The Hundred 2023: A Roller Coaster Ride Towards Progress

When it comes to English cricket, you’d think The Hundred was either the savior or the executioner, depending on who you talk to. Some folks dramatically swear off watching even a single ball, convinced that embracing The Hundred is a betrayal to cricket itself. On the other hand, there are those who spin tales of grandeur, suggesting this format is the best thing since cricket legend WG Grace decided razors were optional.

But hold on, reality usually likes to chill somewhere in the middle. Most of us reasonable fans understand that while The Hundred has its perks, it’s not without its hiccups. The lingering question is whether the positives outweigh the negatives, especially when no one’s exactly waving the flag of a better alternative.

Now, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) didn’t exactly score a century with the launch of The Hundred. They managed to alienate some of the existing fans, and honestly, “Superchargers”? Is that a cricket team or a brand of energy drink? And the kits, well, they’re almost as colorful as the range of crisps they sponsor. A report even claimed that The Hundred lost £9 million in its first two years, as estimated by Worcestershire chairman Fanos Hira.

But here we are, three seasons in, and it seems like The Hundred might just be finding its groove – at least in the men’s competition. The women’s tournament sprinted off the starting block in 2021 and hasn’t slowed down since.

This season was bound to be a big one, what with Richard Thompson and Richard Gould, former Hundred skeptics, taking the reins as chairman and CEO of the ECB. The murmurs about the format’s future quickly turned into cheers as the season proved to be engaging and delightful. Men’s games were closer than ever, and while there’s still a lack of international superstars, when your own country’s men are white-ball world champs, you’ve got enough firepower to put on a show.

From ticket sales to TV viewership, radio listenership to online video views, the numbers are on the upswing. Even players like Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Kate Cross, and Sam Billings are loud and proud supporters of the tournament.

But the million-dollar question is where The Hundred’s future lies. Thompson’s been vocal about it being here till the TV deal with Sky expires in 2028 and beyond. Sure, no Test cricket in August isn’t ideal, but a clear window for The Hundred without Premier League football butting in has been a breath of fresh air. Plus, the schedule’s always a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, with T20 World Cups and IPLs to fit around.

Speaking of puzzles, the domestic men’s calendar is a bit like your tech drawer after you’ve disassembled all your gadgets – a bit higgledy-piggledy. We can all agree that four competitions are a crowd, but finding a consensus beyond that’s like trying to pick a favorite movie genre. Pushing the County Championship around the calendar has its challenges, but then again, predicting English weather is just about as easy as predicting which team will win in a shootout.

County diehards aren’t exactly thrilled about how little cricket’s played at home in August. Some reckon all the love and resources that went into The Hundred could’ve jazzed up the T20 Blast. But let’s be real, squeezing August for the Blast would be like trying to fit a cricket ball into a thimble – it just won’t work. The Blast’s awesome, but the suits in TV land seem to dig The Hundred’s “different” vibe.

The Hundred’s proved its mettle by attracting a fresh crowd to cricket’s party. The ECB boasts that 30% of tickets went to women and 23% to kids. Families, a whopping 41% of them, were also part of the game. And let’s not forget the ‘eye test’. A Hundred match is a different ballgame from a men’s international or a tipsy night at the Blast. Even non-cricket-loving folks like my sister ended up at a game, mistaking Lancashire for, well, who knows what.

As we wrap up the best of The Hundred’s three seasons, it’s time to acknowledge the ups and downs. Butler’s magic, Curran and Neesham’s drama, Brave finally clinching it, and Shrubsole bidding adieu in style – all part of the show. There’s criticism too, like the women’s eliminator being washed out while the men played on. Flexibility in scheduling, anyone?

Now, there’s room for improvement. The latter half of the tournament felt like batting on a Monday morning after a long weekend – challenging. Low scores can be thrilling, but let’s keep the boundary bashing alive, shall we? Live music was a neat idea, but singing to empty stands? Not so much.

Sure, some overseas men’s players could add stardust, but let’s be realistic, they might not fill the stadiums. And let’s not forget our fellow cricketers over in the county games – they deserve some spotlight too.

But listen, The Hundred’s not here to convert the naysayers overnight. Views are as set as stone, and bridges were burned even before they could be built. Nevertheless, this season’s proven one thing: The Hundred’s onto something.

After all, it’s just cricket, with a twist.

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More about Cricket Evolution

• The Hundred: ECB’s 100-ball cricket tournament
• The Hundred – Wikipedia
• The Hundred: Opinions and controversies
• The Hundred – ECB’s official website
• The Hundred’s Impact on Women’s Cricket
• The Hundred: The future of cricket
• Innovations in Cricket: The Hundred’s Influence