tournaments conclude with finals at Lord’s on 31 August.

Star players to watch

Women’s game

Grace Harris (London Spirit) opened strongly with an 89 from 42 balls on Day 1, leading her side to victory.
Other internationals in action: Ellyse Perry, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Meg Lanning, Hayley Matthews, Sophie Ecclestone.

Men’s game

Big names include Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson (Spirit captain), Rashid Khan, Jofra Archer, and James Anderson making his Hundred debut at 43.
Oval Invincibles remain defending champions, led by players like Sam Curran, Rashid Khan, and standout bowler Saqib Mahmood (player of the final in 2024).

Teams and squads

The eight teams competing in 2025 are:

Birmingham Phoenix
London Spirit
Manchester Originals
Northern Superchargers
Oval Invincibles
Southern Brave
Trent Rockets
Welsh Fire

Squads feature a mix of international stars and rising talent. Highlighted players include:

Birmingham Phoenix: Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Benny Howell
London Spirit: Kane Williamson, David Warner, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith
Manchester Originals: Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Noor Ahmad, James Anderson
Oval Invincibles: Sam Curran, Rashid Khan, Saqib Mahmood, Donovan Ferreira
Southern Brave: James Vince, Jason Roy, Jofra Archer, Laurie Evans
Trent Rockets: Joe Root, David Willey, Rehan Ahmed, George Linde
Northern Superchargers: Harry Brook, Adil Rashid, Zak Crawley, Mitchell Santner
Welsh Fire: Steve Smith, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Tammy Beaumont (women’s captain)

What to expect

An exciting finale at Lord’s on 31 August featuring both finals back-to-back.
The season is positioned as a “placeholder” ahead of major ownership and format changes in 2026 — the ECB has sold stakes in all eight teams to global investors, including IPL groups and Silicon Valley firms.
Prize money raised in 2025 to £200k for top male players (up from £125k) with significant increases expected in future seasons.

Quick recap

When: 5–31 August 2025
What: Fast‑paced 100‑ball format, 8 franchises, men’s & women’s tournaments in parallel
Where: Venues across England & Wales, including Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, etc.
Who: A huge blend of international superstars, top England players, and homegrown young talent
Why Now: The final edition before large‑scale private investment begins reshaping the league

Conclusion

As The Hundred enters its fifth—and potentially final—season in its current form, the 2025 edition is shaping up to be a landmark moment in English cricket.

With a stacked lineup of international stars, rising domestic talent, and a tightly packed schedule of men’s and women’s double-headers, this year’s tournament offers high-octane cricket and real fan appeal.

Whether you’re a long-time follower or a new viewer drawn in by the fast format and accessible presentation, The Hundred 2025 promises drama, entertainment, and a glimpse into the evolving future of the sport.

With major structural changes and private investment looming for 2026, this summer may mark the end of an era—and the start of something even bigger.