Cricket is among the handful of international sports that have various formats in which they are played. It started with the never-ending Tests, followed by ODIs, and T20s practically took the entire world by storm.
Currently, the major formats are Test, ODI, and T20, but lately, we have seen the rise of new and shorter formats. One such format is The Hundred, which was introduced by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), and aims to be among the top T20 leagues with a considerable impact.
To put it differently, what exactly is this Hundred tournament? By what means does the format function?
Okay, let us then familiarize ourselves with the format of The Hundred tournament.
What is The Hundred?
As the title indicates, The Hundred is a 100-ball cricket league, which is a condensed form of the T20 format. The ECB, which also invented T20 cricket, is the force behind the establishment of the competition.
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Why was it necessary to have another format?
The ECB realized that the younger generation was gradually detaching themselves from cricket. So, in 2021, they came up with a fast-paced, thrilling, and a bit easier to follow format to reclaim the young crowd.
What is the Format of The Hundred Competition?
Even though most of the rules applied in T20 cricket are the same, the league has nonetheless made certain changes.
Innings
In a Hundred match, two teams take part, and there are two innings of 100 balls for each. One inning will last for around 65 minutes and there will be a break of 15 minutes in between, so a single Hundred match will last for 2 and a half hours. Moreover, every bowling side has the option to call a strategic timeout of 90 seconds.
The first innings is when one team bats and the other one bowls. After the first innings is complete, the teams switch sides for the second innings. The side with the higher number of runs becomes the winner of the match.
Overs
In The Hundred, a single over comprising 5 balls is employed unlike in T20 cricket. The maximum number of balls that a bowler can deliver in an innings is 20 (4 overs).
Moreover, a bowler has the option of either bowling 5 balls straight (1 over) or 10 balls in two batches (2 overs). After every 10 balls, the end of the batting for the fielding side is changed.
Powerplay
The 25 balls allotted to each team as powerplay are included in the first 5 overs. During the powerplay, the fielding team can only place 2 players outside the 30-yard circle.
How many teams are there in The Hundred league?
The ECB is responsible for the organization of The Hundred tournament for both male and female players. The event has 8 teams which represent 7 cities in England and Wales.
The following is the list of The Hundred teams:
Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, Welsh Fire.
