July 1, 2025
Everything You Need to Know About The Hundred 2025: Format, Rules & Teams
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The Hundred returns in August 2025, offering eight city-based men’s and women’s teams playing a 100-ball format—designed for excitement, brevity, and broad appeal. Here's your complete guide to its unique structure, key rules, squads, and why the tournament stands out.
What Is The Hundred?
Introduced by the ECB in 2021, The Hundred is a modern, fast-paced cricket format featuring 100 balls per innings, completed in about 2½ hours—typically two 65‑minute sessions separated by a brief interval.
Two competitions run in parallel: one for men, one for women. Each fixture includes a Women’s match followed by the Men’s, and a single ticket grants access to both .
Key Rules & Gameplay
- 100 Balls per Innings: Each side bats for 100 deliveries.
- Bowling Structure: Bowlers deliver in blocks of 5 or 10 consecutive balls, with a max of 20 balls per bowler.
- Change of Ends: Fielding teams swap ends after every 10 balls.
- Powerplay: The first 25 balls are powerplay, limiting teams to two fielders outside the 30‑yard circle.
- Strategic Timeout: Each team gets one 90-second timeout to regroup.
- No-ball Rules: No-balls cost 2 runs, plus a free hit.
- Tie-breaker: Tied matches go to a 5-ball Super 5 shootout—the higher-scoring team wins.
- Fielding Restrictions: Max 5 fielders on leg side; slow over-rates trigger penalties such as fewer fielders.
Tournament Structure
- Eight Teams compete in group stages from 5–31 August, playing 64 matches across men’s and women’s categories.
- Each team plays 8 group matches (four home, four away), including a bonus regional clash.
- Top three teams qualify: 2nd vs 3rd in an Eliminator; winner meets the league-topper in the Final at Lord’s.
Teams & Format Highlights
Eight city-based franchises compete in both men’s and women’s tournaments:
- Birmingham Phoenix
- London Spirit
- Manchester Originals
- Northern Superchargers
- Oval Invincibles
- Southern Brave
- Trent Rockets
- Welsh Fire
Men’s and women’s events are mirrored, promoting gender parity and shared matchdays .
Squads feature up to 13 players, chosen via a retention, draft, and wildcard system. The process allows overseas talent, England centrally-contracted players, plus domestic stars.
Strategic Differences from T20
- Shorter innings than T20 (100 vs 120 balls), with blocks of 5/10 balls instead of 6-ball overs
- Simplified terminology: 100-ball innings, batters scored or out—no traditional overs or wickets
- Strategic timeouts and powerplay rules differ, adding tactical layers
Investment & Evolution
The ECB recently sold a 49% stake in all teams, raising nearly £975m, with plans to possibly expand beyond eight teams after 2028.
However, some stakeholders like Welsh Fire co-owner Sanjay Govil have questioned whether a T20 format might be more sustainable long-term.
Why The Hundred Matters
- Engaging format: Quick, colourful, and simplified—perfect for new fans and families .
- Gender equality: Parallel men’s and women’s formats broadcasted equally .
- Strategic innovation: New rules (timeouts, powerplays, short spell options) add fresh tactical dimensions .
- Franchise growth: Spinner investment and revenue-sharing structure signal long-term ambition.
Looking Ahead
As The Hundred 2025 approaches, the ECB plans to keep the 100-ball format unchanged while exploring new investors and potential expansion in 2026+. The tournament's future remains bright, with fresh talent, evolving matchdays, and greater global reach on the horizon.
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