The Hundred, the ECB’s flagship T20 competition, has completed its fourth season, albeit with mixed results. While the women’s tournament continues to thrive, the men’s competition has faced challenges, including declining scoring rates and crowd numbers.
The ECB’s main goal for the 2024 season is to consolidate the Hundred’s position and prove its concept. They hope to attract investors for hospitality suites during the finals weekend, despite the competition’s overall decline in attendance.
Official figures show a 7% drop in ticket sales, with most of the decline occurring outside of London. Lord’s and The Oval accounted for nearly half of the Hundred’s total attendance, highlighting the importance of these venues.
Despite the challenges, the ECB remains optimistic about the Hundred’s future. They cite record-breaking attendances at women’s fixtures and believe the competition has significantly boosted the women’s game.
The cricket itself has been a mixed bag. The men’s competition suffered from clashes with other tournaments and the absence of key players like Jos Buttler. A decline in scoring rates, due to swing-friendly balls and heavy investment in bowling, has also been a concern.
However, the success of Oval Invincibles, who have won back-to-back titles, has provided a positive narrative for the men’s tournament. In the women’s game, Welsh Fire’s resurgence and Southern Brave’s struggles have added intrigue.
The Hundred’s overlap with Major League Cricket led to some farcical one-match signings, such as Mohammad Amir’s brief appearance. However, the women’s competition has proven that investment can attract top players, with Meg Lanning and Ash Gardner making their Hundred debuts.
Despite the presence of overseas stars, the quality of domestic players remains crucial for the Hundred’s success. England player availability is also important, and Ben Stokes’ injury was a significant setback.
The imminent sale of the Hundred’s franchises means the future of the competition is uncertain. However, the ECB is confident that the Hundred can achieve its goals of accelerating the growth of the women’s game and attracting new fans to cricket.
