The T20 Blast has been and gone, but the action is still coming thick and fast in the English domestic game with The Hundred competition set to start in just a few weeks
This year The Hundred starts on Tuesday, August 1st, and finishes on Sunday, August 27th. The same eight teams will be competing, and there is a men’s and women’s competition running side by side.
The eight teams are the Birmingham Phoenix, Trent Rockets, Northern Superchargers, Manchester Originals, London Spirit, Oval Invincibles, Welsh Fire, and the Southern Brave.
In the men’s competition, the current champions are the Trent Rockets. While in the women’s edition, the Oval Invincibles are the defending champions.
Who are the Favorites to win The Hundred 2023?
The squads have been finalized and the bookmakers have released their betting odds on who they think will win The Hundred this year. In the men’s competition, the Trent Rockets are +450 favorites in the latest odds on cricket. Their closest betting rivals are the Southern Brave at +500.
In the women’s edition of the competition, it’s the Oval Invincibles that lead the way with the bookmakers. The Invincibles are +400, with the Trent Rockets and the Southern Brave both at +450.
The Oval Invincibles have won the women’s competition for the last two years. So it’s no surprise to see them leading the betting.
Nearly that time again, @thehundred loading.. 🔥🏏 #thehundred pic.twitter.com/cUJPrlqYTm
— Marizanne Kapp (@kappie777) July 14, 2023
What is The Hundred?
The Hundred is a competition that is – to date – unique to the English domestic game. It has raised eyebrows around the cricketing world, and it’s fair to say that organizations like the BCCI are keeping a close eye on the competition to see if, and how it evolves over the next few seasons.
The ECB dreamed up the new format after seeing the success of the franchise system used in the IPL. But with the English domestic game already having the T20 Blast, the ECB felt they needed something different, rather than just another T20 competition undermining the one they already have.
The Hundred was the idea, but the concept of the game is similar to T20. The main difference is that The Hundred is a 100 ball per-side game, while T20 is 120.
Do Indian players compete in The Hundred?
The Indian men, no. The Indian women, yes. It’s well known that the BCCI keeps a tight rein on their star players from the men’s national side, with Indian players rarely released for domestic competitions outside of the IPL.
And with the Indian national team currently in action, no men will again be present at The Hundred in 2023.
Southern Brave retained Smriti Mandhana ahead of “The Hundred” 2023 edition.#thehundred #SouthernBrave pic.twitter.com/vAv79MB9Xu
— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) February 16, 2023
As for the Indian women, they do get to play in The Hundred. Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma are two players who have previously performed in the competition.
Will The Hundred be coming to India anytime soon?
It’s hard to predict that. There has been talk in recent years of an IPL 2, and the IPL owners are snapping up franchises in America and South Africa. One thing for sure is that franchise cricket is on the rise around the world.
The IPL is the premier white ball competition in domestic world cricket. There is no reason to introduce a new format in India anytime soon. But if it proves to be a hit in England, then nothing can be ruled out.